Page 130 of Risky Obsession

“Okay. Does anyone live there now?”

“As far as I can tell, no. It’s probably been abandoned since the end of the war.”

“What did the Nazis use it for?” I asked.

“The site at the top of the hill gave them a perfect vantage point to oversee the naval base. And they made a stairway that led down to the water. They used it for movement of supplies and to secretly transfer prisoners onto boats.”

“Oh jeez.” I shook my head.

“Great work, Archer. How did you go with the car and cash?” Kane asked.

“The good news is, I believe I’ve found a car dealer who is shady enough to sell a car to you without papers. The bad news is that he doesn’t open his shop until nine o’clock.”

Kane and I both leaned forward to see the time on the phone. Five thirty in the morning.

“Text me through his details and location, and I’ll be there at nine.”

I noted that Kane didn’t say thatwewould be there. If he thought he was going to that castle without me, then he was about to learn something about me that was true to my core: I was not a quitter.

“I’ll tell him your name is Duncan,” Archer said.

Kane chuckled, and I wished I understood what made his smile somehow also seem sad.

“Listen,” Archer said, getting all serious, “you guys need to be careful. Your faces are all over the news in connection to the murder of that symbologist guy.”

“Gunter Sachs,” Kane said.

“We didn’t kill him,” I said at the same time.

“Yeah, that’s him and I believe you. You’re also wanted in connection with two other murders and a pile of other crap. You pissed off a lot of people at that gala and the paparazzi are fucking loving it.”

Kane huffed. “Sounds about right.”

“So, you might want to lay low. Once the morning news breaks, everyone is going to be on the lookout for you. And you’re hard to miss, Kane. Just saying.”

“We’ve got some disguises sorted, but thanks for the heads up. How did you go with getting me some cash?” Kane asked.

He said it like I wasn’t here. Archer’s information confirmed we were on the right track. We’d put those clues together. The two of us. No matter what I did, I deserved to be here. And I was damn well staying.

“Well, the bad news is that getting some cash to you at this time of the day turned out to be harder than I thought.” Despite his comment, Archer’s tone was upbeat.

“I’m guessing there’s some good news.” Kane rolled his eyes toward the moon, and I had the impression he was fighting the urge to look at me.

“You got it. I can’t let you get away with hunting this treasure without me. I’m invested now.”

Kane chuckled. “What about Rosalina? Won’t she be pissed?”

“Nah, I think she was getting bored herself. Not that she’d ever admit that. She’s happy to be coming back this way. It’ll give her a chance to see her nonna.”

Kane nodded. “I don’t want Rosalina angry at me.”

“She won’t be. We’re already on our way, so all going well, we’ll see you in about six or so hours.”

“Roger that.”

“Well done with putting these clues together, buddy,” Archer said. “I have a good feeling about this.”

Kane’s gaze shifted, and I had the impression he was torn over his reply. “Me too. See you when you get here.”