Page 34 of The Diamond Thief
15
Jacob
In all the plans that I made for this interception of Jade, I never quite pictured this outcome. The two of us, chatting in a tree. Under any other circumstance, I might have actually enjoyed myself.
Actually, yes, I am enjoying myself. I have to admit that much.
But the fact remains that she is the worst sort of liar. A cheat among thieves. Seduction is her trade. The last thing I need at this hour is to fall for it a second time.
“Oh, look,” Jade says, pointing down. “It’s Elliott and Elena.”
The pair emerge from the woods. They have not succeeded in whatever they attempted. It’s clear from their postures, the lack of intimate gestures and looks. I have never known Elliott to fail before. I hope nothing is going awry internally on this job.
“Hey yo ho,” I call down.
Elliott stops, looking around, then up. He spots us in the tree.
“Jacob! What the hell are you doing?”
“Tree climbing!”
Elliott shakes his head. “Elena, meet Jacob Holt. He is the fourth on our job.”
Her head snaps up. “You didn’t say there was a fourth,” she says. Her eyes dart to Jade in concern. So they have discussed me prior to today.
I turn to Jade. “Are you ready to head down?”
She nods. I grasp a branch above us and stand. I offer her a hand, but she shakes her head. “It’s easier to do it on your own.”
We all watch as she effortlessly descends. The other girl picks up Jade’s shoes and passes them to her. Not to be showed up, I drop through the trees like a hunter about to jump on prey.
Elena leans in to tell Jade something while I step into my shoes. I wonder how much she knows. The two of them walk ahead. Elliott allows them to get several steps in front of us before he quietly asks, “So what’s next?”
I unroll my sleeves and refasten the cuffs. “For now, I will go along on the job. I haven’t decided how to play it.”
Elliott shakes his head. “This is one screwed-up plan you have. So we have to pull off the job while you are trying to pull one over on this girl?”
“Something like that.” I smack him on the back. “That’s what makes it fun. Otherwise, it would be a dreadful smash and grab.”
Elliott groans. “Why am I positive that I’m going to regret agreeing to do this with you?”
“Because you always do, my friend. Remember Sicily?”
“How could I ever forget Sicily? Half a mil in loose gems down a drainpipe. We made the sewers rich.”
“But you got the girl,” I say.
“For a little while.”
When we reach the van, the girls are already inside. I nod at the driver. Elliott and Elena have already claimed the swivel seats behind them, but that is fine. I shall take to the rear with Jade.
I pick up my wine, no longer chilled, and dump its contents into the bin at the base of the cabinet. I retrieve the bottle from the fridge and pour a fresh glass.
I lift the bottle quizzically to Elliott, and he shakes his head no. The other girl looks elsewhere. She seems distracted, perhaps contemplative about what has conspired in the woods.
This is no business for lovers, that’s for sure. Jade seems content with her warmed over glass. Pity. These are the finer points of living.
The van glides forward, and I consider my next move.
