Stolen Skye (Book One, The Skye Trilogy) (5 page)

I finished my laundry and packing.
Finn had his one small bag already by the door. Remembering one final task, I snatched up the bag of rubies and ran upstairs. Spilling the contents onto my bedspread, I marveled at the way they shone, casting reflections of light on my walls. Their deep red color was breathtaking. I didn’t understand how Finn could say they were poor samples. Maybe I was going to make them into jewelry before. I couldn’t imagine taking them into Ray John’s Jewelers and asking them to cut them down. Whatever the reason for me sneaking them into the country, they were definitely precious to me. I hid them in an old gym bag at the bottom of my closet. Nobody, including me, ever went in there.

I logged onto my
laptop and searched for Fintan Edwards. There were vague listings with one of the two names in them, but nothing informative. I wasn’t sure what I was looking for, but it felt like it was the smart thing to do. The results were completely unhelpful. I changed out of my shirt and put on a black turtleneck. Fitting for a crook. As I returned to the first floor, I realized something that should have dawned on me before.

“What exactly were you doing in Newport?”

Finn gave me a sheepish grin and replied, “Well, I’d be compromising you to say.”

“It didn’t have anything to do with some valuable art, did it?” I waited, knowing full well he was responsible for the largest robbery I’d ever heard of.
I couldn’t help but be impressed and then I saw how very far I’d come in less than twenty-four hours. I was proud of a thief. Maybe I really was one.

He waited, his grin never fading
. “My client owned them first.”

“Where are the paintings now?”

“They’re on their way home, just like you.” He turned from me and took out his cell phone, ending the discussion. I busied myself with nothing in particular as he spoke to the pilot. After he hung up he said, “Sorry if you wanted to go with me on the run, I assumed you’d sleep in after last night.”

Surprised, I answered, “Ah, no.
I don’t run.” I chuckled at the thought.

“You used to.
You always joked that you didn’t want to be the last one that got pinched. You and Raven were fierce competitors.” He laughed, seeming to enjoy a good memory. I was floored. How funny that being a runner could shock me while I was struggling with the idea of being a thief.

“Well, my current life doesn’t require sprinting from the scene of the crime.
Who is Raven, another friend?”

“Yes, in a way.
There was a healthy rivalry between you two.” He seemed to have a hard time giving me details of any of the relationships. Perhaps all of this was harder on him than I realized. Seeing me after presuming me dead, hoping I remembered him. I wanted details, but I also sensed that I needed to be patient and not push for everything at once. Soon, it was time to go.

The living room was dark as I surveyed
my house, making sure I’d thought of everything. Finn stood by the cab, waiting for me. “You always wanted an adventure,” I whispered to myself. If I was ever going to learn the truth, this was my chance. I felt more in control as I pulled the door shut behind me, locking my home up tight.

Chapter
6. Sundown

We walked to the hangar entrance and I was stunned by the sight of the plane.
I wasn’t one to get excited about aviation, but there was no denying it was first-class. Finn saw me flounder and stepped back to me. “Is this our plane?” I asked, pointing idiotically.

“Yes, well, it’s not ours.
It’s a loaner. You’ve been on it before. When we need to move quickly, it proves much more convenient than commercial. Come on.” Finn took my hand and walked me over to the stairs, bounding up ahead, pulling me with him. He reintroduced me to Captain Kelly, an older gentleman who greeted me with a hug. Also onboard was a first mate named Vince and Sara, a friendly British girl, both of whom I had not met before, according to Finn. Sara was the one steward for our flight. I realized they were the crew that Jasper had assisted at the hotel the day before.

A quick glance around the cabin revealed crème-colored carpet with a gold swirl through the center, looping gracefully down the aisle.
There were white leather captain chairs and two leather couches facing each other in the center. The galley and hard surfaces were like glossy oak. It rapidly spoiled any other form of travel for me and we hadn’t even taken off.

As Finn joined the conversation between the pilots and men who appeared to be airport personnel, I settled into one of the captain chairs nearest the galley and buckled my seat belt.
It was almost dark over Newport. I watched the light bleed from the sky into the horizon. No turning back now, I thought. I smiled, knowing there was nothing in the world that could make me.

Finn returned and took the seat across from me.
“We’re all set,” he assured. “So, are you ready?” He shifted toward me in his seat.

