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“At least the Series C notes are narrower than the older notes,” Sarah said. “We’ll get more notes out of a sheet.”

“That’s something,” Robby said. “Jackman did go on a bit about how much he had to pay for this.”

“Well, as long as it wasn’t more than the value of the money we’ll make out of it,” Sarah said.

Robby blinked, as if he hadn’t thought about that. “Yeah. Got to spend money to make money.” He looked at the pile of cash and money orders Pete was working through. “How’s the haul coming along?”

“Good.” Pete had been totting up the numbers in a little ring bound notebook, and he handed it to Robby.

“Not bad.” Robby and Pete grinned at each other.

“What did Jackman say about snatching those wages—?” Pete cut himself off at Robby’s hand chop.

“Let’s go have lunch down the pub and talk about that,” Robby said, taking the cash and giving Pete some of it.

Pete looked delighted.

They left as quickly as they could, although at least Pete ran back up with sandwiches and tea for her and Jerry.

“They’re planning one of those heists you told them about from the notes,” Jerry said, biting into his cheese sandwich with gusto.

“I suspect so.” Sarah hoped they’d decided to go with the wage theft plan. It had the most chance of going horribly wrong for them, given the vans carrying weekly wages to a big factory were usually well guarded.

“You’re hoping they’re going to get caught, aren’t you?” Jerry said.

Sarah turned an absolutely neutral face toward him. “What makes you say that?”

Jerry chuckled. “I like you, Sarah. I like your style.”

chapter

twenty-two

Gabriella was so relieved to be heading back to headquarters, she forgot when she turned onto the high street that she needed to keep a sharp eye out for her safety.

It was only as she was coming up to where she’d been pushed into traffic the day before that she remembered, and she veered sharply to her left, closer to the shop fronts.

She looked over her shoulder, but there were no mopeds driving on the pavement toward her. The man who’d attacked her yesterday had abandoned his, so unless he had a spare, he’d be on foot.

With that unpleasant thought, given the Saturday afternoon crowds, she went to stand under the grocer’s awning, looking both ways to see if there was anyone looking too closely at her.

“Are you the warden from yesterday who got pushed into the road?” The grocer came out of his shop to join her.

“Yes. Thank you so much for your help,” she said. “I just suddenly remembered I need to be more cautious, and thought I’d have a look around to make sure no one’s following me.”

She felt stupid saying it, but the grocer gave a nod.

“The police haven’t caught him?” he asked. At her head shake, he gave a snort. “That lad on the moped, he was aiming for you. You should be on the look out.”

“Well, it looks like he isn’t currently about.” She couldn’t see any sign of a man watching her. She touched the brim of her hat. “Thanks again.”

“Mind how you go.” The grocer stood in his doorway and watched her as she walked away, and she gave him a little wave.

She glanced back once, just checking behind her again, and he was still there, keeping an eye, which touched her, but she faced forward again at the sound of sirens.

They seemed to build to a crescendo, the wail getting higher and louder, and that’s when she noticed a van speeding in the westbound lane, driving erratically, with a police car chasing it.

A car in front of the van slammed on brakes, Gabriella guessed because they were unsure what was going on, and the van swung around it, wheels squealing, into the oncoming traffic.