Part Nine

She said nothing for quite some time. But when she looked at Spot’s face, she knew that she hadn’t fooled him in the least bit. He was much smarter than she had anticipated. A grin spread across her face.

“You’re smarter than I thought.” She spoke.

“So I’s right?”

“You figured everything out.”

“So then, where’s th’ bracelet?”

She bent down and reached under her skirt. Within a few minutes, she unhooked something and drew it out from around her thigh. Sure enough, it was the bracelet. She held it before Spot with a proud gleam in her eye.

“I went and got it three weeks ago.” She reported.

“How’d ya get in without th’ key?”

“That lock was easier to pick than a doorknob. I just brought you along because you had the real key and Angus would’ve believed you could get to the bracelet.”

Spot now gazed over the bracelet. It was so long, nearly a foot and a half long. How Helen of Troy wore that bracelet, Spot had no idea. But it was exactly as Bambi had described it. Oval gold plates hooked together by two gold links in between each plate, and every other gem being a black pearl or a pink opal with tiny diamonds surrounding them. And the center plate had the tiny Greek writing.

“Wow.” He uttered. “This’s really, really somethin’.”

“Indeed it is. It should fetch quite a price at that auction this coming weekend.”

“Can I see it?”

“Only if ya promise to give it back.”

“Will I still get a split of th’ goods?”

“Yes.”

“Then I’ll give it back.”

She coiled the bracelet and handed it to Spot. His jaw dropped as he held it. It was so beautiful and worth so much. He could be holding up to a million dollars in his hands right now. He would love to have that much money.

“How d’ ya think Helen wore this thing?” he wondered. “Looks like it could pass for a necklace.”

“It was supposed to wrap around her entire arm. It didn’t look good as a necklace.”

“I’ll bet on Helen, anythin’ looked good.”

“Of course, you’d say that.”

He grinned, then removed the key from his neck. “Looks like I won’t be needin’ this no more. Should I toss it overboard?”

“Maybe you should keep it.”

“Why?”

“Just to remind you of this little adventure.”

“You’re giving me some ‘f th’ goods. That’ll be reminder enough.” He paused. “You want it?”

She shook her head. “No thanks. I’m not into forget-me-nots.”

“It ain’t no forget-me-not. It’s jus’ so you remember that I ain’t as dumb as I look.”

She laughed. “That’s a good reason, but I think you should keep it so you’re reminded of that.”

“Actually, you won’t need to be reminded.”

Both Spot and Bambi froze. That voice had seemed unfamiliar at first, until realization sunk in and both become confused and terrified. Turning their heads, they saw a figure hidden in the dark until he stepped out where the shadows could hide his face no longer.

“Wyatt?” Bambi stammered.

“Hello, Bambi. Nice to see that all of my research was correct.”

“Bambi, what…” Spot’s words ran together. “Ya told me ‘e was dead!”

“But that’s what the papers said!” she defended.

“Of course, that’s what the papers said.” Wyatt stated. “It was supposed to. Thanks to that rodent Angus.”

“You mean…you set this all up?”

“Yes! Brilliant, isn’t it? I knew you’d try to find the bracelet yourself, so I had Angus arrange a staged death so he could follow you and retrieve the bracelet for me. I just didn’t expect that you’d actually bring my stepson with you.”

“So you was playin’ this th’ whole time?” Spot demanded.

“Why not? It was good fun and spared me a backache. Now son, hand me the bracelet.”

He clenched his fists. “No.”

“Then I’ll use force.”

“You harm him and I swear I’ll kill you.” Bambi growled. “You know what I’m capable of doing.”

“Yes, but don’t forget that I also taught you some of those moves as well. You’d only be trying to defeat your master.”

Reaching behind him, Wyatt drew out a Winchester rifle and loaded it. Then he raised the weapon at Bambi and grinned.

“I know you too well, Gabriel.” He said menacingly. “You have a soft spot for women. Especially beautiful women. Look at Bambi. She’s quite the looker, isn’t she?”

“She’s worse than a cougar. I wouldn’t put my hands on ‘er if ya paid me.”

She shot him a raged look, one that he had expected. But he assured her that he was lying with his soft gesture.

“But could you live with the fact that a woman like her died just so you could get money?” Wyatt taunted. “Sure, you’d have money, but you’d have innocent blood on your head. Could you live like that?”

“You’re doin’ th’ exact same thing!”

“You’re wrong. I have reasons enough for my actions.”

“An’ it’s all money.”

“Don’t give it to him!” Bambi pleaded.

“Shut up, Bambi!” Wyatt ordered. “I know you. Even if you do get out of this mess with the bracelet, you’ll just take all the money for yourself. You don’t live up to your side of the deal. You never do.”

“I didn’t do it for you because I know better.”

“Not today, you don’t. But I know that you want to live. You’re afraid of death because you’re afraid of going to hell. Well, I have news for you. Unless you get Gabriel to turn the bracelet over, you’re going to face your worst fear.”

Spot didn’t know what to do. He was sure by now that Bambi would completely surrender to Wyatt’s words. But he wasn’t going to let Wyatt have the bracelet. He, above all people, should never be given anything as precious and valuable as this bracelet.

