8

“Okay, so where are we” Jake asked, leaning back against the couch and taking a long swallow from his bottle of beer.

Every night after their respective day jobs were over the team met at Jake and Eva’s house to plan, bringing each other up to date on their progress and sharing any glitches they’d run into.

Eva, Rita, and Jinx sat around the living room table, photos, sketches, and schematics spread out across it.

“The uniforms are just about done,” Eva said. “I should be finished in another day or two, and then we can all have a fitting and I can make any adjustments.”

Rather than take a chance on pinching fabric from the studio, Eva made her fabric purchases from the wholesale district, using her job identification for the discounts but paying in cash. Each of them needed ship employee uniforms, and they had to be exact—down to the buttons. She worked until the wee hours of the morning sewing the uniforms.

Jake checked uniforms off his list. “What about the switch”

“The delivery is at the office. I have to find a way of getting them out without anyone noticing. It won’t be a problem.” She had yet to tell Jake that she had no clue how she was going to be able to take the time off from work. Sebastian would be furious.

Jake nodded and checked that off the list. “What about you, Rita”

She opened her leather Gucci pouch and pulled out the passports. They all reached for them.

“Wow,” Jinx said. He turned his over in his hands and flipped through its pages. “This Paul Young is a world traveler.” He grinned. The passport included stops in the Far East, London, Spain, and South America.

“You’re an international banker,” Rita said, giving him his cover story. “I’ve prepared some phony documents and letterhead just in case.” She handed him a folder that also included a driver’s license, ship identification, and a fake credit card. “I wouldn’t use that credit card if I were you.” She turned to Eva. “The only thing about you that will change is your name: Sylvia London. You’re traveling on business. Your ship ID and driver’s license are in there as well. Jake, you’re a computer salesman. All your identification is there.”

They looked over the documents, nodding their heads as Rita spoke. But Rita didn’t tell them there was a problem with the money. She’d figure it out. It wouldn’t be on her head that this job got blown to hell.

“We’re going to be boarding the ship in Brazil,” Jake said. “That gives us the entire trip to get the lay of the land, set up, blend in, and pull off this heist. I got us all hooked up with toss-away phones and headsets, real state-of-the-art shit.”

Jake had secured all the electronic equipment they would need to stay in contact with each other, from near-invisible headsets to throwaway cell phones. He was still having trouble mastering the mechanisms of the safe without setting off the security alarms. No way he would tell Eva. He was pretty sure he could get the job done. And what she didn’t know …

“Will we have any time to shop” Rita asked while she dug in her purse for a stick of gum.

“When we get out of this, I’m going on a month-long shopping spree,” Eva said before rolling her eyes at Jake.

Jake winced.

“Are we set with our rooms aboard the ship” Eva asked, switching subjects.

Jinx nodded. “I took care of it. We’ll be going economy. It was the best my buddy could do.”

“Who are these ‘buddies’ of yours anyway” Rita asked, her brow arched in question.

Jinx grinned. “Trust me, you don’t want to know. Some folks I met in the joint. Nice guys, as long as they’re on your side.”

“And you’re sure they won’t ask any questions” Jake probed.

“Naw. As long as their palms are greased, they couldn’t care less.” He’d sent a special-delivery package to his pal at the Miami PD, with enough cash to send him and his wife on a very nice holiday. He had yet to confirm how they were going to get out of Miami. But he would soon, he hoped.

“This is costing us a pretty penny,” Eva said, none too pleased. They’d spent thousands of their own money on supplies and payoffs, and they weren’t nearly done yet.

“The end result will be worth it,” Jake said.

Eva cut her eyes at him. “It better be.”

Jake rose and stretched. “I guess that should do it for tonight … unless there’s anything else.”

“I need everyone over here next Tuesday for a fitting,” Eva said, and then turned to Rita. “Maybe you can meet me at work next week, take some of the stuff out with you. Bring something that’s not too conspicuous to carry it all in.”

“Not a problem. I’ll come by on my lunch break.”

“I’ll firm up the details with my contact in Miami,” Jinx said, picking up his jacket from the back of the couch.

“I’ll be glad to get out of here anyway,” Rita said, putting on her coat. “The weather here is ready to turn any minute. And you know how much I hate winters in New York. We’ve been lucky so far.”

Jinx got up as well. “Hopefully, our luck will hold out.”

“Yeah, we’re gonna need all we can get.” Eva looked at her husband for reassurance.

“Hey, this is what we’ve spent our entire lives working toward—the big sting. We’ll be ready.”

Rita and Jinx said their good-byes, leaving Eva and Jake to face each other.

“Do you really think this plan will work” Eva asked.

“Your plan is brilliant, babe. Don’t doubt yourself.” He stepped up to her. “Or me.” He placed a soft kiss on her mouth, threaded his fingers through her hair, and held her head in his palm. “I’m not going to let you down, Eva. I promise you.”

“It was partly your idea too,” she said, her voice whisper soft. “So you can take part of the pain and the glory.”

His grin was crooked and endearing. “Absolutely.” He pulled her close and held her, inhaling her scent. “Come on, let’s go to bed. We have another busy day tomorrow, and I want to do some more research on Suarez before I call it a night.”

They walked hand-in-hand to the bedroom.

“Is he really as dangerous as they say he is”

“From everything I’ve read and the inquiries I’ve made”—he looked her in the eye—“he’s worse.”

A chill ran up Eva’s spine.