THE PERFECT TEN (Boxed Set)

she’d rather be silent than lie and believed she’d stick to a commitment.
    “Okay, I promise,” she whispered.
    He lifted her chin, gave her a brief kiss then left.
     

Chapter 31
     
    Mason’s cell phone beeped twice, then beeped again while he crossed the living room of his Manhattan flat to retrieve it. Dawn wouldn’t come for another two hours, but he hadn’t slept all night.
    “Sir, this is Richardson...”  Richardson oversaw the security of all Mason’s warehouses. He was privy to every shipment, legitimate and otherwise.
    Mason eased down on the sofa and sat back. “Is there a problem?”  
    “The Feds stopped by while I was in Raleigh. They wanted to ask questions about Farentino.”
    The local police should be handling Jeff’s death and Angelina’s disappearance. “What questions?”
    “They wanted to know her specific duties and if she handled any transactions.”
    Like Mason would have been stupid enough to let Angelina have access to records? “What did you tell them?”
    “That she’d been hired as a set of hands in the warehouse and that we didn’t give client file access to anyone with a prison record. I stuck to what your man Kenner said was the official statement. I told the Feds everyone was in shock. We all thought she was sweet and a hard worker, etcetera, but we obviously didn’t know what she was capable of, or the kind of skills she’d learned in prison.”
    So far so good. “Did they want anything else?”
    “Not really ... but...”
    “But what ?”  Mason sat up straight, alerted to the worry in Richardson’s voice.
    “One of them asked if I knew of any personal relationship between you and Farentino. I told them absolutely not. That our Raleigh warehouse manager had hired her after you and I reviewed her file and approved it. I added that I took full responsibility for hiring her and that I had to talk you into giving her a chance.”
    “Nice touch.”  Mason drummed his fingers on the arm of the sofa, trying to figure out what the Feds were after. “Think that satisfied them?”
    Richardson was silent for a moment. “I don’t think so, sir. I can’t put my finger on it, but I had a feeling they weren’t just asking about Jeff’s death. I think they were interested in Farentino for something else.”
    Angelina may not have seen the news report about Jeff’s body yet, but that didn’t matter. Mason had told Angelina she’d played a role in smuggling the paintings, whether she’d known it or not, and that he’d planted evidence of her participation in the coin theft.
    That he could hang her and he’d walk away unscathed.
    Angelina had believed him. He was certain of it.
    He knew her type, and he knew people. Nobody in any agency would believe she was innocent, nor would they buy any claim she made about Mason. Not with her record.
    As long as she ran, he felt certain she’d avoid the authorities.
    The minute she tried to sell those coins, she’d be arrested. She should realize that, but if he were Angelina, he’d be trying to get out of the country. To do that, she’d need money and might gamble on selling one of them.
    Regardless, Mason couldn’t risk the FBI getting to her first and hearing something that could be used against him. He had no idea what else she might have on him that she hadn’t admitted. She’d been cleverer than he’d anticipated.
    Underestimating her at this point would be stupid.
    Stupid was one thing he’d never been.
    He dismissed Richardson and ended the call, then punched the speed dial key for his bounty hunter. “I want an update.”
    CK didn’t launch into his usual report. “We’ll get her, but looks like somebody else has an interest. You don’t have another team down here do you?”
    “No. What are you talking about?”  Mason didn’t need this shit right now. It couldn’t be Czarion interfering, not after Mason had suggested Czarion go after Angelina and the coins, only to have the prick toss that back in Mason’s lap.
    “Another group tried to intercept her. I don’t have anything on them, but if anyone gets in my way, I’ll remove them,” CK warned.
    “You’re the only one on my tab, but we may have interest from a federal agency.” Time was not on Mason’s side with Czarion breathing down his neck. That bastard would get his coins, but on Mason’s terms. “Where is she?” he asked.
    “At the pilot’s apartment.” 
    “Go get her. I have a meeting just before noon, then I’ll