Hot Rocks

dumped Willy’s in a locker in Delaware. Got ourselves a nice hotel room in Virginia, had a fine meal, a couple bottles of champagne. Good time,” he said, and toasted with his glass.
    “Heard about Myers on CNN. Willy loved CNN. Tried to tell ourselves it was because of the gambling, but we knew. Switched cars, drove to North Carolina. Willy was spooked. Hell, we were both spooked, but he was nervous as a whore in church. Wanted to light out, just forget it all and head for the hills. I talked him down from that. Goddamn it.”
    He studied his beer, then lifted it and drank deep. “I’d lead Crew off, and he’d double back, get his share, take it to Laine. She could put him up for a little while. I thought he’d be safe. Thought they both would.”
    “But he knew about her. Crew.”
    “I got pictures of her in my wallet.”
    He drew it out and flipped it open.
    Max saw photos of a newborn with a bright thatch of red hair and skin as white as cream, and an expression on her little face that seemed to say, “What the hell am I doing here?”
    There were several of Laine as a child, all bright hair and eyes, who from the grin had obviously figured out what she was doing here. Then of the nubile teenager, pretty and dignified in her graduation shot. Of Laine wearing cutoffs and a skinny top, laughing as she stood in the blue surf of what Max deduced was Barbados.
    “Always been a looker, hasn’t she?”
    “Prettiest baby you ever saw, and she just got prettier every day. I get sentimental, especially after a beer or two.” Jack shrugged. It was just another God-given weakness, after all. Closing the wallet, he tucked it away again.
    “I must’ve shown her off to Crew sometime. Or he just dug down and looked for something he could use against me, should the need arise. There’s no honor among thieves, Max, and anybody who thinks different is a sucker. But to kill over money? That’s a sickness. I knew he had it in him, but I thought I could beat him at the game.”
    “I’ll find him. And I’ll put him down, one way or the other. That’s our flight.”

    Laine fought not to pace, to just look busy. She checked the time again. Her father should be on his way back by now. She should’ve told him to call when he was on his way back. She should’ve insisted.
    She could call Max again, but what was the point? He’d be on his way to Columbus. Maybe he was already there.
    She just had to get through the day, that was all. Just this one day. Tomorrow, the news would hit that a large portion of the stolen diamonds had been recovered. She’d be in the clear, her father would be in the clear, and life would get back some semblance of normality.
    Maybe Max would pick up Crew’s trail from this Ohio connection. They’d track him down, put him away. She’d never have to worry about him again.
    “You keep going away.” Jenny gave her a little nudge as she carried a George Jones cheese dish to the counter for a customer.
    “Sorry. I’m sorry. Wandering mind. I’ll take the next one who comes in.”
    “You could take Henry for another walk.”
    “No, he’s had enough walks today. He gets sprung from the back room in another hour anyway.”
    She heard the bells ring. “I’ll take this one.”
    “All yours.” Jenny lifted her brows as she glanced at the new customer. “Little old for that look,” she said under her breath, and moved on.
    Laine fixed on her welcome face and crossed over to greet Crew. “Good afternoon. Can I help you?”
    “I’m sure you can.” From his previous visits to her store, he knew the arrangements and exactly where he wanted her. “I’m interested in kitchen equipment. Butter crocks, specifically. My sister collects.”
    “Then she’s in luck. We have some very nice ones just now. Why don’t I show you?”
    “Please.”
    He followed her through the main room, into the area she’d set up for kitchen equipment, furnishings and novelties. As they passed the door to the back room, Henry began to growl.
    “You have a dog in here?”
    “Yes.” Puzzled, Laine looked toward the door. She’d never known Henry to growl at store sounds and voices. “He’s harmless and he’s secured in the back room. I needed to bring him in with me today.” Because she sensed her customer’s annoyance, she took his arm and led him to the crocks.
    “The Caledonian’s especially nice, I think, for a collector.”
    “Mmm.” There were two customers and the pregnant clerk. As the