Guilty Pleasures (12 page)

“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.

 

9

Lenora was on pins and needles. For days she'd been downloading her office files to her home computer. With the time off from work to pull off her plan, there was no way she was going to risk having someone else stumble across what she'd been up to. Besides, if things went as planned—which they'd better—she wouldn't be back here anyway.

“Ms. Ingram.”

Lenora looked up. Her door was open. Virginia was in the archway.

“Yes, Virginia.” She forced a smile on her face. She couldn't stand Virginia. She was a brownnose if there ever was one. She'd been with the bureau for eight years, and all her ass-kissing had gotten her nowhere.

“Agent Flannagan wants to see you.”

“Can you tell him I—
”

“He said, ‘Now.'” She smirked. “He was just at my desk.”

Lenora muttered something unintelligible beneath her breath. She had to keep up the front to be as annoyed by Flannagan as everyone else was. “Right. I'll be there in a minute.”

Virginia walked away.

Lenora leaned back in her seat, bit down on the tip of her pen. Why didn't he just call if he wanted to see her, like he usually did
Jerry could be so damned pompous when he wanted to be. He just had to remind everyone he was in charge.

She sighed and pushed back from her chair. Her affair with Jerry had been going on for the past two and a half years. It started out simple enough. They were working a job together, sifting through the intel following the Trade Center disaster. Daytime hours turned to evenings. Lunch turned to dinner. Dinner to drinks. Drinks to bed. Being in the spy business had worked to their advantage.
Discreet
was the operative word. They were never seen together outside the office under any circumstances. They would decide on a hotel, arrive separately, pay for separate rooms, get together in one room, and then leave the same way they'd arrived.