Guilty Pleasures (58 page)

“Did you talk to them
” Stan said, interrupting her thoughts.

She looked up at him, and her determination to free herself was renewed.

“Yes. Everything is going according to plan.”

“Thirsty
” he asked, walking to the makeshift bar.

“Yes, a Coke with ice would be good.”

Stan smiled.

*   *   *

The crew pulled onto a back street and jumped out.

“Okay, everyone straight on what needs to be done
” Eva asked.

“No room for fuckups,” Jake said, pulling the duffle bag from the backseat. He tossed it into the car they'd pulled up alongside of.

“You two just don't screw up,” Jinx said. “We'll be there.” He and Rita got into the third car after a quick change.

“See you on the other side,” Jake said, getting behind the wheel of his and Eva's vehicle.

The two cars pulled off, leaving the Explorer behind.

 

33

Jake braked to a stop on a side road on the outskirts of Miami. A few cars drove by, but none stopped.

“You sure this is the spot
” Eva asked.

Jake pulled out the map and compared it to the information on his GPS-equipped handheld. He looked around at the palm trees and the few abandoned buildings. “This is the spot.”

“Then I guess we just have to wait.”

Jake leaned his back against the headrest. “When this is over, I want to take a very long vacation.”

Eva bit down on her bottom lip. She slowly shook her head as she looked out the passenger window. “I have a bad feeling.”

Jake jerked his head in her direction. “Not again,” he moaned.

“Something's not right.”

If he'd listened to her bad feelings in the beginning, they wouldn't be sitting here, he thought.

“So what do you want to do
”

She frowned. “I don't know. I just get bad feelings—not peeks into the future.”

“I think that's her,” Jake said, his voice lifting in urgency.

Eva drew in a breath.

“You ready
”

She nodded.

The dark blue Taurus pulled to a stop.

Eva opened her door and got out. She opened the back door and took out the duffle bag.

The driver door opened, and she recognized Stan Ingram immediately. “Where's the wife
”

“I don't see a second passenger. Maybe she doesn't want you to put a face to her voice.”

Eva swallowed. “Okay. Here goes. You ready
”

“Yep. Got my hand on the dial.”

Eva slowly walked toward Stan. When she was a little more than a couple of feet in front of him, she could see that he was sweating bullets. He was scared.

She walked up to him. “It's all there.”

His Adam's apple bobbed up and down. “You look d-different.”

“Goes with the territory.”

“Guess your p-plan didn't quite work out this t-time.”

Eva bent her head to look in his car. “Where's wifey
I was really looking forward to meeting her,” she said, dripping sarcasm.

He grinned. “S-she's resting. Little trick I l-learned from you.”

Eva blanched when reality hit. “I see. Well enjoy the spoils. Our business is done.” She turned to leave.

“Wait.”

Eva stopped and slowly turned around. “What
”

He wiped his forehead. “S-something that's b-been bothering me.” He swallowed. “D-id anything … ever h-happen that night
”