Hard Risk by Sidney Bristol
Chapter Fifteen
Resort, Miami, FL.
Robin wiggled her toes in the plush carpet as she stared at her bedroom door. It was past nine, and the house was quieter. She’d heard Harper’s door open and close a few times, but he didn’t seem to be in the villa any longer. At least he hadn’t gone back into his room and she hadn’t seen him when she peaked out of her window onto the patio. He also hadn’t tried to talk to her again last night.
What the hell was going on with him?
There was something not quite right with Harper. She’d thought that the conversation they had before the trip, about how much he cared about her, would fix things. But it hadn’t. Was she making it up or was it really there, under the surface?
Her stomach growled something fierce, and she winced.
The house wouldn’t be this quiet with anyone here and she’d know if Harper was back, so it was safe to assume the coast was clear.
She leaned out her door into the hall.
Still nothing.
Robin closed the door on the off chance that Button or Bow were around then padded down the hall before peering around the corner.
The tantalizing smell of what couldn’t be bacon teased her nose.
She straightened and continued into the main room of the villa.
It was a welcomed surprise to find herself alone. With how jumbled her thoughts were, she needed some time and space to sort them out. But she was also curious where everyone was.
But first, food.
Robin found a covered plate sitting on the counter with a little note attached to the top with her name written on it. She pulled the top off and was met with the fragrant aroma of a full breakfast. A condensation soaked card informed her there was bacon, it was just turkey bacon.
When she moved out, she was going to spend one whole meal gorging herself on pork bacon. It was absurd to her how Dad and Saaina picked and choose what things to follow and bacon was a sticking point for them. But, whatever made them happy. It was their lives, she was simply passing through.
Robin took her meal out onto the patio by the pool where the fresh breeze could help clear her head. She lost no time tucking into the food. She inhaled half the plate before she slowed down.
Really, where was everyone? Did she dare reach out? Ask where they were?
She put her fork down and stared out at the ocean.
Jessica had given her the device to copy Uncle Daar’s phone. Robin should be focused on that task, but fear was getting the best of her.
She pulled out her phone and saw some missed texts.
The first was from Dad, letting her know that he, Uncle Daar, and Saaina had gone to the main pool area for massages and lounging. She had some from Jessica merely checking in. But nothing from Harper.
Was it possible he wanted something from her? Connections to her family? Money?
All of that sounded so strange and wrong. Harper wasn’t like that. His complaint was her family, so why would he try to get closer to them?
She shook her head again, but nothing made sense.
One thing was clear though, Uncle Daar wasn’t going to be around for a while. She’d never gotten up the courage to poke around his room at home, but here was another story.
Her mind made up, Robin covered the tray and carried it back to the kitchen for pick-up later with the other dishes. She ducked back into her room and dressed in shorts and a tank-top. For good measure, she shoved Jessica’s device into her back pocket then headed across the house.
Dad and Saaina had taken the master suite. There were a few bedrooms they weren’t using, but those made for a good place to store bags and the travel kennels for Button and Bow. Uncle Daar had taken a room at the side of the house opposite from her own.
Robin pushed the door open and stared inside.
Uncle Daar was neat. The room seemed as though it hadn’t been touched, but then she noticed small differences. A briefcase, some slippers, the end of a charging cable.
She stepped into the room, but didn’t turn the lights on. He hadn’t lowered the blackout curtains, so she didn’t need the overheads.
Where to start?
The dresser was closest, so she pulled one drawer open then the next. Uncle Daar had unpacked some of his clothes. She carefully lifted a few to feel around under them, but didn’t find anything. She was considering abandoning the dresser inspection when she pulled open the bottom drawer. Unlike the other stacks of clothes, the one on the right wasn’t smooth and perfect. She reached down and lifted articles of clothing until a heavy weight prevented her from going forward. Curious, she lifted what she could off the stack only to freeze.
Uncle Daar had a gun.
He had a gun with him.
Here.
She hastily placed the clothes over it, smoothed the top and shut the door.
“What the fuck?” she muttered.
Other than police officers, she’d never seen a handgun that up close and personal before.
