Part 11 (1/2)
When Rocky didn't say anything else, the guy squinted at him. ”So? What do I care?”
”Go ahead. Do it now. I'll wait.”
She knew it was a contest of wills. Rocky was un-yielding and the guy was either curious or bored. After another lengthy look at her, he said, ”Wait here.” He disappeared around a corner.
Janet slipped her hand from Rocky's, more comfortable now that the sleazy guy was gone. She looked around the room as they waited. ”Isn't he afraid we'll take something? Smash the gla.s.s and take off?”
”The door locked behind us and there are probably at least two cameras on you. He'll be watching the monitors while he makes his calls.”
The casual way he said it made her look back at him, wondering how dangerous his other life had been. She knew the worry showed on her face and knew he was wis.h.i.+ng he'd followed his instincts and never brought her here. In an attempt to lighten the mood, she said, ”They didn't cover this job at career day.”
He smiled, causing the happy skip in her chest that seemed to have become her conditioned response. ”Life's full of missed opportunities.”
”Isn't it?” Her words were drowned out by a keening whine.
They exchanged puzzled looks, then peered over the ledge into the caged-in area that the man had recently vacated. Another whine ended with a metallic rattle as a kenneled puppy caught their eyes, its tail banging against its cage in a happy wag.
Janet smiled at the German shepherd. It couldn't be more than ten weeks old, with one big ear standing up and the other flopped over. ”Hey, pup. You're a cutie, aren't you?”
The puppy yipped and squirmed.
She laughed, then sobered as the pale man returned, scowling at her. ”Don't talk to the dog. He ain't no pet.”
She frowned at him, annoyed at the way the puppy slunk back when he pa.s.sed. ”Then what is he?”
”He's a guard dog. Will be, anyway, soon as he's trained. So don't go baby-talkin' him.” Before she could respond, he looked at Rocky and said, ”Show me your back.”
To her surprise Rocky turned his back to the window and raised the white polo s.h.i.+rt that said ”Red Rose Security” on the front, pulling it to shoulder level. On the back of his well-defined right shoulder, she saw what Sleazy had evidently been expecting-a tattoo of three jagged lines in red and black resembling claw marks. Deep ones. They were simultaneously chilling and compelling. Something tempted her to reach out and touch them, to stroke her hand over Rocky's broad back, to rea.s.sure herself with the flex and ripple of intact muscle beneath her hand.
”Okay,” Sleazy grunted. ”You're him.”
Rocky lowered his s.h.i.+rt, tucking it into his pants as he turned back to face the window. Stepping closer, he nodded toward the door where they'd come in. ”Is that door locked?”
”Yeah.” Sleazy sounded cautious, but Janet didn't know if it was because of what he'd just learned on the phone, or because Rocky's voice had gone low and rough.
”Good. I'm going to tell you a story now, and I want you to just listen. Because it might save your life. You understand?”
Janet grew still, fascinated by the change in Rocky. His voice had a hard edge, and even his stance looked tougher. He was tense and poised, a picture of barely restrained energy, ready to rip through the bars of the window if Sleazy answered incorrectly.
Even with the bars between them and the gun that undoubtedly lay within reach beneath the counter, the slight man looked intimidated by Rocky. The hand holding his cigarette trembled when he took a long drag, although that could have been from his general unhealthy condition. Smoke rose from his mouth and nose as he spoke, as if betraying a fire that slowly ate at his insides. ”Why would you want to save my life?”
”I don't. It's just a benefit of following my advice, if you're smart enough to take it.” He gave Sleazy a few seconds to contemplate life and death. ”You sold a necklace to a man last year, part of a collection of jewelry called the Pellinni Jewels. I'm sure you didn't know that at the time. I'm also sure you've heard of it by now.”
Janet knew Rocky hadn't been positive they'd come to the right fence, the one who had sold the necklace to Banner, but when Sleazy didn't deny the connection she released a shaky breath. It must be him.
”Someone's looking for those pieces now.”
Sleazy shrugged. ”Someone's always looking for the good pieces. To steal 'em, or buy 'em.”
Rocky nodded. ”These pieces were a little more important than other pieces. And the guy looking for them is anxious to find them. See, the guy you sold the necklace to gave it to this lady here.” They both looked at Janet. ”And now someone has torn up her house and her car, looking for the rest of the collection.”
”Tough luck.” It wasn't much as sympathy went.
”Yeah. For you, too, once they realize she doesn't have them. Because you did, and that means maybe you still do.”
Anger touched his face, drawing his eyebrows down. ”You better not be tellin' people that. 'Cause I don't have them, either.”
”Like you said, tough luck. 'Cause I don't intend to let this lady get hurt for something she doesn't have. You can see why I need to find the rest of the jewelry.”
He blew smoke forcefully to the side. ”You ain't listenin'. I said I don't have them.”
”Then tell me who does. I'll get them back, and if you checked me out you know that's not an empty promise. Then both you and the lady here avoid the not-so-nice people who are looking for them. I'd be doing you a favor.”
Sleazy turned up the corner of his lip, giving them a glimpse of yellow teeth. ”You can't do nothin' for me. I sold 'em all to the same guy.”
Janet opened her mouth. Rocky made a small motion with his hand to shush whatever protest she was about to make. She bit her cheek and let him talk.
”He doesn't have them,” he told Sleazy, keeping his cool better than she would have.
The guy shrugged. ”Can't help you, then. Find out what b.i.t.c.h he gave them to. Or who he sold them to. Probably the same people he sold the diamonds to.”
Rocky leaned close to the bars and gave the guy a hard look through narrowed eyes. Janet thought for sure he was going to jump all over the guy for implying that Banner gave the jewelry to another woman. ”What diamonds?” His voice snapped with tension.
”The ones with the jewelry. That's what the guy wanted, mostly. Diamonds. No settings, ya know what I mean?” He took another disdainful puff while he waited to see if Rocky was too dumb to know what he meant.
Rocky's jaw muscle jumped so much she was surprised she couldn't hear his molars grinding. ”How many diamonds?”
”That time? Not too many, 'cause of the jewelry. Sixty or seventy-K, maybe.”
Seventy thousand dollars' worth of diamonds, in addition to the Pellinni Jewels? Janet knew her mouth had dropped open. Banner must have been in deeper s.h.i.+t than anyone realized if he was laundering that kind of money.
”That time?” Rocky repeated.
”Did business with him three or four times. Money for diamonds.” He showed his teeth again. ”It ain't illegal. You can't prove I did nothin' illegal.”
”I don't have to, pal. The people who are after the jewelry don't care about laws. And the ones who got the diamonds . . . well, let's just hope they got everything they were supposed to get, or they'll be looking for the rest. You know what I mean?”
His harsh question purposely echoed Sleazy's sullen one, with a whole lot more menace implied. Sleazy didn't like it.
”I told you, I ain't got the jewelry. The guy bought all of it. You should be askin' him.”
”Apparently you don't follow the news. He's in jail, most likely heading for prison, and he's not coming out in your lifetime.”
”s.h.i.+t.” Janet didn't know which part Sleazy found upsetting-that he might become a target for someone looking for the jewels, or that he'd lost any chance of future business deals with Banner. ”But I still ain't got the rest.”
Rocky didn't look like he believed him. ”How many pieces did you have?”
”Five, including the necklace.”
At least that part was right. Rocky glanced her way, a quick puzzled look. She shook her head to indicate she didn't know anything about the other pieces of jewelry. If he'd had the other pieces, Banner must have given them away.