Page 43 of Just My Luck

“He works for Kendo Tanaka, a business competitor and crime boss, if you can believe the rumors. He wants to find the CHUM almost as much as I do. He’s gone to great lengths and nearly gotten me killed a couple of times.”

“What?”

The story he told her next, detailing his time in the jungle was nearly too crazy to believe. A kidnapping? Two plane crashes? The more details he shared, the more fascinated she became. An image of this mysterious crystal shimmered into her mind, calling to her. She wanted to see it for herself.

“Tanaka’s here in Kona right now,” Lincoln finished. “He’s staying at the Kona Queen with his family and grandkids.”

“Ohh, good choice, the Kona Queen is great for families,” she said absently. “Lots of activities for kids, a fantastic pool, right near a snorkeling pond…” She shook her head. “Look at me, getting all concierge-y on you. Do you think he’s here for the snorkeling or for the crystal?”

“He probably has multiple reasons, but I can’t get close enough to learn more. He knows me. I went over there in my gardener gear but didn’t get far.”

An idea sparked in her imagination. One so crazy, only Zara Morrissey could have thought of it. She might not believe in crystals, but she believed in energy. Everything, in the end, was energy. And the energy that vibrated between her and Lincoln was something special.

20

“I’ll help you,” she said impulsively. Because of course. If she was nothing else, she was impulsive. When her intuition screamed at her, she always listened.

“What do you mean? Why?”

His blunt question took her aback.

“It’s intriguing. How often do you get a chance to help a billionaire look for his missing crystal?”

“CHUM,” he corrected.

“Sorry, I’m not calling it that. I’m going with crystal.”

His nostrils flared, but then a moment later, he laughed. “Are you always like this?”

“Like what?”

“This…” He waved a hand at her. “Exactly this. Yourself, nothing more, nothing less.”

“Is that a bad thing?”

“No,” he said after a long moment, his voice rough with something she couldn’t identify. “It’s not a bad thing. Okay, next question. How would you help me?”

She licked her lips, knowing this would be a hard sell. “Well, I can’t help you at the Royal Leilani because I just got fired.”

“Damn it, because of me?”

If only she could blame it on him. But no. “No, no, your ego can pipe down. It was because of me. Eddie left a schoolbook behind and I got busted.”

“Sorry.”

“It’s fine. It frees me up to help you, unless you need to get back on the property.”

He shook his head. “No, I’ve searched there enough. The CHUM—the crystal—is not there.”

“All right then. Here’s what I can do,” she said, taking a breath. “I can help you get closer to this Tanaka.”

“What?” He bolted to his feet and glared at her. “Hell no. That’s not safe. Also it’s insane.”

“It’s not at all insane. Hear me out. I told you what my father is. He always loved working those expensive resorts, and he used to drag me along with him. I spent more time pretending I was lost, or a sick orphan, or a little rich girl than I did as myself. After I turned twelve I refused to help him anymore, but I still remember the con artist basics.”

His gaze drilled into her. “You’re saying you would pose as a guest at the Kona Queen? There’s no point to that. He wouldn’t talk to you. He avoids Westerners. He’s devoted to his wife.”

“Oh God. I’m not going to flirt with him.” She laughed at the thought of playing some kind of honeypot. “I’ll just be the excuse for you to be there too.”