Crash Into Me ~ A Love in the City Romance by Dellani Oakes – Part 5

In separate vehicles, they traveled to the cemetery, parking some distance away, approaching on foot from different directions. Anton arrived first, opening the gate. His men positioned themselves around and about. Normally, he'd have gone solo, but he knew full well that Butler wouldn't come alone. The man had been a pain in the ass for weeks. Everything Anton had told him not to do—he had. Anton felt sure that the financier would once again go against what he was told. Since that worked into his plans, he didn't care.

One of his men tapped on his microphone. Butler had arrived as anticipated. Four more taps followed. Anton smiled. Rick had brought friends. Anton's team were well hidden and armed with tranquilizers. If a security man came in range, he would go down. Butler arrived, waiting just inside the gate, looking around. Though hyper alert, he still managed not to see Anton in the shadows. Moving stealthily, Anton allowed himself to be seen. Butler gasped, clutching his chest.

"You scared me to death!" he spoke too loudly.

Anton shushed him. "Payment."

"Let me see it."

Anton held the necklace where it caught the orange glow of the streetlight. The streak of gold flashed against the ruby's surface. Butler gasped again, this time with awe. Reaching out, he tried to pluck it from Anton's hand.

The thief tucked it away. "Payment."

A team member tapped his com. It meant one man down. A second and a third followed. The fourth came shortly after. Anton suppressed a smile.

Butler whipped out his phone, sending electronic payment to a numbered Swiss account. Once Anton had verification, he handed over the rubies, with gloved hands. Butler's were bare, which he'd counted on. Dewey had also made a tactile tranquilizer, which acted very quickly. Butler's eyes drifted shut. Blinking hard, he tried to run. Instead, he stumbled and fell, the rubies in his left hand.

Anton took Butler's phone and dialed 911, dropping it on the ground. He and his men left as silently as they'd arrived. He had payment, and would send each man his cut, as soon as he got home. With a nod, they parted ways, heading to their cars.

Blue lights flashed in the night sky, and sirens shrilled. Smiling, Anton walked away, leaving the ruby clutched in Butler's hand. The thrill had been in stealing it. The necklace was too high profile to try and fence. The other items would wait in bank boxes and safes in different locations, until they could be cut, reset and sent to a broker.

His team excelled at lying low. Even now, they were disposing of the bikes by leaving them in public places, where thy would be stolen. Cars, which were stolen anyway, would be ditched next, and all of them would leave town. Anton wasn't going far, but since no one knew where he was, he thought he was safe. Taking a circuitous way home, Anton was certain he wasn't followed. He did his security check of his home, satisfied he was pest free. A long, hot shower made him sleepy, so he went to bed. As soon as his head touched his pillow, he saw Tabitha's face in front of him. So beautiful. He sighed. He was sure she'd recognized him, despite his attempt at a disguise. With luck, she wouldn't be able to give a good description. He realized he'd taken a terrible risk, putting his safety in her strong, capable hands. Hands that had been trained to kill. His very freedom depended on not being recognized. Had he wanted her to know him? He could easily have clipped the metal clasp on site. The decision to take her had been bold and foolish. Finally, he went to sleep, dreaming of beautiful black birds with golden eyes and ruby beaks.

Morning found him sound asleep. Once more, the sun woke him when he turned over.

"Drapes," he muttered. "Thick, heavy drapes."

After breakfast of toast, eggs and coffee, he headed to the Wal-Mart in Franklin. He needed food and drapes, along with some other household items. It never seemed to fail, every time he relocated, he had things to buy. This move was no different. Making a mental list, he went through the store. At the checkout, the clerk didn't talk much, but stared at Anton. Any attempt that Anton made at conversation, was shut down. It was an odd way to act, but Anton brushed it off as a man who had worked too long, at a job he hated.

When he got home, he put away his groceries and made himself some lunch. Clicking on the news, his hands stopped halfway to his mouth. On screen, he saw a photo of the Tangier's Ruby.

"Police Commissioner Stennis had this to say about the jewelry robbery."

It cut to the front steps of City Hall. Carla Stennis stood behind a podium, surrounded by microphones. Dressed in a pale pink Jackie Kennedy suit, her dazzling red hair was perfectly coiffed. Her makeup was flawless, her manicure glittering. Her serious expression was hampered slightly by the Botox.

"The Tangier's Ruby was stolen from Metro Art Museum last night a little after 8:00 PM, by a team of five thieves. In a bizarre twist, the thieves were apprehended, and the necklace recovered at 1:45 AM this morning. Unfortunately, the rest of the jewels, from the same heist, were not recovered. Authorities suspect there may be two sets of thieves."

The screen divided to show sketches.

"These are composite sketches drawn from witness reports. Suspects are from the team of caterers from last night's affair. One of the models was kidnapped, and found in an abandoned catering truck."

His own face, with marked discrepancies, flashed on the screen. To someone who knew him well, he would be recognizable. His mother, if he'd had one, would know him anywhere. So would the Roeder Sisters. So would Clarise.

©2021 Dellani Oakes

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