She backed away from the dresser. “Holy shit.”
What did that mean? Did it have anything to do with yesterday?
Robin pulled out her phone and hit dial on Jessica’s number. The line rang three times before Jessica answered out of breath.
“Hey!”
“Uncle Daar has a gun.”
There was a splash that made Robin think Jessica might be taking a pool day.
“Wait. What? What happened? Start from the beginning,” she insisted.
Robin took a deep breath. “Everyone’s out so I’m looking around in Uncle Daar’s room and he has a gun in his dresser.”
“Okay, alarming but it isn’t illegal to travel with it in your checked bags. He’d need a security screening though.”
“That never happened.”
“Interesting. What else have you found?”
“Nothing. I just got in here.” Robin turned to look at the room.
“Any chargers?”
“Um, there’s one by the desk.” She crossed to peer at the end. “Looks like it’s for his tablet. He probably took that with him to the pool.”
“Phone?”
“No,” Robin said slowly.
“Check the nightstand.”
She circled the bed to where a few personal items remained on the nightstand.
“No. No, I don’t see…” She squinted in the dim light. “Hold on.”
“What? The suspense is killing me, Nancy Drew.”
Robin pulled back the blanket.
There, tucked under the pillow was Uncle Daar’s phone. Charging.
“Holy shit, it’s here,” Robin said in a rush.
“Shut up and get it now!” Jessica said in a whisper-yell.
Robin put her phone on speaker then pulled the small device out. Uncle Daar’s phone wasn’t quite at fifty percent, but it would be enough.
“I just plug it in?” she asked.
“Yeah.”
She took a deep breath. There was no going back. “Here goes.”
Robin inserted the end of the cable into the phone. A screen popped up, something about allowing permissions. She clicked the okay button and a light she hadn’t seen before began flashing on the device.
“This is amazing,” Jessica gushed.
Robin wiped her hands on her thighs and for a few moments she just stared at the mattress.
This felt like a tipping point. There was no going back.
“We need to meet up so I can get to work on this. Is it done?”
“I just plugged it in.”
“It’s fast. Check?”
“Okay. Um, the light is now steady?”
“It’s done. You did great, girl. I’ll head up to my room and we can meet up. This is so exciting!”
Jessica ended the call.
Robin just felt…dread.
She plugged the phone back in then smoothed the comforter down so it looked just as she’d found it. That done, she turned around, searching for any other reason to stay.
They still hadn’t figured out what those pages Robin had found meant, but they did mention Uncle Daar.
Her gaze strayed into the bathroom and she glimpsed what looked like Uncle Daar’s wallet on the vanity. Curious now, she padded into the bathroom, shoved her phone and the device into a pocket then picked up the wallet. She flipped it open and frowned at an obviously American driver’s license.
Only, Uncle Daar wasn’t an American citizen.
The license was from Idaho of all places.
She was reasonably certain Uncle Daar had never, in fact, been to Idaho.
There he was though, and that picture was him.
But who was Gerald Patel?
The lights in the bedroom flipped on.
She gasped and turned, locking eyes with her uncle.
He wasn’t a very big man, maybe an inch or two taller than Dad. But at that moment Uncle Daar seemed bigger than life as he stared at her with a menacing frown.
He moved first, taking a long stride around the bed.
Robin took a step back. “I… I can explain.”
Her mouth kept moving, and she babbled words, pleading with him without saying anything of substance. And then he was there, standing in the doorway. She dropped the wallet and stepped back, but he was quicker. He reached out faster than she’d thought possible, grabbing her by the arm. He hauled back and slapped her so hard her brain seemed to rattle in her skull.
This was how she died. She knew it. Uncle Daar had killed Mom and now he’d kill her. Had it happened like this? Had she found out something she shouldn’t?
Her face was burning from the impact and her neck ached. That would just be the beginning.
Why hadn’t she left? Why had she lingered?
“Don’t ever touch my things.” His voice bounced off the tile walls, assaulting her from all sides.
“I’m sorry!” She sobbed and threw up her arm fast enough to knock his hand away a second time.
