Page 35 of Elusive Promise

"We could blow our hand," he finished, his lips tightening with frustration. "I know it's a risk."

"Let's see if they call me back. I can't see why Neil wouldn't do that. He wouldn't have any idea that I'm trying to connect Ben to a bombing in Paris. And he'd surely be interested in hearing what I want to say about Jasmine."

"True. I guess we'll wait."

She gave him a compassionate smile. "Not my strongest trait, either, but sometimes patience is necessary to get the bigger payoff."

"I agree."

He'd no sooner finished speaking when her phone rang. She glanced at the number. "It's my FBI contact. I need to take this. Do you mind if I use the bedroom?"

"Why don't you speak to him here?"

"Because I don't want to," she said candidly, taking the phone into the bedroom. She closed the door behind her, knowing that she still needed to choose her words carefully in case Jared might be listening, which he probably would be. "Any news?" she asked, sitting on the edge of the bed.

"Yes," Damon replied. "The Larimers received a ransom demand."

Her gut clenched. "How much?"

"Ten million dollars."

She blew out a breath. "That's a lot of cash. How did the Larimers react?"

"Westley wants to pay it. His father is concerned that paying the ransom won't ensure Jasmine's safe return, but he's moving forward in trying to raise the money. The kidnappers gave him until ten Monday morning."

"What about proof of life?"

"There's a video of Jasmine. She's alive."

"Thank God!" Relief ran through her. "At least we have a little time. Can I ask when the call came in?"

"Around noon."

And Anika had abruptly left the hotel a little before one. She and Westley had gotten together after the ransom demand.What did that mean?Had Westley been the one who'd texted Anika to meet him? But why all the subterfuge? Why hadn't they simply met at the café? Why ditch the bodyguard?Why act like they had something to hide?

"Parisa?" Damon asked sharply. "You still there?"

"Yes. I was talking to Anika Kumar at the Clairmont Hotel, probably about the time the ransom call came in. She got a text and left quickly, saying it was from her boss, but I had a feeling she was lying. I followed her to a department store, where she ditched her bodyguard and then met up with Westley Larimer in front of a hotel. They said something to each other, and it felt very intimate, but they didn't go into the hotel, they took off down the street. Unfortunately, I had to move out of sight, and I lost them."

"Are you suggesting there's something between Anika and Westley?" Damon asked in surprise.

"I don't know—maybe. Anika also told me that Westley wanted cash to start a new company but couldn't get it from his father, who apparently has a tight hold on the purse strings. She wondered if Westley might have used the diamond to get the money he needed."

"She thinks Westley set all this up? That's a new angle."

"It might be worth looking into Westley's financials."

"That's already happening. And Anika's theory doesn't seem to gibe with her meeting Westley in secret."

"I agree. She seems to be playing a lot of different sides."

"Which makes her more suspicious in my mind. It's time to do some digging into her life."

"I agree."

"Anything else I should know about?" Damon asked. "Are you still hanging with your mysterious friend?"

"At the moment," she admitted.

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