Ring of Lies (20 page)

‘
I understand.
You have my
condolences
on your loss.
Your husband’s account shows a healthy balance.
My assistant
will
prepar
e
a
duplicate
set of
statement
s
for you.
Do you plan on keeping funds here or would you prefer
to transfer the bal
ance to your
bank
in England?
’

‘
I’m not sure
.
M
y plans are fairly fluid at present.
’

‘
In that case, why don’t we set you up with a
checking account
and
bankcard
?
I see you have a house on Gasparilla Island.
Will you be staying there?
’

‘
Oh… yes.
Of course.
’

‘
That’s fine, then.
We’ll show that as your residence.
That way you’ll have access to
your money while you’re stateside
.
Then
,
at a later date,
if you decide that you
want
to transfer the money
into some other account
,
it’ll be easy
.
’

‘
That sounds reasonable.
D
id
Daniel
ha
ve
an ATM card
, only I didn’t find one among his effects?
’

‘
We issue all our customers with an ATM card.
’

‘
What about a
safety deposit box
?
’

‘
I
f
your husband
owned one, it wasn’t with this bank. We
don’t have
that
facility here
.
Now, if you’ll just sign these forms,
Mrs.
Elliott, I’ll
take care of everything for you.
’

‘
I’m st
aying at the Island Palm Hotel
here in Miami
,
just for a few days
.
If
you could
direct
any correspondence there
,
I woul
d
be grateful.
Of course, I’ll be in the house in a week or two, I’m sure.
Just not today.
’

‘
I see.
’

‘
I mean
,
I’ve only just arrived
and—
’
Jack nudged her knee with his.
She got the message.
‘
I’m sure you understand
.
’

‘
Of course.
Thank
s for dropping by
today.
You’ll be hearing from us.
’

Grace shook hands with the banker
, and then she and Jack left.
They ha
d only walked
the length of one block
when
he
pulled her
toward the window of a jewellery store.

‘
If you’re expecting me to buy you a Rolex in return for all your help, forget it
,
’
she said, scanning the price tags on the skilfully displayed watches
.
‘
The
y
are way out of my price range.
’

‘
Just pretend to be interested.
’

‘
Why
?
’

‘
Because the plate glass makes a
good
mirror and I want to check out the guy who’s following us.
’

‘
We’re being followed?
’
More surprised than frightened
,
she started to turn.

His hands clamped around her upper arms
.
‘
D
on’t
turn around
.
Point something out to me
,
as if you want me to buy it for you.
’

Grace tilted her head and pointed to a ladies watch with a mother of pearl face.
‘
You’re sure
someo
ne’s watching
us
?
’

‘
I’m sure.
A
man
wearing dark glasses, black
jeans, and blue shirt f
ollowed us
from
the attorney’s
office
to the bank
.
H
e
got into the teller
line.
When we left
,
he was
standing
next to the newspaper
stand outside
.
He’s not too careful about blending in.
A pro would have changed his
appearance
, different jacket, a hat, glasses
—or switched places with a partner
.
’

‘
It could be just a coincidence
.
’

‘
I doubt it,
but
t
here’s only one way to find out.
’
He
glanced
at her
feet.
‘
Those
shoes
make your legs look great, but can you run in them?
’

Grace shot him a withering glance.
The
navy
blue Italian leather shoes
with
four-inch
heels
were new.
‘
Run?
In
these
,
in this heat
, a
re you
serious
?
’

‘
Yep
.
’
Jack
looke
d in the window.
Their tail had crossed the road and was standing at the edge of the sidewalk
talking into his mobile phone.

‘
T
h
ese
cost me all
of two hundred dollars.
’

‘
Then take them off.
’

‘
You’re
mad
.
’

‘
Very probably, but sometimes it’s the only way to stay alive.
Listen carefully.
Act
as if we’re
having an argument
, th
en
walk
away as quickly as you can.
Do you think you can find your
way
to the parking lot
?
’

‘
I think so.
’

‘
Okay.
’
Jack slipped the keys to the
SUV
into
the palm of her
hand.
‘
I want you to go there and lock yourself in.
If I’m not there in ten minutes,
drive
until you see a cop and tell him
you were followed
.
I’ll catch
up
with you as soon as I can.
’

‘
But—
’
She
stared wordlessly at him, her heart pounding.

‘
No buts.
Now do what I told you to do
.
’

Grace turned to face him and
froze.
His eyebrows rose.
He lifted his palms upward.
Feeling terrified and foolish, she
gesticulat
ed
wildly
, then pulled off her
shoes
and ran
down the street
.
Jack
stomped
inside the store
and pretended to examine the merchandise.
Through the shop window he
watched
their shadow take off af
ter
her
.