Damien squeezed his shoulder. “Good luck to you, brother. Maybe I’ll see you again someday,” he said, and left the room, leaving Arcadias alone in the attic.
Chapter 51
Having been on the other side of hostage scenes, Jon Rafter could tell when someone had reached their breaking point.
He looked at Iris and saw a middle-aged woman crushed by fear and regret. This night had worn on her last nerves, and she didn’t want to be here anymore. Rafter felt bad for her in a way. Arcadias obviously hoodwinked her into coming here. From the beginning she thought Arcadias was giving her a romantic getaway. And now she realized she’d been used.
Rafter watched Iris pace the room. She mumbled angrily under her breath, repeated the word “stupid” over and over. It was then he realized a golden opportunity presented itself. Arcadias had left the room and joined Damien somewhere in the house. The ex-history-professor-turned-evil-treasure-hunter could no longer pressure Iris.
So if he were to influence Iris to aid them, Rafter would have to revisit his past and draw on negotiating skills that had surely atrophied over time. Rafter didn’t know exactly what had initially attracted him to become a crisis negotiator for the NYPD. Perhaps it was the adrenaline rush. Or maybe he possessed a bigger ego than most back then and thought he could save the world. All he knew now was he didn’t miss those stressful days one bit. He much preferred his current vocation as an art restorer and innkeeper.
“Iris, we need to talk,” Rafter said gently.
“I don’t have much to say.”
“I can tell you’re confused, Iris. You’re conflicted and don’t know which way to turn. Arcadias tricked you into coming here. And then once he got you here he coerced you into committing felony crimes.”
Iris stopped pacing and looked at him. “I’m a fool for believing he actually wanted to romance me. That’s my biggest crime.”
Rafter nodded solemnly. “We all misjudge people. It’s easy to do. Humans tend to hide their sins. You thought the best of Arcadias. And he failed you.” Rafter paused to let the words sink in. “Your life with Arcadias is over now, Iris. You don’t owe him anything, and you don’t have to answer to him. It’s time for you to take control of your life. We are all presented with choices every day, choices to do the right thing or the wrong thing, the immoral thing or the moral thing. You are being presented with a choice right now, Iris. What will you do?”
Iris pushed back a stray bang. “I don’t know where to start. I’ve fouled up my life pretty badly.”
“You can start by helping us. Arcadias and Damien are not here. You could untie our feet and we could all walk out the front door. This night of crime can end now.”
Iris hung her head. She took a deep breath, but didn’t move to untie them.
Rafter continued to press her. “Helping us will help you at your sentencing hearing,” he added. He turned his attention to Keith Jepson. “Am I right, Keith?”
The attorney shrugged. “To be held accountable as an aider and abettor is tricky for the prosecution to prove. In this case, Iris had to have known of the criminal objective and done something to make it succeed.”
“When we came here I knew nothing of a treasure hunt,” Iris said in a tremulous voice, her head still hanging down in shame.
“But you aided Arcadias when you helped tie us up and guarded us with a side arm. That’s more than enough to be charged and convicted as an aider and abettor,” Jepson said. “And under federal law the punishment for someone who aids and abets a crime is the same as the principal lawbreaker. However, I do believe the judge and jury will be swayed to give you a much lesser sentence if you help free us. And with good behavior while behind bars, you’ll likely receive parole before your sentence ends.”
“You heard Keith. He’s the law expert,” Rafter said. “So what do you say, Iris? Are you ready to do the right thing and set us free?”
Iris sighed. “But I love Arcadias. I don’t know if I can betray him.”
Annie joined the conversation. “Iris, look at me,” she commanded in a firm but gentle voice.
Iris lifted her watery eyes toward Annie.
“You may love Arcadias. But he doesn’t love you. If Arcadias truly loved you he would not lead you into harm’s way, he would lead you away from harm. An honorable man should defend and protect his woman at all times, even to the point of laying down his life for her. Arcadias isn’t doing that for you,” Annie said. “I’m sorry to have to say that, Iris, but everyone in this room can see Arcadias is thinking only of himself.”
Iris wiped at her eyes as she digested Annie’s statement. “Okay, but I can’t do anything about your hands and the plastic cuffs. I can only untie your feet.” Iris moved toward Rafter and squatted down near his feet.
“No, Iris, untie Mr. Jepson first, and then Annie. Save me for last,” Rafter said.
Iris obeyed and knelt down by Keith Jepson. Her hands shook as she struggled to untangle the electrical cord wrapping the lawyer’s feet to his chair. “I’m not very good at knots. I’m all thumbs.”
“You’re doing just fine. Try to relax and the knots will untie themselves,” Rafter said. Despite his encouraging words, he wished Iris would hurry up. Arcadias and Damien could return at any time.
And right on cue, a sound above his head made him look up. Footsteps groaned from the second floor. An icy finger walked up Rafter’s back.
Iris finished with Jepson and quickly moved on to Annie. Her fingers fumbled less with Annie’s restraints, and soon his wife stood up, her feet no longer bound.
Rafter kept his head cocked toward the ceiling as Iris worked on him. He heard a door shut and then a squeak. He looked over at Annie. Her face turned white before his eyes. The top step on the stairs always squeaked. She knew it as well as him. “Hurry, Iris. Someone is coming,” Rafter warned.
His urging didn’t help matters. Iris’s fingers stiffened. Rafter looked over at Jepson. The lawyer looked fearful but remained calm. “Keith, you should go while you have a chance. Don’t wait for us. Just keep your hands up as you walk out the door. And don’t be surprised if the SWAT team is hunkered down on the steps outside, or even crouching near the door.”
Jepson nodded and hurried toward the door. Rafter looked at his wife. “You should go too, Babe. Don’t wait for me. Get out while you can.”
Annie shook her head fiercely. Her caramel-colored ponytail swished behind her head. “No way am I leaving you, Jon. We go out together.”
They all turned their heads when they heard someone descending the stairs. “Please, Iris. You almost have the cord loose. Keep at it,” Rafter urged, knowing they only had mere seconds to exit the house or risk discovery.
Iris gave up on her methodical technique at unloosening the knots and started tugging with all her might instead.
“Forget about that, Iris. There isn’t enough time. Just pull my shoes off,” Rafter pleaded. He glanced toward the foyer when he heard a shoe contact the hardwood floor. The person descending the stairs just reached ground level.
Iris pulled at his shoes. Luckily he’d put on sneakers instead of his work boots. The shoes came off easily, and with them the knotted electrical cord. “Thank-you, Iris. You did a noble thing.”
Annie grabbed his hand and pulled him toward a door in the wall—a coat closet under the stairs. She opened the door and pulled him into the closet. Rafter shut the door quietly, and darkness settled onto them. Huddled together, they listened for voices but didn’t hear any.
Chapter 52
Rafter whispered into Annie’s ear, “I’m hoping you have a plan.”