“Never.” Jade’s voice squeaked as her throat constricted. Gabe was the thief. “Why Gabe?”
He simply smiled. “The distraction over your death will give me plenty of time to transfer at least another million. Then I’ll simply disappear into the Caribbean.”
Jade backed toward the balcony. Possibly the dumbest spot if he truly would push her overboard, but maybe Priest was out there and could at least call for help or scare Gabe away.
He kept advancing. The creepy leer in his eyes made fear dance through her. Slapping the paper down on the small desk, she noticed he had surgical gloves on. That little detail made her stomach hop into her throat. No fingerprints. Everyone would believe it was suicide. Her pulse raced.
“Write the note,” he growled.
She wrote with a trembling hand, clutching the pen. Could she fight him off? Could she get around him to the exterior door or run to the balcony and somehow swing around to Priest’s balcony. Priest. Was he out there?
As soon as the note was finished Jade straightened, and jabbed the pen into Gabe’s arm. He howled in pain and grasped at his arm.
Jade dashed around him, running for the door. She didn’t want to be anywhere near that balcony, even if Priest was there. She’d heard if you got thrown off a ship the engines would suck you under and you had no chance.
Gabe grabbed her arm and wrenched her to a stop. Dragging her toward the balcony, he said grimly. “It’ll all be over soon.”
“Priest!” Jade screamed at the top of her lungs, praying with everything in her that he was out there.
* * *
Joshua went back to his room and immediately to the balcony. Would Jade talk to her priest about what had transpired between them? Did Joshua even want to hear it? He would lose her if he didn’t trust her. Joshua had to trust her. She wasn’t Amber. She wouldn’t betray him. He flipped open his laptop and composed an email to Jade, Curtis, and the others in the department. He explained that he trusted Jade and knew she’d never steal from him. If she so desired, her job was not only reinstated she would be his recommendation for CEO when Curtis retired next year as he planned on doing. He hit send and felt good about his decision. He trusted Jade. He loved her. Now she’d know he’d chosen her, no matter what proof they had with the embezzlement.
He started toward his door so he could tell her all, and if she saw fit to forgive him for lying about Jesse and Priest, he’d kiss her until the ship docked in the morning. He saw a light at the end of this miserable tunnel without Jade. When suddenly he heard a man yelp in pain. He paused and retraced his steps to the balcony.
A few seconds later he heard Jade yell, “Priest!”
“Jade!” he yelled back, concern overcoming him.
“Priest! Help me!”
Without thinking, he grabbed the divider between the balconies, hauled himself up to his railing, and swung around toward hers. His grip was slipping on the barrier. He glanced down at the unforgiving waters below. Terror pricked at his spine. He yanked himself forward and fell on top of one of her balcony chairs.
Scrambling to his feet, he rushed into her room.
A man was tugging at the door then fumbling to turn the deadbolt. Jade looked okay, stunned but okay.
“Joshua?” Her mouth hung open and her eyes widened.
Joshua wanted to comfort her, to hold her, but he had to catch the loser who’d tried to hurt her. Running across the room as the man turned the deadbolt and pulled the door open, Joshua grabbed the guy by his arm and dragged him back. He pushed him against the closet door, ready to slam his fist into the guy’s face, and sucked in a breath of surprise.
“Gabe?”
Gabe’s face was full of terror. His gaze darted to Jade then back to Joshua. “This isn’t what it looks like.”
“Tell me exactly what this is,” Joshua demanded, his grip tightening on Gabe’s arm.
Gabe’s chin and hands were visibly trembling and his dark eyes wouldn’t meet Joshua’s. Why was he wearing surgical gloves? Joshua’s stomach clenched.
“Please, Joshua, you know I’ve been a good employee.” He swallowed hard and gestured to Jade. “I was trying to get her to confess to taking the money.”
“Ah,” Jade pushed out in disgust. “He forced me to write a suicide note claiming I took the money, and was going to throw me off the balcony.”
“She’s lying,” Gabe whimpered.
“Then why are you wearing gloves?” Joshua demanded.
Gabe shook his head miserably. “She’s lying.”