“Fine. If you win, I won’t try to murder you for the next two hours.”
“Twenty-four hours.”
“Four.”
“I’ll take it. If you win, I’ll allow you to have my cell phone for twenty minutes.”
“Wow, what a generous kidnapper you are.”
“Let’s make it fifteen for the attitude.” He bumps me with his hip, and despite myself, I have to bite down on my lip to keep from smiling.
Liam holds open the door. “After you, my lady.”
No one else is in the small cottage, most likely deeming it unnecessary to see the home of a criminal. Liam’s eyes narrow as he steps through the door, instantly transitioning into search mode. He’s so serious about this treasure hunt. I long to prove him wrong.
But what if he’s right?
I guess I’ll have to be the first to find this compartment.
I take the opposite end of the cottage; Liam doesn’t even look in my direction. He’s feeling around walls and bookcases. He’s basically frisking the entire house. I can do that.
The cottage has only two rooms outside the main kitchen and living area. I bypass the bathroom. Who would leave their treasure above the toilet?
The bedroom is sparse and carries a stale musty odor in the air. Like everything was cleaned when the estate became a museum, but never again. There’s hunting equipment on one wall and a closet with a pair of trousers and old button-up shirts with billowy sleeves. A tweed hat sits on the top shelf. I run my fingers over every inch of the closet. Nothing. I search the bed, then around the desk and nightstand. Nothing. I stand with a sigh and look out the window. The trees are in full bloom and beckon to me. I bypass my search of the house and wander out back toward them. After I’ve followed the line of trees for a moment, I realize I’ve gone in a circle.
That’s weird. From the bedroom they looked like a straight line.
I walk inside the room and look out the window. The window is separated into six panes, each extremely warped, but… I step closer. The top right pane I looked through the first time is so curved it shows the tree line going straight. But it’s the only one. I press on the glass, but it doesn’t give. It’s not loose; there are no crevices along the rim.
I retreat to the bed and look at all the windows again, studying the tree line in both forms until I find the spot where they connect. At a single large oak tree with deadened branches near the bottom.
I rush outside and follow the curve until I hit the tree then look back at the cottage. The main house and the cottage are both blocked from sight from where I’m standing.
The perfect hiding place… but also close enough to keep an eye on.
I walk around the large trunk. There’s a small black knot halfway up the trunk about two feet out of my reach. I grab onto the branches and haul myself up, scraping my arms and dress on the rough bark.
I get a foothold on a sturdy branch and reach above me. A breeze whips the back of my dress into the air, and I gasp, dropping my hand to my backside. Stupid dresses. Such an inconvenience. When my dress is under control, I reach again, but I can’t tell if I’m feeling anything. I need to get higher. I steady my opposite foot on that branch and twist to get a better angle. A twig scrapes my face, but I go onto my toes, stretching, anticipation buzzing on my skin.
I get a look into the crevice, and… my stomach flips. There’s something shiny. I reach for it… just as the branch beneath my feet snaps.
Chapter 16
Liam
I catch a flashof blue high up in one of the trees, and for a moment, my pulse slows. Something is off. I’ve felt it ever since I woke up after being drugged by Serena. The woman should come with a warning label.
I can’t decide if I feel anxious simply because I was already caught unaware by Serena, or if something more nefarious is at play. I’ve always had a sixth sense on these kinds of things and have canceled many heists because of the timing and feeling of trepidation in the air.
I sneak around the edges of the trees, careful to move as quietly as possible.
The person in the tree climbs higher and then mutters a very amusing curse.
So that’s where she disappeared to.
I round the tree, standing directly below her, waiting for her to notice me. Instead, she reaches for a knot on the tree. But the movement snaps the branch beneath her weight-bearing foot, and she falls.
I don’t have to think at this point. Saving Serena is like second nature. I catch her flailing, falling body against me, but I underestimate the impact and stumble, hitting my head on a rough branch.
