Page 43 of The San Marco Heist

The architect told Malcolm the safe room was near something precious.

I gestured to the far end of the underground display room. “What are the doors back there? Do they lead out?”

“You don’t need to worry about those rooms. Those are the power plant.”

Power plant. If it was self-contained, that would be a good space for a safe room. And they definitely wouldn’t allow any guests down there. That was my top candidate so far.

Malcolm circled the Velatti, taking it in from every angle. It was almost like watching a kid on Christmas morning. Like watching Emmett get the skateboard he wanted or when Brie got the components to build her first computer. Wonder. Excitement.

I ran my hand through my hair. No wait, not my hair.Shit, focus. I was getting too carried away in his moment and almost forgot where we were. Fortunately, Bethany had, as well. Her eyes were as plastered on Malcolm as mine were.

And Jayce?

I looked to my side. Other side. Behind me. Nowhere to be seen.

How far had she gone? Where was she? How much time did I need to buy?

As the energy began skittering around my stomach, I gave my toes one good scrunch inside my shoes and took a breath. She was a professional. She knew what she was doing.

“I’m getting it, Jayce,” said Will.

Getting it? He must have meant a feed. She must have been recording something on her phone. How much time did she need?

I took several quick steps, so I stood just behind Bethany and to her side. She could see the full car gallery ahead of us, but if she turned around, I’d be blocking her view and she wouldn’t be able to see Jayce wasn’t down there. “So, Bethany, is that everything down here? And the only ways up are the central stairs and the one in the lounge?”

“The stairs in the lounge will be roped off as well.”

“Got it.” I made more notes on my clipboard.

She flipped over her wrist and checked her watch. “By the end of the pool, there’s another door that takes you out to a light well. It’s just on the other wall from the garage and it provides access to a staff apartment. There are stairs at the far end, which come up to ground level at the far end of the garage. But you don’t need to worry about that, because it will be roped off, as well. They want everyone using the main exits and entrances.”

The architect had told Malcolm the safe room wasn’t underneath the house. But if it was built into the power plant rooms, that wasn’tbelowthe house. Right? This was our best guess. Jayce and Declan would have other opinions, other options, but this was one. How would we get in and out of here? Guests would be allowed in this showroom, in the glass-walled lounge, and in the pool area. One door into the car gallery, plus the car elevator up, unless there was a secret door at the back of the power plant.

Bethany might not know about it, but it made sense.

How were we going to figure it out in three days’ time, unless we came back in or hacked into the architect’s system?

“We should get going,” said Jayce, suddenly next to me.

I hadn’t heard her approach, per usual. Had she found something? Or had she just seen everything she needed to see?

Chapter 18

Malcolm

Iwavedtothepretty young Bethany before closing my car door, brain firing on all cylinders. We were still driving the small SUV Scarlett had rented, one of the most popular new vehicles in the area. She insisted on driving us everywhere, and considering it had been years since I’d driven on the left side of the road, I barely complained after the first day.

“You can pick your jaw up off the floor now,” Scarlett muttered as she put the car in drive and pulled away from the Albrechts’ house.

“Can I?” I’d contracted with a lot of very wealthy people, but that was a first. “I was six inches away from a Velatti Aereus.”

“You what?” gasped Declan over the comms. “What color?”

“Midnight-blue carbon fiber exterior and the interior—”

Scarlett’s jaw tightened. “Jayce, what did you find?”

“Don’t tell me it was black.” Declan was officially my best friend.

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