Page 30 of Knot a Thief

“The day after the tour is supposed to be the perfect day, according to Silas who spoke to a former security guard at the island.”

“And the first payment is in the bank account?” I check. Seb nods as I chew on my bottom lip, watching ahead as an enormous super yacht floats toward us. The boat’s crew calls orders as the yacht drops anchor just outside of the marina.

Seb turns and looks in the same direction. “I think they took a wrong turn somewhere. Palma is more suited to boats that size.”

I smile.

“I want to do it the day before the tour,” I say, staring ahead, watching the crew preparing a smaller boat, getting it ready for someone to depart and probably go to the island.

Seb raises an eyebrow, his curiosity piqued. “The day before the tourists arrive? What’s your reasoning behind that?”

My eyes are now on the activity happening on the yacht. “Think about it, Seb. The day before is when they let their guard down. They’re so focused on preparing for the tour, making sure everything is flawless for their guests. It’s the perfect opportunity to slip onto the island unnoticed.”

Seb leans against the railing, considering my words. “You might be onto something,” he concedes. “They’ll be making sure the island is ready for the guests, but that also means security will be ranked up.”

A smile tugs at the corners of my lips. “But any security will be focused on the flurry of activity coming and going on the island. And while it is, I can slip into the museum while everyone else is scurrying around and the security is keeping an eye on the catering and other staff hired for the tour.”

This plan feels risky, but it also feels right and certainly much better than the day after, when the island is not on such a buzz.

We watch as the yacht’s owner boards the smaller boat, ready to head towards the mainland. The crew springs into action, bustling about to ensure everything is in order.

“Okay,” Seb says, breaking the silence. “Let’s do it your way. The day before it is, but that means we need to make our way to Ibiza first thing in the morning.”“While you’re getting us there.” I smile. “I’ll take the plans and map out what actions I need to take. Can you hack into the museum’s laser path before we leave so I can memorize it?”

He nods. “I’ll go over the details of our strategy, the precise timing, and find out all their security measures tonight.”

My gaze finds Seb’s as the smaller boat drives past. We glance down as it passes our motor cruiser closer than we’d like.

I narrow my eyes as I watch the boat pass us and disappear to the shore. “That was weird.”

Boats normally keep their distance.

As the boat’s engine fades into the distance, I glance at Seb and he gives me a surprised look. We both know that something isn’t right.

“I know we are always on high alert whenever we have a big job, but that was too close for comfort,” Seb whispers, his voice laced with suspicion. “And some of the crew seemed too interested in our boat.”

I nod in agreement, my mind racing with possibilities. Could the island’s security already be onto us? Or was it merely a coincidence? Or ... “Do you think Silas is watching us?”

“But why?” he asks, his voice resolute. “How we get the necklace is not his problem.” Seb clenches his fists, his face reflecting his frustration. “Should we cancel the job?”

I shake my head. “There’s too much money at stake, and he’s given us too much information.”

Seb sighs. “And I’m sure he knows the right people to delete us. We’ll continue with the job, but we tell him nothing.”

A grin curls my lip upward. “Or we tell him to get us onto the island on the next tour.”

Seb nods, his eyes scanning our surroundings as if searching for any signs of trouble. “Agreed. And I’ll set up additional surveillance around our boat until the job is over.”

As night falls, we work diligently to secure our boat, setting up state-of-the-art surveillance cameras and motion sensors around the outside.

Every creak of the wind or extra wave that laps against the hull makes me jump. I hate that lately. I’m always on edge.

Could it be Silas?

Seb told me he asked to be more involved than any other client ever has. But why would he be monitoring us so closely?

Is he testing our loyalty or could he be working for someone else altogether? These thoughts swirl in my mind.

Seb checks the extra surveillance while I retreat to the cabin to study the plans of the island and review every detail of our plan and every angle.

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