Spelling checked the time on the analog clock above the office door. It read eleven thirty.
“Does anyone have questions before we call it a night?” He looked from one tired face to the next. “We all know the plan and the areas on the route where we need to be on high alert?”
My colleagues and I nodded that we understood.
Mr. Rosemond seemed to want reaffirmation of his own. “So the safest time to move the diamonds is tomorrow when the fake transport is scheduled to take place?”
“That’s correct, sir. The criminals will be too busy watching us to even think a bait-and-switch has happened. You’ll have the moving service show up and load the truck, and then the Trident driver and guards will take over. Everyone wins. The downtown police department will escort you to the city limits, and the sheriff’s department will take it from there. They’ll follow a few car lengths behind on the freeway, then the Brookfield Police Department will take over on the surface streets and escort you to the back of the store, where the truck will be unloaded. You’ll never see the criminals, and they’ll have no idea what’s really taking place. We’re going to accomplish two goals at the same time. We’ll be the decoy while the actual transport is under way. Tomorrow, we’re taking down the bad guys once and for all. We’ll get them off the street, rescue our agent and his sister, and you’ll have your inventory delivered safely.”
John Bentley stood. “I hope there are no hard feelings, Andrew. We’ll still make the delivery like we agreed on, just not in our own truck and not by risking my employees’ lives. Under the circumstances—”
Mr. Rosemond interrupted with a nod. “I understand. Just find out who leaked the transport details and turn them in. The police can decide what to do with that person.”
“Okay, agents, we’re meeting at the downtown headquarters at eight a.m. We’ll review everything one more time in-house, and then we’ll gather here at ten o’clock and wait for the Trident armored truck to arrive. That’s when we’re going to change into their uniforms and take over the show. We know the areas on the route where we need to be on our highest alert. Everyone will be wearing their vests, we’ll have radio contact at all times, and backup will be dispatched if needed.” Spelling cracked his knuckles before addressing the store owner. “Just one more thing before we call it a night. Mr. Rosemond, make sure your transport truck doesn’t arrive until we’ve left the store. I’d say once we pull out with the Trident armored truck, have the moving truck come in ten minutes later, load up your inventory, and let the Trident driver and guards take over. Okay, people, go home, get some rest, and I’ll see you in the morning.”
Back at the FBI parking garage, I parted ways with the other agents. The drive home to North Bend was long and lonely, and my mind was filled with what-ifs. I thought about J.T. and Julie as I drove. A million silent prayers passed between my lips for a positive outcome tomorrow. I knew what bad timing, bad luck, and bad results were all about and had experienced enough of them to last a lifetime. I wanted tomorrow to be a good day—I prayed for it—and whether he knew it or not, J.T.’s life depended on it.
If I was lucky I’d get five hours of sleep at most, but it was more than I’d had at any one time in the last few days. I pulled into my garage just before midnight. The thought of sleeping on the sofa in our agents’ lounge had crossed my mind, but my need for a shower, a comfortable bed, a clothing change, and a decent breakfast won out in the end. I quietly tiptoed into the house and down the hallway to my bedroom. As I passed Amber’s room, I heard the TV playing but knew that at that hour, she likely had the alarm set and was sound asleep. I peeked under the birdcage cover and smiled at Porky and Polly. They too, side by side on the perch, were fast asleep. I slipped on my pajamas, brushed my teeth, and fell into bed. Morning, and hopefully a successful rescue and apprehension, would come soon enough.
I didn’t remember anything beyond my head hitting the pillow last night, but at six o’clock, my phone alarm buzzed obnoxiously on the nightstand. The delicious scent of coffee wafted down the hallway and was enough to coax me out of bed. Amber was apparently up and likely making breakfast. I was sure my purse hanging over the back of the barstool had told her I was home. I slipped on my bathrobe and headed toward the kitchen.
“Hey, big sis. It’s nice to see you again.” Amber poured coffee into two waiting cups and placed them on the breakfast bar then embraced me with a tight squeeze. “We’ve missed you.”
“You and the menagerie?” I covered my yawn with my fist. “Today is going to be intense.” I sat at the bar and sipped my coffee.
“I hope you got enough sleep.” Amber rested her hand on my shoulder. “Do you think it’s going to turn out okay?”
I shrugged. “We’ve gone over our procedure a dozen times. We know the likely area they’ll strike within a couple of miles. All we can do is be prepared for the worst and hope for the best.”
“How do you think J.T. and Julie come into play?”
I shook my head and watched as Amber got up and pulled two bowls out of the cupboard.
“Is this okay?” She turned toward me and held up a package of apple cinnamon instant oatmeal.
“It’s fine. My stomach is doing flip-flops, anyway. We don’t know exactly how anything is going down. All we know is that they kidnapped J.T. and Curt, and both of them were involved in the takedown of the bank robbers in 2014. J.T. was the one who happened to shoot Sam Dunbar, though. Once they realized that, they killed Curt.”
“Why not just let him go?” Amber got up and pulled the bowls out of the microwave.
“You know they couldn’t do that—no witnesses left behind. That’s why we need to be one step ahead of them. I’m guessing this heist is about financial reward and revenge. We already know there’s a connection between Sam Dunbar and the guy who’s calling the shots. Those notecards placed on Julie’s lap in the video they sent us confirm that. The whole ‘eye for an eye’ and ‘family is everything’ rant leads us to believe that.”
“You mean like a blood relative?”
“It has to be. The last name Vetcher came up as Sam Dunbar’s surname at birth. He was given up for adoption as a baby, which makes tracking down family members even more difficult. The man running the show goes by C.V. Loomis. The V probably stands for Vetcher, and don’t you think the Loomis and Dunbar names are a mockery of the armored car companies?”
“Absolutely. So why can’t you guys just stake out the transport company and arrest the kidnappers when they show up?”
“That’s the problem.” I thanked Amber for the bowl of oatmeal she placed in front of me. “We think they’ll blitz attack the truck during the drive. We don’t know if J.T. and Julie will be with them or not. If we swoop in prematurely, we may be putting them in even more danger. We’re going to turn the tables and be ready and waiting for the ambush. Right now, in their opinion, J.T. is the pawn and Julie is the leverage, but we’re about to change that.”
Amber gave me a concerned stare. “This really worries me, Jade.”
“Honey, I’ve been involved in plenty of bad situations. There are two people’s lives at risk, and one of them happens to be my partner. We have to get them out safely.”
I finished my breakfast, gave Amber a tight squeeze and a kiss on the cheek, then headed out. Today, the nightmare would end, one way or another.