He dug his other hand into her hair then shook. Her teeth clicked together and all she could think about was that he had a gun.
What did she say? He couldn’t find out what she’d done or then she’d really be in trouble.
“What were you doing?” He punctuated each word by shaking her a little.
“I was looking for money,” she blurted.
“What?”
Shit. That didn’t make a lot of sense, but what did he know? The only things Uncle Daar knew about their finances was what she told him, and she’d never shared anything about herself.
A sob tore past her lips born of fear.
“I was looking for money,” she said again. That was her story now, and she needed to commit, sell the act or it might be the end of her.
Uncle Daar frowned at you. “Money? Why?”
“Because…” Her mind raced to throw together a story. Anything. “Because I wanted to buy Harper a present and I can’t.”
His gaze narrowed. He was right to be suspicious. Thanks to Mom, Robin was independent from Dad. But did Uncle Daar know that?
“What do you mean you needed money?” he asked.
“I’m not working. I can’t spend Dad’s money without permission. I’m sorry.” She let herself cry then. “I’m sorry.”
She let the tears flow because her life might very well depend on it.
Wednesday. Pearl Palace Luxury Resort, Miami, FL.
Shit.
Daar smoothed his hand over Robin’s head. What was wrong with him? He’d reacted without thinking. This was Robin. He couldn’t lose his temper with her.
“Come on. Come in here,” he said.
She shrank away from him at first, eyeing his hand warily. He deserved that. Truth was he was far more on edge than he wanted to admit to. This was proof.
After a little coaxing he got Robin on her feet and into the bedroom.
He led her to the foot of the bed. “Sit.”
She eyed the door, but did as told.
Daar crossed his arms over his chest.
How much had she seen? What did she know?
“Explain it to me.” His tone was far too hard.
She flinched, and he drew in a deep breath. He couldn’t make an enemy of his niece. She was the only reasonable person in this family besides himself.
Robin sat on the edge of the bed, tears streaming down her face, and her shoulders hunched.
Fuck.
He pivoted, keeping one eye on her and grabbed tissues off the desk.
“Here.” He did his best to gentle his tone. “Now, talk to me.”
She blotted her face and took a few short breaths, struggling to get her breathing under control. Her cheek was red, and she was squinting with one eye.
“I don’t have a lot of money, that’s it. That’s all it is. I’m sorry.” She gestured to a silver necklace she was wearing with a small, nail sized heart pendant. “Harper gave this to me and I just… I wanted to get him something in return. It’s wrong. I know. I’m sorry. Please, don’t tell Dad?”
Daar crossed his arms over his chest.
Fuck again.
Cassim was idiotic enough to not share his wealth with his daughter. That was exactly the sort of thing he’d do without truly understanding the value she added to the family. Not to mention all the work she was doing without pay.
But was that all this was? And why was he a tiny bit impressed with her?
It took nerve to try to steal like this, especially from him. Though she didn’t know his other side. He’s always gone out of his way to be a kind uncle to her.
She continued to wipe at her face and glance at him.
He’d royally screwed this up.
Daar scrubbed a hand over his face. Honestly, he was more than a little relieved. Robin was always so perfect it was suspicious. To find that she was also human was a relief. Poor thing had probably never stooped so low.
“Hello? Anyone home?” Harper’s voice rang out through the house.
Robin sucked in a little breath and whipped her head around.
Daar’s gut said that she was innocent and all of this was a poorly managed misunderstanding. Still, with the plates he was juggling he couldn’t be too careful.
Before he could make up his mind, Harper appeared in the doorway. His shirt was plastered to him and soaking with sweat.
“Hey, Daar. Oh, here’s Robin,” Harper said cheerfully.
Robin’s gaze remained on Daar except for two quick glances at her boyfriend.
“What’s everyone up to today?” Harper asked.
“Cassim and Saaina are at the main pool,” Daar said, careful to keep his voice neutral.
“Oh yeah?” Harper glanced from Daar to Robin. Harper had to see her red cheek, but he didn’t react. “I was hoping to steal Robin away for a bit. Think you guys would mind?”
Daar opened his mouth, but his phone rang from under the pillow. The sound sent an electric jolt through him.
