“How many cameras have you found?”
“Three.”
“Three nanny cams and security? What’s with these people?”
She arches her brow. “I don’t know; it’s almost as if they’re worried someone might steal something, or… I don’t know…their child.”
“Noble parents with that kind of money are uncommon. I’m going with the first.”
“Your pessimism never ceases to amaze me.”
I shrug. This is where my therapist would say the rocky relationship I had with my parents is the reason for this belief. And I would smile softly and hand her a wad of cash for a job well done.
So, there may be more cameras that are battery operated. Not ideal, but that’s what masks are for.
She takes my phone, unlocking it even though I never told her the passcode. I change it weekly, and without fail, she gets in every time. It’s annoying, but it’s not like I have anything to hide. My sister is the only friend I have. “Here’s the app for the security cams.” She hands the phone to me, displaying an app I didn’t have two minutes ago. “Once you’re in the building, you can access the live feed and prevent it from transmitting to the family. When you’re gone, it will go back to normal.”
I nod along, adding that to my mental checklist.
“Are you ready?” she asks, glancing at the retro clock on the wall that she bought, and not for decor.
I don’t need to. I know I have exactly three hours and fifteen minutes until my window of opportunity opens, and then promptly closes. Rosie confirmed the family left early this morning, but the cleaning staff is in there now. Once they are finished, Rosie will get me inside undetected, where I’ll steal the Vescari painting and be out in thirty-five minutes or less. Ten minutes in, five minutes up, ten minutes to retrieve the painting, ten minutes down and out.
Simple. Easy. The way I like things.
“I’m always ready,” I say.
“That’s a bit of a stretch. I’ve saved your butt hundreds of times.”
“I appreciate your humble service.” I smirk and stand from the chair I’ve occupied for the last twenty-five minutes. Much too long in my opinion. I like to be on the move, never sedentary, which is why New York suits me splendidly. A city that never takes a break.
“Dang it.” Rosie mutters, and out of instinct my shoulders tense.
“What?”
She shakes her head. “Oh nothing. A winter storm warning just popped up, and now I’m going to have to drive through snow to get to Hayden’s parents’ house for Christmas.”
I clear my throat, ignoring the uncomfortable pang in my chest. It’s only been the two of us for the last eight Christmases, and I knew that would change at some point. Why wouldn’t she want to spend Christmas with her boyfriend and his very normal family? Yes, I confirmed this with a very thorough background check on Hayden Blanding and his entire family.
I want a normal Christmas experience for her.
The problem is, I want that for me, too.
I clear my throat. “You should head out early then.”
She selects another Red Vine while staring me down. “No way. You need me for this op.”
I scoff. “Hardly. It’s an easy in and out. Set the systems up and take off. I’ll be fine.”
She narrows her eyes. I know she can see right through my false bravado, but for some reason she accepts it.
“Fine,” she says. “But I’m bringing my computer with me. If there’s a problem, just call and I’ll pull over and fix it.”
“There won’t be any problems.”
Chapter 2
Maya
