Total pages in book: 57
Estimated words: 53862 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 269(@200wpm)___ 215(@250wpm)___ 180(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 53862 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 269(@200wpm)___ 215(@250wpm)___ 180(@300wpm)
Sitting in Zara’s office chair, Lyra stayed out of Magnus’ way as she watched the feed from Phoenix’s body cam as he stepped out of the car. A black sedan already sat in the back section of the parking lot. The petrol station was out of business, leaving it deserted except for the two vehicles.
“I’m in position,” Hawking said softly.
“I’m in position,” Caesar chimed in. “I can see into the car. There are two Asian men in the front seat and one man slumped in the back.”
“Japanese?” Lyra guessed quickly and fell quiet at Magnus’s signal.
“Phoenix. There is also one man on top of the building,” Kestrel said. “He has a weapon pointed at you. Stay in front of the car.”
Lyra’s heart sped up as she watched Magnus switch on the feed from Kestrel’s helicopter far above. It was grainy, but it was easy to see the black-clad figure stretched out on top of the gas station, holding something in front of him.
A click sounded, and Lyra looked wildly around, trying to figure out what it was. Magnus covered his mic and explained. “One click is yes. Two is no.”
She could feel her pulse settle slightly. On Caesar’s body cam feed, she watched Phoenix lean against the car, looking casual. She scooted forward—glad she wasn’t there but wanting to help Phoenix.
He shouldn’t be there alone.
Magnus waved to get her attention and pointed at the array of camera feeds. It was as if he could read her mind. Lyra realized Phoenix was in the line of fire, but everyone was there to keep him safe. Magnus typed furiously on the keyboard. Lyra didn’t even try to understand what he was doing. A screen was labeled with Caesar’s name, another with Kestrel’s, and then Phoenix’s.
Where is Hawking? Is his camera down?
The driver’s door opened on the other car, pushing that thought from her mind. A slender man stepped out, capturing her attention. She swallowed hard when he asked, “You have brought the diamonds?”
“Yes. I have them in a safe location. Send Boyd over to get in my vehicle,” Phoenix said in a deep, even tone.
“You can have him. He’s already provided us with the name of the musician who smuggles the diamonds. We do not need him anymore.”
He walked to the back door, opened it, and dragged Boyd out of the interior. The battered man tumbled onto the pavement and slumped there.
The man pulled back his booted foot to kick Boyd, but Phoenix said, “You’ve left enough marks on him. Leave Boyd with enough strength to reach my car so I can deal with him.”
The Japanese man laughed. “You’ll want to leave your mark on him when you hear all the information he was willing to share to save his life.” He rattled off a series of numbers, and Lyra gasped.
“That’s my social security number,” she whispered furiously to Magnus and watched him nod that he understood.
“Boyd, get in the car,” Phoenix said to him, opening the rear door. His tone was low and menacing.
Lyra watched Boyd drag himself to his feet. Her ex-manager staggered to the car and fell through the open door, dragging his feet inside. Phoenix shut the door with a firm click, closing him inside.
“Now, the diamonds,” the other man demanded.
“You have all this information about Lyra. What do you plan to do with that?” Phoenix asked in a casual, conversational tone.
“We plan to bypass that useless trash,” he nodded at the slumped view of Boyd inside the car, “and use her travel schedule to our advantage.”
“Ms. Bloom was unaware that she was being used to transport gemstones and will not be willing to do so in the future,” Phoenix shared.
“That’s too bad. I’m sure she will change her mind with sufficient motivation.”
“I don’t believe she will.”
“Then we will attack all her bank accounts and publicly release sensitive information as well as candid photos that we found on Mr. Zhivers’ phone,” the Japanese man told him.
“That might convince her,” Phoenix agreed pleasantly without visibly reacting to this blackmail. “I will need to talk to her first to see what her decision is.”
Caesar’s body camera shook slightly, and Lyra knew he was shifting around. She glanced at the feed from Kestrel’s view above, but that screen had gone blank. Oh, no. He’s moved away. Refocusing on Caesar’s feed, she found the picture had settled. The smuggler walked forward a few steps, and her gaze flew back to her Daddy’s perspective. Lyra watched the man’s response through that display.
“Talk all you want, but I must have the diamonds now.” The man reached into his pocket and pulled out a gun that looked strange to Lyra’s eyes. It was white and seemed to be made from plastic.
“You were able to smuggle a 3D-printed gun through customs, but you can’t move your own diamonds?” Phoenix questioned easily.