“That’s just it. They said they couldn’t place a value, since it was only the prototype.”
“Only?” Remi said, her brows rising.
“My thoughts exactly. But, then, they offered to buy it, saying they’d send someone out to take a look and give an estimate.”
“Thieves,” Albert said. “Not going to sell it.”
Oliver smiled patiently, saying, “That was his feeling at the time as well. But they never came out to look.”
The waiter brought Sam the receipt. He added a tip, signed it. “So no offer?”
“They never got that far in the conversation. Some other people came out and talked Uncle Albert into entering it into the London Concours, saying it would generate interest and increase the value.”
“Not sure it should be in a London show,” Albert said. “Changed my mind.”
“A bit late, sorry to say,” Oliver said. “It’s entered.”
Loud cheering erupted from a group of men at a nearby table watching golf on the TV mounted on the wall, one of the players having birdied. When the room quieted once more, Oliver said, “Come take a look, see if you think it’s worth the collateral of a loan. We can offer a drafty manor house with comfortable beds and free tickets to the car show next week, where the Ghost will be on display. Other than that . . .”
Sam glanced at the door, but, so far, no familiar faces. “Unfortunately, we have a charity event we’re sponsoring in a few weeks. I’m not sure we can fit it into our schedule.”
Remi kicked him under the table as she smiled at Oliver. “Would you excuse us for a moment. My husband and I need to check our calendar.” When she turned toward Sam, her smile was still in place, but he recognized that look. Remi had made up her mind.
“Keeper of the calendar,” Sam said, nodding at his wife.
He and Remi moved off a few feet toward the maître d’s podium, where two couples dressed for golf were waiting to be seated at a table. Remi stepped past them into the hallway, Sam right beside her, as she asked, “Is there some reason we aren’t jumping on this?”
“Four reasons, in fact. First, he wants a loan. We have no idea what the real value is. You realize we could be spending a lot of money for very little return?”
Remi scoffed. “There are more important things in life besides money, which we have plenty of.” She made a slight nod toward Oliver but kept her eyes on Sam. “The guy’s down on his luck. Selling off family heirlooms to make ends meet. Flying all the way out here just to talk to us? If we were ever that desperate, I’d like to think someone would step in to help us. I say we accept. Your mother, apparently, thinks the same or she wouldn’t have sent them to meet us.”
“They probably conned her as well. How is it I’ve never heard of these relatives before?”
Remi crossed her arms. “That’s only two reasons.”
Sam looked over at the door as it opened, a cool breeze sweeping across the restaurant. “Reasons three and four just walked in.”
4
Remi looked over at the two men Sam said had been following them. “Which furthers my argument that we need to help them.”
“You’re right,” Sam said, watching the men from the corner of his eye. “So what’s our plan to get them out of here without being followed?”
“You take Oliver and his uncle in the hallway, then downstairs. I’ll waylay the Buzz Cuts and lose them in the hotel lobby. We’ll meet outside by the service entrance. I doubt they’ll follow any of you while I’m standing so close. And if they do . . .”
“Don’t make too much of a mess, Remi. I like coming here.”
“Funny, Fargo. You’re like a bull in a china shop. And that’s exactly why I’m leading them on a wild-goose chase. So much more subtle than you taking them on, don’t you think?”
While Remi went to engage the Buzz Cuts, Sam returned to the table. “Why don’t we wait for Remi in the lobby of the hotel. She wants to say hello to some old friends.”
Oliver and his uncle looked puzzled but followed Sam out. When he looked back, he saw the men start toward them, then stop when Remi blocked their way, engaging them as only a woman can. Once out of view, Sam led the Payton men down the staircase.
“Isn’t the lobby on the upper level?” Oliver asked, as they trailed him out the door to the parking lot.
“Yes, but we’ve had a change of plans. We can wait for Remi out here.” Sam found a spot near the garbage cans’ enclosure behind the restaurant. Remi appeared about five minutes later. “Everything okay?” Sam asked.
“Better than okay.” She tossed a key fob in her hand as she led them toward the upper parking lot to a row of Lexus vehicles. And they weren’t being followed. “We have a car waiting for us.”