Page 84 of The Diamond Thief
Epilogue: Jacob
The drive to the castle is long and deliciously slow. For the last ten miles, we’ve been completely outside of civilization. Around us are rolling green hills and long expanses of empty countryside. It feels like heaven.
Crystal reaches over and covers my hand in hers. Even though it has been three months since she rescued me from Club Y, it’s still often hard to believe that she’s really here.
I’m in the process of selling two of my buildings in Manhattan, ones Antony couldn’t get his hands on. I’m keeping the deli with its hidden bunker. We have sealed off the tunnel between it and the high-rise where I once lived. Antony managed to take that one, but he has no idea it connects.
The deli actually has a small family living space at the back. I find it perfect. Plus, the deli is super useful for offloading smaller illegal items if I choose to get back in the business. Until then, a retired Vigilante and his wife are running it as part of their retirement.
For now Crystal and I are on hiatus as thieves. Should I later feel the need to increase my wealth again, I will certainly consider going back for a heist.
Or honest work.
Nah.
Regardless, for now I will relish the solitude, the rolling green hills, and a castle Crystal has fallen in love with.
“I can’t wait to see inside it,” she says. “I’ve been trying to visualize it from the pictures, but I don’t think I can quite get the sense of scale.”
I smile over at her. “You’re going to want to throw a giant Cinderella party in that grand ballroom, aren’t you?”
“Absolutely,” she says with a laugh. “I’m already designing a gown for my grand entrance.”
Our private road should be approaching. I slow down the car, and we peer out the window to make sure we don’t miss it. The directions, handwritten on a napkin by an innkeeper about twelve miles down the road, literally say to turn onto the dirt road next to the rock shaped like a mama bear.
“There it is!” Crystal cries. “Itisshaped like a mama bear.”
I pull up to the unusual stone. She’s right. You have to know what you’re looking for, but I can make out an upright bear with a big Buddha belly and two rounded arms reaching out.
“We should name her Imelda,” Crystal says. “And your mama bear can watch over us every time we turn toward home.”
“Imelda it is,” I say. I drive forward and turn onto the hard-packed dirt road. It seems to lead to nowhere, and we roll along at a slow speed, waiting for our first glimpse of our new home.
We crest a hill, and then we see it.
“Oh,” Crystal says. “Just look at it.”
The castle is surrounded by nothing but farmland for miles. It is gray and massive, and looms over the ground.
“Let’s go, let’s go!” Crystal cries.
We drive forward. A tall stone wall surrounds the castle, complete with turrets. Great iron gates are thrown open in the front. As we approach I spot two cars inside. A butler, because of course a castle requires a butler. And a housekeeper. We will add more staff over time. A property this large will require groundskeepers and maintenance workers, just to keep the basics in order.
It’s an outrageous purchase, truth be told, but Crystal’s excitement is infectious, and I find myself smiling as we pull around the giant fountain on the front lawn to arrive by the grand double doors that are two stories high.
“This is even crazy bigger than I had imagined,” Crystal says.
“It is quite large,” I say.
I kill the engine, and Crystal jumps out of the car.
I walk around the Aston Martin that we had shipped from the States. I’m not letting this car go for anything.
The front door opens, and a tall, stiff man in black pants and a crisp white shirt steps aside. “Welcome, sir and madam.”
“Ooooh!” Crystal says with a giggle. “He’s perfect.” She throws her arms around the man. “I love you!”
“Very good,” he says. “Would you like a tour?”
