Page 130 of Smoke Screen
“You’re better off with me,” Phin said. “She’ll throw you to a mountain lion.”
“He’s right,” Maddy said. “If I were you, I’d start talking.”
“Just … wait.” Bob patted air with both hands, then lowered them. “What guarantees do I have that you won’t take the jewels and screw me over?”
“Guarantees? Dude, you’re in the wrong damn business. You could send us to a location where there’s an army of guys waiting to blow us away. The only reason we’re here is that Rory is a greedy prick. That greed makes me believe you’re legit.”
“I am,” Bob said.
“Then consider me your get-out-of-jail-free card. You tell me where the jewels are and if we find them, we’ll wire $11 million to the account of your choosing. Pretty simple.”
Clearing this deal with Thompson might have been an excellent option, but … whoopsie. Too late now.
Besides, Louis had offered the reward. It was out there and Phin rolled with it.
“That’s what Brendan thought,” Bob said.
True 'dat. “Why do you think we’re meeting here?”
Apparently satisfied that Phin wouldn’t hose him, Bob nodded. “I got a call yesterday. From Xavier Vera.”
The head honcho himself. Interesting. Phin tossed the blindfold back on the desk and sat. “You work directly for him? Or part of a crew?”
“There’s one guy between me and Mr. Vera. I worked my way up. Started with petty theft. I was good at that, so as the jobs got bigger, I got more chances. Now? I’m involved in all the big stuff. Nothing like this. Ever. This? Huge mistake.”
Blah, blah, blah.Bored with Bob’s sudden remorse, Phin rolled his hand. “You got a call yesterday. Before or after Eckert died?”
“After. Mr. Vera called me himself. That never happens. There’s a hierarchy. He calls my boss and then my boss calls me. Anyway, Mr. Vera said he needed my help. I couldn’t believe it. I mean, I’m thinking I’m getting in good with them if he’s calling me directly.”
Biting down, Phin fought a smart-ass comment about Bob climbing the corporate ladder. “What did he want?”
“He said Brendan sold us out. Tried to make a deal for the jewels and collect the reward. That he needed them moved.”
Leaning forward on her elbows, Maddy drew their gazes. “Did you know where they were?”
“They keep a bunch of warehouses. They spread the stuff around in case someone gets pinched. That way, they don’t lose everything. Brendan knew where the jewels were. After the job, Mr. Vera told him where to take them. When he got shot, Mr. Vera called me. Told me to move everything.”
Made sense to Phin. Move the merchandise before the feds show up and raid the place. “You’re thinking the Veras shot Brendan?”
Bob shrugged. “Aren’t you?”
He sure was. And now Phin, Maddy, and probably Phin’s entire family were on this maniac’s radar. “How did the Veras know Brendan was meeting with us?”
“Who knows? A job this big? They probably bugged his place. Mr. Vera told me which warehouse the jewels were in. I was to go right over there, get everything, and move it to another location. Which I did. I mean, I was freaking the fuck out. Brendan was dead and now they were telling me to move the stuff. I figured if I said no, I’d be toast.”
Bob shook his head, lifted his hands to his face, pressing his palms into his eye sockets. “Total goat fuck. The whole operation. I knew it would bring too much heat.”
Phin blew right by that. He needed to vet this intel. “Where did you move the jewels from? Describe it.”
Bob dropped his hands, gawking at Phin. “What the hell does that matter? They aren’t there anymore.”
“Brendan showed us photos. Making sure you’re not lying.”
Bob gave an eye roll that had Phin curling his fingers. Just one pop. That’s all he’d need and this idiot would go lights-out.
Focus.
He uncurled his fist, the movement not lost on Bob.
