Page 148 of In the Pursuit of Haven
“It’s a lie,” I said. “Give those letters back, Jessie. We don’t want them.”
Luther stiffened then chuckled in that condescending, professor way of his that never bothered me until now. “Oh, don’t get smart with me, dearie. You don’t know who you’re dealing with.”
Apparently not.“Just leave, Luther!” I trembled with indignation as the words left my mouth. He might’ve started making these threats when Haven was alive, but she was in a place he couldn’t touch her anymore. “We have nothing to say to you.”
Luther grinned at Jessie. I didn’t trust that proprietary way he watched my husband, like he owned him and was getting ready to tighten the chains. “Oh, but your husband made such pretty promises to us.”
Jessie’s jaw tightened.
“What promises?” I asked. When Jessie didn’t answer, I swung around to Luther. “What promises?”
“He called us right up when he heard about his sister. The things she’s done to escape this small town, right, Jessie? Breaking into government property should get her at least twenty years’ jail time. Oh, but you already know, boy, or you wouldn’t have told Hunter to back off in exchange for your cooperation.”
Jessie had given up everything for his sister. Again, we were back to the naughty and sweet.
“You didn’t follow through with your part of the deal,” Jessie snarled.
“And you were going to turn on me,” Luther said, much too calmly for my taste, “—with all that talk at the museum about making sure the treasure never reaches my hands. No, we needed assurances, but don’t worry; we’ve got some good stuff on your kid sister. No one’s going to turn on anyone anymore. We can arrange all sorts of charges against Abby. I have footage. You should see it. It’s really good. Poor girl didn’t realize until now we were only using her to get to you.”
I was starting to understand how Robert had been enraged enough to kill Walt.
Jessie’s hands tightened on the letters. “What do you want from us, Luther?”
“That’s better,” Luther said. “Groveling. I expect lots of groveling… and digging for that treasure until your hands are red and blistered—forget using any modern conveniences. You’ve caused me too much grief. The only good thing you did was figure out where those Relics are; your next task is to present that treasure to me on a silver platter. I’ve waited long enough for it!”
I made a sound of protest. Jessie’s free hand went to mine. He glanced over at the windows where Finn panted and scratched at the glass. I hadn’t noticed who was out there. We were surrounded by Hunter’s men. Divine smirked in her sleek leather jacket. She was dressed like a cat burglar in the frigid temperatures. Abby stood next to her, not as smug or happy about this as her partners in crime. Her blonde hair was tied in a tight fishtail braid.
Her bright spirit had been tied too long here. These crooks had netted her with her dreams and her naïve belief that she could trust them to give her everything she wanted. Now, she looked like a mermaid dragged from the water and forced to join the humans.
Jessie’s hand had turned to stone beneath mine, and I squeezed him to comfort him.
“I’m sorry,” Jessie whispered to me.
We were backed into a corner. I knew that; and still something inside of me rebelled against all this. I turned from Jessie to glare at the man I’d once trusted. “You’re burning all evidence against Abby,” I told Luther. “If we’re doing this, you’d better!”
“Roxy!” Jessie protested. “Don’t make deals.”
“Yes, yes, I knew you’d change your tune,” Luther said with a big crocodile smile—clearly he’d expected nothing less. “You have nothing to worry about. We’ll release your sweet little sister from her duties as soon as she helps us get this treasure.”
“Nuh uh.” Jessie wasn’t having any of this. “You’re usingmeand that’s it!”
I pushed back from him. “Oh no you don’t!” I turned my rage on Luther next. “You’re leaving all of us out of it. You’re taking those Relics and you’re leaving this place. And forget us ever working foryouagain! We’re done.”
“Ha!” Luther let out an appreciative guffaw. “That’s a sweet thought—but don’t fret; no one’s getting left out of the hunt. I’ll be using each andeveryone of you from here on out, for as long as I wish. I own you all now.” He winked at me. “I appreciate your skills so far, my darling. Your auntie would be proud.”
I made another disgruntled sound, my rage filling me in my helplessness. I wasn’t in this for some dark twist on work appreciation!
Hunter’s men were already drifting inside, gathering the Relics upstairs while I watched on with a knotted stomach. Luther was beside himself with the clever little mechanism that we’d put together and insisted the group sit down to watch the lantern show like we would if we were making a night of it at the museum.
I pushed next to Jessie. He pushed his knuckles together and tried his preemptive argument: “I knew how much Haven means to you,” he whispered before I could turn on the third degree.
“And so you didn’t tell me?” I asked.
“She thought I was trying to turn you against her when I told her what was happening. What was I supposed to do? She wouldn’t give up her half of the locket. I told her it was the only way to get these blackmailers off my back… and that’s when she kicked me out of the house.”
I blew out my cheeks. What a scene that must’ve been!
“She thought I was one of the blackmailers, Roxy. Shereallyhated me, but I knew if she didn’t try to protect herself then… well, someone had to look out for her.”
