She slid her hand around his waist. “The money will help. As will stopping Lucas, but it might take time for them to forgive your actions.”
Lee knew that. He’d be surprised if they ever forgave him. He glanced at Nhiari. These were her friends. Even if he somehow avoided gaol time, they wouldn’t want him in their lives. He hadn’t considered that before.
The pit in his stomach grew deeper. He’d let himself hope he’d get leniency for helping the police, but that wasn’t the real hurdle now.
He couldn’t let Nhiari be ostracised from her friends for his actions.
There really was no future for them.
It was about half an hour before Sam fetched them. Nhiari had heard doors open and close throughout the house and a car leaving and return. She suspected they were trying to make it difficult for Lee to know where the treasure was being kept.
They returned to the kitchen, where a backpack sat in the middle of the table. Brandon gestured to it. “Take a look.”
Lee opened the bag, and she peered in. Gold and jewels. Nhiari gasped. “It’s beautiful.” She pulled out a ruby bracelet.
“You haven’t seen it yet?” Lee asked.
She glanced at him. “I’ve been with you all this time, remember?” And the Stokes had only just found the treasure when Jordan and Cody had been kidnapped.
Lee tipped the contents of the bag out on the table, and coins and jewels poured out.
It was impressive, but not that much for the amount of fuss it had caused. “What proportion of the treasure is this?” Nhiari asked.
Brandon stared at Lee for a long moment before he said, “About a tenth.”
Lee nodded. “Can I take some photos? Lucas will want proof.”
“Put it back in the bag,” Nhiari said. “And we should all make sure we’re back so we aren’t caught in a reflection. We don’t know what kind of tech Lucas has available to him.”
They did as she suggested, and then Lee took a couple of photos. “I’ll send them tonight. He has to believe I’m lying to you.”
“Just as long as you aren’t,” Brandon growled.
“I’m not.”
Nhiari felt a twinge of uncertainty. She didn’t doubt Lee wanted revenge for his father’s death, but there was still a niggle that maybe Lee was lying to both Lucas and her. If that was the case, he might take the treasure for himself to start a new life and avoid gaol time all together.
“Have you got more questions for me?” Lee asked.
“Not at the moment,” Dot said.
“Why don’t you call Lucas now?” Nhiari suggested. “You can pretend you’re going for a walk or something.” The sooner they got information, the better, and she wanted to talk to Amani about something.
“I’ll need to go by myself in case he has eyes on the Ridge, which means you can’t listen to the conversation.”
“We need him to be convinced,” Sherlock said. “Otherwise this won’t work.”
“Don’t go far,” Brandon said.
Lee glanced at Nhiari and she nodded her confirmation. The kitchen fly screen banged shut behind him as he left.
“Nhiari, do you really believe him?” Brandon asked.
She waited until Lee had crossed over to the shed before she spoke. “I want to believe it.” She got out her phone. “But I’d be foolish not to take precautions. I’ll be back.”
She returned to the lounge, where she called Amani. Dot followed her in.
“I haven’t gone through the information yet,” Amani answered.