“Yes, I’m not even nervous.
I just want to get there.” I could tell it relaxed him to hear I wasn’t afraid anymore. It was almost nearly the truth.

“Good
. It seems the wind is on our side tonight, so we should be there before you know it.” As if he commanded it, Sara shut the cabin door and the engines came to life. As the last of the light faded from the winter sky, we made our ascent into the twilight.

The flight was more like being the only guests of a world-renowned steak house.
We had cocktails, nuts, bread, and a well-prepared main course of filet mignon with all the trimmings. I would be asleep any minute if Finn didn’t keep talking. “So, you’ve mentioned Bounce, Brinks, Ari, and Raven. Are there any others I should know about?”

“That’s all the Purveyors, including you and me, of course.”
He took a sip of his Irish stout.

“Purveyors?
We have a team name?” My life in crime was sounding more like a high school chess club.

“No, it’s not a team name,” he laughed.
“It’s just how one of our major clients refers to us. Just caught on, I guess.”

“So, what do we purvey, exactly?”

“Let’s just say we aren’t the smash
-and-grab types. I can offer you more detail in private.” He glanced over to where Sara prepared our dessert behind a sliding galley door.

“Ah.
So, is there more you can tell me about the others? Not about anything… work-related, just who they are? Who they were to me?” I felt like I was cramming for a final and running out of time.

“Bounce knew you first.
Her dad was from Trinidad, but she grew up in the Bronx, where her mother was from. She has the accent to prove it. You two were close. Losing you was hard on her.”

“Is
Bounce her real name?” I wished I could remember someone who genuinely cared about me.

“No, but it suits her.
You’ll see,” he laughed.

“So, the other girl is Raven?”

“Yes. Raven’s all talent. She’s a striker, like me. We can talk about that more later. She’s from Colombia and a former beauty queen. She’s very valuable to the group, a pain in the ass often, but reliable.” I listened closer to see if I could hear any deeper affection in his voice, just out of curiosity. It didn’t ring of passion, but there was some genuine annoyance and admiration.

“Brinks is Bahamian and a computer whiz.
He can do anything you can imagine.”

“What about Ari?”
He was the one that I sensed was the most difficult for Finn to discuss. Just saying his name made me apprehensive, a response I couldn’t even begin to figure out.

“Ari is in charge, so to speak.
I’m not really sure what to expect from him when we get there. If you’re asking what your relationship was like with him, I would say it was like you were his student. He respected your tenacity. He isn’t one to let too many people in.”

“It sounded like he wasn’t really a friend back at the house.”
I knew it bothered him, but I wanted to understand since the problem between them seemed to have something to do with me.

Finn took a deep breath before answering
. “He’s hurt us all and until I understand it, I can’t forgive it.” He turned from me and stared out the window, lost in thought. I was dying to ask him what our relationship had been, but I didn’t want to make him have another heavy conversation. The beef and the wine were getting to me as Sara cleared our trays, offering us hot cookies. I took a couple of bites as I looked out into the deep blue darkness. I imagined we were far out over the ocean. I felt my body begin to shut down. I turned to Finn and saw he was getting up.

“Don’t fall asleep there, we have couches.”
He unbuckled my seat belt and tugged me gently forward. He lay on one and I sank into the other. Sara brought us each a pillow and blanket. We had a couple of hours left in the flight to get some sleep. For a moment, we lay facing each other. Finn’s natural smile began to fade. It felt like there was something he wanted to say, but his eyes told me he was being careful.

After more time passed, he rolled onto his back and rubbed his face with both hands
, as if trying to clear his head. “I’ll wake you when we get close,” he assured without glancing back at me before closing his eyes. I continued staring at him, deciding he was even more handsome when thoughtful than when smiling. Though I’d tried hard, I couldn’t remember him from my past, but he’d made an impression the second I saw him. Perhaps there was a reason I responded to him so instantly. I fell asleep hoping it was a good one.

***

Arriving in London as the sun rose was an unexpected pleasure. I remembered Heathrow from my first visit, and there had been a lengthy bus ride from it to London proper. I wasn’t anticipating flying over the city itself with the Thames and Parliament sparkling at daybreak. Finn explained we were landing at Northolt Jet Centre on the edge of the financial district. I’d never seen London by air except in Mary Poppins. Austere corporate buildings bordered seventeenth century churches. Royal palaces viewed from the steel and cables of the London Eye. A city where the old, new, and imaginary blend uniquely. It was the perfect place for rediscovering my past.

