The Heart of India Fragment taken from: The Storyteller, Volume II Kyle and I looked at each other for a second. I took my glass and drank it all in a big swallow thinking I would have to leave the place running, in a minute or so. I saw Kyle studying his options. He was a very smart man, no question about it. The whole thing felt to me, like a big chess game. It was his move now. "Well, hello?" Mara said when she got no answer from either one of us.

Believe

"This bastard is the one who stole The Heart of India, Mara," Kyle calmly said. He then took his glass from the table and drank.

Mara looked at me in disbelief and said, "What? Is that true?"

I sighed. I looked at Kyle and said, "That was a low punch, Kyle."

Mara got up from the table; we both looked at her. She seemed hurt; she turned around and left.

"Mara!" I called and tried to go after her. Kyle held me by the arm.

"Lets talk business now," he said.

I frowned. I got free from his grip and sat back down; my eyes were still on the door. I felt very bad at what Mara could be thinking of me. I had no explanation for my feelings at that moment. Perhaps it was best for her to part ways like this.

"You didn't have to tell her, " I said angry and ordered me another drink.

"And you didn't have to make me look like an idiot in front of my own people the night you stole my diamond," he said and took another sip of his drink.

I needed a cool head now. I would deal with Mara later.

"How did you know it was me? I always make sure I leave no loose ends."

"I recognized your voice and that stupid sense of humor of yours last night, at the gem auction," Kyle said, raising his glass to me in a toast.

The waiter brought my drink over and I asked for another one. He offered the menu; but both of us declined it.

"What about the Double Tree hotel? How the hell did you know I was there?" I asked.

"You told Carter Grant where to find you," he said with a smirk.

"Damn," I said and added, "And let me guess… Your friend Jerry knows Carter…"

"Now is my turn to make the questions and I expect good answers," Kyle said.

"It's in a safe place," I said, before he formulated the question.

"I want it back," he said.

"That's not a question, Kyle," I teased him.

"And after you hand it to me, I will personally see you rotten in jail for touching my sister. Was that also part of your plan, you bastard?" I could see Kyle was barely containing himself.

I sighed and said, "No, I believe that was fate. I didn't know Mara was your sister until you showed up in her apartment this morning."

"I don't believe you, Mitchell," Kyle said.

"Well, I don't care" I said, looking at him in the eyes.

My cell phone rang.

"It's Gustav. Pick up," Kyle said.

I was shocked to hear that. How the hell did he know about Gustav? Unless…

I hesitated for a second.

"What's the matter? Kitty got your tongue, Mitch? Not so witty now, are you?" Kyle mocked me.

I took the call, "Hello?."

"Well, well, if it's not Mr. Duncan himself… or shall I say Mr. Hines, or Mr. McGlone," I heard Gustav's voice on the other end of the call.

I closed my eyes. I wanted to believe it all was a nightmare. I leaned over the table and took a deep breath. I turned to look at Kyle and found him enjoying the moment; he slowly drank from his glass and ordered another one, with a smile.

I didn't say a word; I couldn't move.

" Well in any case, I don't care what your stupid name is. I found out through your good friend Kyle, you got my diamond days ago and you failed to report it to me, Duncan. Where you thinking about keeping it all to yourself, perhaps? Were you going to betray me?"

I opened my mouth but couldn't think of something to say.

"I want The Heart of India and I want it now. I am at Kyle's jewelry store as we speak; that's where I traced the call to. I am taking his partner and the rest of this employees hostage until you come in with my stone. You hear me, Duncan?"

"You can't do that," I said, trying to think of something.

Kyle smiled at my face.

"Oh, wait. What do we have here boys?" Gustav said talking to his thugs. I heard Mara, yelling in the background. I felt the blood draining from my face.

"Don't you dare, Gustav!" I yelled.

Kyle stopped smiling; he was curious to know what was going on.

"Listen, Duncan. I want you here in ten minutes, come alone and unarmed. If you are not here by then I will start hurting people around here. I will start with the blond girl."

He hung up.

"Well?" Kyle asked, "Are you in trouble with your employer?"

"You talked to him, didn't you?"

"I sure did," Kyle said and added, "This morning, just before you paid me a visit to the store. I sure enjoyed talking to him about you."

I put my cell phone down and drank my last glass of liquor. I knew I didn't have much time left.

I looked at Kyle and said, "You fool."