Had Peter’s contact gotten the laptop? Was this mess over?
“Go on,” he said. “And Robin?”
She froze with her hands braced on the bed ready to push up and stared at him.
He offered her a smile. “Some things should remain between family, okay?”
She nodded once.
He moved past her, shoving his hand under the pillow to pull out his phone.
Peter.
Finally.
Daar clicked the button and glanced at the door.
Harper and Robin were gone, but that was a problem for a later time.
“Hold on,” Daar said into the receiver. He ensured the door was shut before pressing the phone to his ear. “Tell me you have good news.”
Peter’s voice was grim. “Good and bad. My guys followed the rep from the airport to the bank. He was inside for half an hour before he came out empty handed. Our guys picked him up an hour ago and are working him over now.”
“He hasn’t said anything?”
“Not yet.”
“Hm.”
Daar shouldn’t be terribly surprised. The chancellor wasn’t going to send just anyone for a task like this.
“Hold on. My guy is calling me again,” Peter said and quickly hung up.
Daar paced the room. He’d been hoping that this was all a set-up, that there wasn’t really a safety deposit box. But it seemed to exist, and now the contents were somewhere in the wind.
What was going on with the chancellor? Why this sudden about face?
It wasn’t like Daar could call the man up and ask what was going on. That wasn’t how these things worked. If Daar let on he knew, he’d be forcing the chancellor’s hand. It could go very poorly for Daar. He needed to be certain about every move he made from here on out.
He had enemies all around him and here he’d gone and given Robin reason to doubt him. Fucking hell.
His phone rang again. This time the sound was so unexpected he jumped before answering it.
“Well?”
“It’s bad,” Peter said. “He says he was told to retrieve a box under the name Saaina Suleiman. Amaar is looking into it now.”
“What of the contents?”
“He said the box was empty when he got there.”
“Shit,” Daar muttered and began pacing.
“I get the feeling this was a set-up. They wanted to see who’d go after him, flush us out.”
Daar stopped staring into a mirror.
Saaina would have been present when Cassim opened the box under her name. Which meant she’d known and hadn’t told Daar.
He’d never seen that coming. She owed him. He was the reason she had a comfortable life. Her brother was his right-hand man. With one phone call, Daar could end his life. How was it she was conspiring with the chancellor? Or was she an innocent in this? Another pawn being moved about?
No. No, chances were this was Cassim’s doing. He’d probably hid the laptop there under Saaina’s name as insurance. So how had the chancellor come to find out about it?
“Peter?”
“Yes?”
“I’m going to need you to get over here. We need to have a family meeting…”
Wednesday. Pearl Palace Luxury Resort, Miami, FL.
Harper yanked the zipper on Robin’s bag closed. “Anything else? Is there anything here you cannot live without?”
She continued to sit on her bed, back against the headboard, legs crushed to her chest.
The redness was gone, but her cheek was swollen. She stared straight ahead of her, not seeing the room.
Damn it.
He’d been with Logan and Baruti in a catering van parked behind the main hotel when Samuel called him in a panic. At first, Harper hadn’t understood anything except he needed to get his ass back to the villa. It wasn’t until he was running and Samuel got his words in order that Harper was able to understand the scope of the situation.
Robin was very likely burned.
Men like Daar didn’t simply forgive infractions, not when their safety was at stake.
Harper crawled onto the bed and gripped her shoulders. Her wide, fearful eyes locked on him.
“Robin? Babe? Can we go?”
“Go where?” she asked in a small, fearful voice.
That was a fucking good question.
“I’m going to take you to my place,” he said. “Remember our plan? I told you I have a place in the Keys? You said you wanted to see it?”
That seemed to get through to her and she nodded.
“Can we go now?” He could feel time running out on them.
She sat up a little straighter and glanced around the room.
“I shoved everything on the vanity into your small suitcase. The big one was never unpacked…”
“Let’s go.” She pushed up off the bed, still barefoot, and grabbed her tote of a purse.
He wanted her to have shoes on, but he wanted her alive more than that.