Finn took care of everything at the airport and we were whisked away by a large, bullet-gray Mercedes.
Nobody introduced me to the gentleman behind the wheel and he only greeted me with a simple nod as he opened my door. He was a black man dressed in an all-black suit, tie and shirt ensemble. It wasn’t his significant height or huge build that were most intimidating. His silence in contrast to the friendliness of the pilots and Finn was frightening. Something about him recalled the seriousness of my situation. I was on the ground and it was time to be careful.

We sped quickly through downtown London.
Many things felt familiar, but it was hard to tell if they were from my past or just byproducts of popular media. I was thankful it didn’t feel completely foreign to me. After my recovery, my mother suggested the same trip to jog my memory. Walking around London hoping I stumbled on something significant felt like wasting time, traveling backward. I decided it was better to move to Newport and keep moving forward. Now, I was doing exactly what she recommended, with one important difference: Finn. I wouldn’t be searching the city in the dark — he was the light.

“What do you think?”
Finn turned to me, pulling my attention from the blur of city outside my window. I had seen this look before from people in my life. He was hopeful. So much would be easier if I saw Big Ben and remembered everything. I hated to disappoint him.

“Some things do look familiar, but I remember odds and ends.
I just don’t recall events, if that makes any sense. I can tell you what building is Buckingham Palace, I just can’t remember if I took the tour. It’s like that.” In response, Finn laughed unexpectedly. “What’s so funny?” I asked.

“Nothing, you just reminded me of something.
I just wanted to make sure you were okay. You’re so uncharacteristically quiet.” He turned back toward his window, fingering the door lock.

“I’m fine, maybe just tired.
What happens next?” I wasn’t sure what was planned for my big reveal.

“I’ll come for you around 3
PM for a late lunch with Bounce. She’s a good place to start.” The thought ratcheted my anxiety up a notch. Finn sensed my apprehension and said, “Everything will be fine. You just need to meet her again.” Passing by expansive parks and designer boutiques, Finn announced we’d reached Mayfair, a central London district. Moments later, we pulled in front of the Barrington Hotel. Its charming façade, laced with topiary trees and men in tails and top hats, was enchanting. The concierge, Edwin, was expecting us and introduced me to Augustus, who would deliver my luggage.

My suite was richly decorated and far too much room for just me.
Edwin escorted me through, providing detailed instruction on every feature. The enormous bathtub was where I saw myself in the immediate future. Finn waited in the entryway until we were alone. Edwin bid us farewell as he and Finn shook hands. Typically, the concierge was not someone who would give a guided tour of a room, so I felt some special attention was being paid to my stay. It was curious to me.

“You’re going to have to break it to me how much this is a night.
I might have to dip into my retirement plan.” I hadn’t been involved in any of the planning and I knew how much a suite in a boutique hotel could run. I wasn’t raised to be a completely frivolous spender, so my mind was making calculations and considering a move to a smaller room.

“You’re our guest.
Stay here and charge anything you want to the room. It is the least we can do… making you comfortable. You’re going to have visitors, I’m sure. The suite makes the most sense.” I gave in, too tired to argue. I could stop by the desk and settle up the charges later. He was still standing by the door so I took it that he meant to leave.

“Well, I’m going to take a swim in my tub and then sleep.
You said 3 PM?”

“Yes.
Good. Call Edwin if you need anything. Also, here’s my cell, but I will see you then. We aren’t going anywhere… formal.” He handed me a stiff, white card with the name Fintan Wright engraved in blood red on the front and an international number on the back.

“Nice to meet you, Mr. Wright.”
I smiled at the new name and the double meaning. I was sure every woman loved calling him that. “Thank you again, for getting me here… for everything.” He acknowledged my gratitude with a smile, bidding me a good sleep. Shortly after he left, Augustus delivered my luggage.

Silence.
It was nice to be alone. I was tired and felt that film on my body that lengthy travel can leave behind, even flying privately. A bath and fresh clothes were the answer. After soaking for an eternity, I wrapped myself in a cloud-like towel, hunting for pajamas. I crawled into the voluminous bed and fell almost immediately asleep, nerves and all. How scary could meeting old friends be?