Page 37 of The San Marco Heist

I watched the three team members as much as the video feed. They’d gotten in and out of the Maguire mansion before me. The security was higher than at the Albrecht house, but Scarlett would have ensured they were perfectly prepared for that job. Who would have expected I’d end up working with them?

Had it really been a coincidence that Emmett and I were invited to the game the clowns crashed? Were we both the targets, because they didn’t know which team had gotten the Codex? If that were the case, Emmett’s confession saved my life, so I owed it to him twice over. And if all that were true, but I’d gotten to the Codex first, I wouldn’t have had a team to rescue me when the clowns showed up on my doorstep.

Teams. I held back the eye roll. It was just as likely my unknown boss on the Codex job was behind the clowns.

Maybe there was something to be said for working with a group like Reynolds. People who had your back. People who threatened anyone who risked that team. Not that any of it mattered. I had a job to do, I was going to do it, and then I’d be done with them.

Rather than sit by myself, I stood behind Jayce, watching the video feed over her shoulder. “Will, you said you’ll be able to use this video to create a three-dimensional dollhouse?”

“Yep.” He lowered the drone, so it flew in line with the third floor, dotted with dormers jutting out from the mansard roof. There were four suites with walk-in closets and private bathrooms, each with at least three windows, and two with balconies which connected to a walkway that led around the perimeter. “Brie’s been training an AI program to take the 2D images and extrapolate room sizes. We should be able to use the 3D printer back at my place to construct a scale model, too.”

Brie nodded on the screen. “If I bring that online now, will it startle your mom?”

“No. One of her friends took her to a market since I was going to be out. We’re good for a couple of hours, at least.”

“Alright, bringing the printer online now.”

Yeah, I needed to get one of these vans. Even just being able to walk around in it, instead of moving from seat to seat while I watched a house or an office. It was even narrow enough to fit into a regular parking spot. And given how many construction companies, delivery companies, and other small businesses used Sprinter vans, who’d ever suspect one in a busy city? I’d need decals to pose as an electrical company or something outside of the city though.

As Will finished rounding the uppermost floor, I said, “The architect told me the safe room was near—”

Scarlett held up a hand. “Slow down. He only told you about one security element. We want to find the safe room, but we’re also looking for prime real estate for wall safes and possibly to find standing safes. Then it’s a matter of chance and educated guesses to figure out which one we focus on.”

There it was again. Don’t let the new guy make any suggestions. Maybe I should’ve taken Jayce somewhere, so we could do our own recon. Scarlett was too slow. Too cautious. It was already Tuesday, and the party was in four days. She was treating this as if we had all the time in the world.

Will piloted the drone to the next floor, peering into whatever windows had open blinds or curtains, which was almost all of them. The house itself was quiet. All the activity was outside and the only people roaming inside were cleaners. The second floor housed the primary suite and an enormous closet, with an en suite that rivaled the spa in our hotel.

My research showed that the owners were worth just shy of a billion. They owned three homes in other countries and their business dealings were legit. At least everything I could find on them sounded legit.

The drone floated up and farther back, avoiding security cameras as it moved. They were mounted on the corners of the house, trained on the yard. Motion sensors wouldn’t register the drone, and any video feed would likely only see a small, black blur and assume it was a bird.

The primary suite took up half of the second floor. Two other bedrooms and an office completed the level.

Jayce pointed at the screen. “Can you move back? I want to get a better view of the office.”

Will did as she asked.

She leaned forward. “You don’t have a zoom on that thing, do you?”

“Keep going,” said Scarlett. “He’s got video of the entire room, so we can review it in greater detail when we’re done. There’s no reason to increase our chances of being caught by sitting here too long.”

Yeah. Way too cautious.

Jayce’s shoulders slumped theatrically. “Why am I even here?”

“To keep you out of trouble?” I nudged her back. “Same reason I’m here.”

A muscle ticked in Scarlett’s jaw. Revealing her emotions around me? She was thawing. However, she didn’t respond beyond that, except to glower momentarily at Jayce, who was laughing.

Will moved the drone in, close to the house. The view wobbled slightly. “The wind is hard to accommodate for so close to the building.”

Brie said, “I was afraid of that. I’ll have to add something in the next update.”

There was a sharp rap at the side door and a man’s voice called out, “Hello! Anyone inside?”

I bolted to the door, waiting for the signal.

“Boss alert,” whispered Scarlett. “Take over the drone, Brie.”

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