Harper grabbed the duffle bag he’d hauled across the hall with him and her big suitcase. She grabbed the other and without having to suggest it, she opened the sliding glass door and let them out onto the patio. Neither of them spoke, but her glances back at the villa spoke volumes.
Something had happened. Samuel hadn’t told him everything, just the highlights.
Robin was in trouble and her life might be in jeopardy.
It was all Harper needed to hear.
They moved quickly away from the villa and through the pedestrian gate onto the rest of the property. A resort employee in a utility cart circled around and offered them assistance.
Harper could have kissed the man and showered him with cash. Instead, they threw the bags in the back with some tree trimming equipment and were off.
“A taxi will pick us up,” Harper said.
Robin only nodded.
He didn’t press her to say anything. From the little he knew she was holding herself together by sheer force of will.
What had she been thinking?
None of this would have happened were they working together.
Harper had never understood his best friend Jamie more so than he did now. He’d failed his first undercover mission for Zora by telling his target exactly what they needed from her, and now Jamie was about to marry that same target. Well, they weren’t officially engaged. Yet. They had baby fever. Bad.
Harper reached over, moving slowly, and wrapped an arm around Robin’s shoulders. He squeezed her to him and kissed her temple. The wind whipped her words away from him, but he thought he might have heard her say, thank you.
Their impromptu chauffer saw them to the very front doors of the resort and helped them unload.
“How long?” Robin asked the moment they were alone again.
“Ah, a few minutes?”
Without another word she opened her suitcase and found a pair of sandals. He didn’t miss her furtive glances, checking the doors and corners.
She was afraid. Terrified.
He wanted nothing more than to go back there and beat the shit out of Daar. It had taken monumental effort on Harper’s part to stay the course. Besides, if he’d done that Robin might be in more danger than she was already.
She edged closer to him and peered up. Her eyes were puffy and he could see a bit of swelling at her cheekbone.
At some point, Harper was going to pay Daar back for this. He swore that to himself then and there.
“Can I go to the bathroom, you think?” she asked.
He stroked his hand up and down her arm. “Yeah. The car should be here any minute. We’ll be waiting.”
She nodded and stared at his chest. “Okay. Thanks.”
Fucking Daar.
Harper balled his hands into fists and visualized the satisfying crunch of breaking the man’s nose. Or his jaw. Maybe his neck, though that was going a bit far. They would need him after all.
That necklace might very well have saved Robin’s life. He’d have to thank Baruti for thinking of that. Without the warning from Samuel, Harper wouldn’t have headed back to the villa for quite some time. Robin would have been at Daar’s mercy, and Harper didn’t think the man had much of that to spare.
He lifted his phone to his ear and listened to it ring.
“You got her, good.” Samuel heaved a sigh. “How’s she doing?”
“Shaken. Badly. We need a car.”
“Logan’s on it. You’ll have a reservation for pick-up soon. Are you really headed out to the Keys?”
Harper glanced over his shoulder. “I’ve got a place there. Some buddies left a couple days ago, so the cleaning service has been through. It’s what I’ve got. Any other suggestions? I’m open, but you know this was always in the works.”
“Should be fine. It’s untraceable to your real name. Fuck. Is your name on the mailbox or anything?”
“No. I don’t do that shit.”
“Good. We’ll pack up and head after you. We’ll probably lose the bug. The transmitter doesn’t give us much distance to play with, but we’ll catch up. I’m just out of range now, so keep an eye on her.”
“Copy that. Taxi is here. Later.”
Harper was tossing the last bag in by the time Robin returned. She’d washed her face and pulled her hair up. They quickly loaded themselves in and were gone. There wasn’t any conversation beyond some casual chit-chat with the driver on their way to the rental car company.
He was growing uneasy with the prolonged silence between them by the time they loaded into the rented SUV.
They loaded up and got on the road with still little more than a few words spoken, almost all by him.
Robin’s silence was concerning.
“You know you can talk to me?” Harper said as they headed further away from Miami.
Robin turned and stared out of the passenger window.
Had he broken her trust? Was she too afraid? Were Daar’s parting words a threat?
How had Harper fucked this up so badly?