Page 131 of Smoke Screen
“It’s a warehouse,” Bob blurted. “One of those commercial types. Like a distribution center. Giant iron fence around the perimeter. Front and rear entrance. Guard at the front gate. Another guard inside.”
Based on the photos Phin had seen the day before, the intel was solid. “Where’s the new location?”
“Another warehouse, east side of Charlotte. Smaller building this time. Still two guards, though. All the buildings have the same basic setup. Two entrances. Guard in front. Guard in back.”
Not surprised, Phin nodded. “How big is the place?”
“Pretty big. I can draw a map. The jewels are locked in a safe in the office.”
“The map better be spot-on,” Phin said. “I’m trying to not get me or one of my brothers killed. The faster we get in, the faster we get out. Once we have the stuff and we’re safely out, we’ll wire you the money and you can go off to wherever it is you intend to continue your thieving ways.”
Silence filled the room. Phin kept his gaze on Bob while he considered his options.
Not that he had any.
Finally, he nodded. “All right. But you better not be setting me up. Even from behind bars, I’ll find a way to kill you fuckers.”
“Hey!” Maddy poked her finger. “Watch it. After you set me up, you’re the last person who should be making threats.”
As much as he loved seeing her get feisty, they needed to stay on point. He stood. “Nobody is screwing anyone.” Phin picked up the blindfold again. “I’ll take you back to your car. Give me a couple hours to work out details. But plan on doing this tonight.”
“I have a question,” Maddy said.
Phin knew her silence after he’d blown over her last comment had been too good to be true. Now he swung his head to her, offering his best what-the-hell? face. She ignored him, her gaze on Bob.
“Someone at the Thompson Center,” she said, “gave you information. Who is it?”
“That’s extra.”
Apparently discovering his balls again, he grinned widely enough that Phin might pop him after all.
Phin glanced back at Maddy. If they intended to clear her, they needed to know who had tipped off the Veras about the security. Given they’d found footage of Louis Three stealing Maddy’s keys, Bob might confirm his involvement.
Phin did the thing he’d become really good at. He took a flyer. “You’ll get an extra hundred grand—call it a bonus—for telling us who it is. But,” Phin put up a finger, “it has to check out. You’re not just gonna give us a name and we pay you. Once the intel is verified, we’ll wire the money.”
Bob faced Phin again, let out a long sigh.
Who the hell was he kidding? They all knew he’d take the deal. Still, Phin gave him his moment to earn his Oscar nomination.
“The Veras,” Bob said, “didn’t do this job on their own. Rumor among the crews is they were hired.”
Made sense. The Veras were known for over-the-top jobs, but this one? Way too high-profile. The seriously curious part of this? Who hated Thompson enough to humiliate him this way? Could’ve been any number of his political rivals, but why now? Why, when the man was out of office and clearly not running for any other, would someone do this?
“Who hired them?”
“I don’t know for sure. I told you it was a rumor.”
“Oh, come on!” Maddy said, clearly losing her patience. “What was the rumor?”
Bob slid a sideways glance at Maddy, then came back to Phin. “The kid. Thompson’s nephew.”
26
There it was.
The confirmation they needed. For whatever reason, President Thompson’s nephew had been involved in the theft at the Thompson Center. Stealing Maddy’s keys was one thing. It wasn’t beyond her that a young, privileged kid with opportunities most would never imagine could be convinced to do that.
But actually hiring the Vera brothers, apparent criminal masterminds?
