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“There’s a fuckingmote?” I exclaim. “How extra is this dude?”
“We’re going to need to do surveillance work in person,” Gabriel says. “There’s only so much intel we can gather like this. Especially if he’s made any modifications since these were posted. Things could look completely different now.”
“We’d get sniped at the second we came within range,” I argue. “How are we supposed to get close enough?”
“I have an idea.”
“That sounds ominous.”
Gabriel smirks. “Don’t worry,petit oiseau. I’ll protect you.”
* * *
We set out an hour later, binoculars in hand with dumb bird watching hats atop our heads.
“This is so stupid,” I mumble, shifting uncomfortably in my big winter coat. “Nobody’s going to believe we’re out here looking for… What was it again?”
“Red-breasted mergansers,” he says without missing a beat.
“God, you’re such a nerd.”
“We’re not actually here to bird watch. Focus.”
I roll my eyes before lifting my binoculars. We’re a safe distance away from the castle in question, trying to determine just how far out Van Straus’ security perimeter stretches. I spotted a patrol not too long ago making the rounds with a pack of well-trained, vicious-looking dogs. Belgian Malinois to be exact. The kind that can and will rip your throat out in less than twenty seconds. Gabriel and I are hidden amongst the tall trees that border the property, but we still have to be careful and on high alert.
I take in the majesty of the castle, which is straight out of a history textbook. It’s dark grey stone walls have an almost depressing, haunted quality to them against the looming backdrop of the Alps. Why anyone would deliberately choose to live here is beyond me.
Through my lenses, I see a group of guards standing watch at the front entrance. I nudge Gabriel’s arm with my elbow. “Hey, check it out. Ten o’ clock.”
“I see them. There’s also four armed guards at the back entrance.”
“I counted five groups of two on patrol working rotations,” I add.
“There’s no way we’re getting in and out of there with that much heat.”
I rub a hand over my face. This isn’t… ideal. It doesn’t matter how talented a thief is —slipping past that much security undetected is next to impossible.
“We need some sort of distraction,” I say, thinking aloud. “I could always send you streaking across their front lawn. I’m surethatwould distract them.”
Gabriel shifts. “Why do I have to go streaking?”
“Maybe I just want to see you naked.”
I swear to God the tips of his ears turn bright pink. “You’re impossible,” he grumbles.
“I take it that’s a no?”
“There it is!” he exclaims, pointing. “Fourth floor, right by the window.”
I readjust my grip to fix my line of sight. Sitting on a marble pedestal right by the window is none other than theVase of Aphroditein all its ceramic glory. It really is a beautiful antique, and in near perfect condition. Its design is as intricate as it is elegant, an example of expert ancient craftsmanship. The vase alone is worth a good couple million, but what’s in the false base is what I’m most interested in.
“He just leaves it out in the open like that?” I say in disbelief. “No way, it can’t be that easy.”
“We don’t know what security looks like inside,” Gabriel reminds me. “He could have cameras, trip alarms, the works. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.”
Gabriel puts his pair of binoculars down and exchanges it for the small digital camera he has tucked away in his pocket. He quickly takes several snapshots for us to use as reference for later. The castle itself is out of the way and the surrounding terrain makes for a difficult getaway. A heist like this usually takes months of careful planning, but I don’t have the luxury of time. The only way we’re going to make this work is if we do something drastic and reckless. Soon.
I swallow hard, quietly struggling with myself. I don’t want Lucius to kill my father, but I don’t want to risk Gabriel’s safety, either, which is why I wanted to do this by myself. If I make a bad call, if I make any sort of mistake —and with the way things are shaping up, it’s starting to seem more and more likely— at least it’s on me. I can afford to go in guns blazing.