“Spot, please.” Bambi’s besieged softly. “Just give him the bracelet.”

“No.” he growled firmly. “You’re not gonna get it, Wyatt’s not gonna get it, no one’s gonna get it!” he raised his fist. “Let th’ ocean take it!”

“No!” Wyatt screeched.

Spot flung it into the water.

“Spot, don’t!” Bambi shrieked.

Wyatt pushed past and leapt overboard to retrieve the bracelet. Bambi was ready to jump overboard as well until Spot grabbed her from behind and yanked her away. She kicked and hit wildly until she was freed, then attacked Spot.

“How could you?” she yowled like an injured animal. “I hate you, I hate you, I hate you!”

When she had had enough, she fled the scene with tears streaming down her face. Spot, on the other hand, was suffering from her blows with bruises and a bloody nose and could not find his feet.

Setting his head down on the planked deck, he sighed. He couldn’t wait for this trip to be over.

* * *

The ship pulled into Brooklyn at first light. Because of Bambi’s temper, Spot had been taken to the ship’s nurse and left in her cabin the entire night. Now that he was back in Brooklyn, he could go home and never see Bambi again. He left the cabin and went to the one he and Bambi were assigned to. His pack was resting outside the door.

Seeing his pack outside, he knew well enough that Bambi would never forgive him for what he had done. He rubbed his ribcage where Bambi’s blows had been the hardest. Though he didn’t want to see her, he knew that she needed to know something. It was up to him to tell her.

He hefted the pack onto his back, wincing at the pain it caused. Then he trotted to the ramp and walked off the ship. Scanning the shipyards, he could find no trace of Bambi. If he knew her well enough, she wouldn’t even be here. She would be somewhere where she could find a trip away from this city.

Spot’s first instinct was to find a train station. That was the surest way to leave the city as quickly as possible. He strode toward the station, managing to avoid the sections where his goons patrolled. They couldn’t know he was back. Not yet.

Once he reached the station, he found Bambi sitting on a bench with her pack and a large suitcase at her feet. She was hunched over like an old woman and had her face covered with her hands. Spot mustered his courage and seated himself next to her.

“So where ya goin’ off to?”

“Go away, Spot.” She murmured. “I never want to see you again.”

“Look Bambi, I’m sorry. I did what I needed t’ do. Wyatt couldn’t have th’ bracelet, an’ I didn’t want him t’ shoot ya. I was scared.”

“That’s no excuse.”

“But look what happened. Wyatt’s gone now. ‘E won’t bother either of us anymore. Please, Bambi, accept my apology. I’m really, really sorry.”

Sighing, she removed her hands and glanced at Spot’s face. She had always told him that she could not see why women were always swooning over him. That is, until this very moment. She could see that factor in his eyes.

“Fine…I accept.” She breathed. “But I’m not staying. I’m going to Palm Beach in Florida to try to get some of that treasure in the Caribbean.”

“Make sure ya watch yourself.”

“I will.”

A train pulled in, and Bambi rose to her feet. It was the train she would be taking to Florida.

“That’s my train.” She said. “I guess this is it.”

“Bambi, wait.”

She turned around to face him. There was something in his face that intrigued her, but something else that she didn’t like.

“What?”

“Cin I persuade ya t’ stay?”

“How?”

“If ya stay, I’ll share somethin’ priceless with ya.” His grin took place.

She frowned and placed her hands on her hips. “I told you I’m not that type of girl.”

“That’s not what I meant. I’m sayin’ that if you stay, I’ll share somethin’ priceless with ya.”

“You’re not making any sense.”

“I’m askin’ ya t’ trust me.”

She laughed humorlessly. “You didn’t trust me at all on our trip. Why should I trust you now?”

“Because ya’ll thank me for it.”

“I think not.” She gathered her pack and suitcase. “I’ll be going now.”

“One more thing.”

Shrugging, she turned again. “If we keep this up, I’ll miss my train.”

“I wanna give ya somethin’ to remember me by.”

Setting his hand on her shoulder, he leaned forward quickly and kissed her mouth. The kiss lasted less than a second, but it was enough for Bambi to clench her teeth over.

“I thought you said you wouldn’t two-time your girl.”

“I’m not. I jus’ did that so ya wouldn’t forget me.”

“Then accept this gesture so you won’t forget me.” She slapped him across the face good and hard. “I hope I never see you again, Spot Conlon.”

“Same t’ you, Bambi Gamble.”

She threw her pack over her shoulder, grabbed her suitcase and boarded her train. When the train left the yards, Spot thrust his hands into his pockets and shook his head.

“Such a shame she din’t stay.” He muttered to himself. “She woulda gone absolutely nuts.”

Drawing one hand out of his pocket, he pulled with it the bracelet. Though Bambi had given it to him that night, he had also removed the key from his neck and held that in his other hand. With it being so dark outside, Wyatt and Bambi wouldn’t have been able to tell the difference between the key or the bracelet.

A wide grin spread across Spot’s face as he scanned the bracelet. How much money would he receive for such a piece of work? One million dollars? Five million? He crammed it back into his pocket.

He had an auction to attend to.

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