Page 58 of The San Marco Heist

“Thank you,” I said, pulling my wrap tighter. With the sun already down and it only being early May, the evening was cool, with a dampness in the air. The house was brilliant, every light inside turned on, plus dozens of lights around the bushes and perimeter of the house.

“Cold?” Malcolm wrapped an arm around my shoulder, and I walked closer to him, appreciating the warmth.

“Leaving now.” Rav pulled the car away as the security man walked us to the front door. “I’ll only be two minutes away.”

We entered through the grand front doors to a very different scene than the one on Wednesday. Instead of wide-open spaces, the grand hall was dotted with lemon trees in huge urns, a balloon garland in silver and gold cascaded down the imperial staircase, and a five-tiered champagne tower sat off to the side. A server in black pants and vest chatted with a couple, carefully retrieving glasses for them.

“If the front room looks like this, I can’t imagine the backyard,” said Malcolm.

“Then you should go see, honey.” I stopped and faced him, sweeping my hands across his chest as though smoothing the front of his tux. “I want to wander a little.”

“You should start in the library at the front of the house. I imagine there’s some fascinating reading material in there.” He cupped my cheek, kissing the opposite one and hopefully not noticing my sharp intake of breath.

Tell me we’ve got this,I mouthed. How was I leaving so much in the hands of a man I barely knew? How did my gut already tell me that—no matter how much he liked to piss me off and despite our argument at the hotel—I could trust him? It was the bruises. Clear as day, it was the memory of those bruises and the bandage and the idea of him being beaten along with my brother.

We’ve got this, he mouthed back. “Just don’t get carried away with any of the books. I want to share a dance with you later.”

“Good idea. I’ll see you in a few.” I retrieved his hand from my face and smiled at him. A kiss wouldn’t be out of the question.A level-three kiss. Not to the lips. I scrunched my toes, prepared to return the cheek kiss, but he leaned in and touched his lips to my nose.

“I’ll hold you to that, sugarplum.” He winked and turned on his heel, heading through the snooker room.

I watched his vanishing form for too long. The broad shoulders, the tousled hair, the way he waved and nodded to people he passed as though he knew all of them. He was comfortable in this role, which settled a little of the sick feeling in my stomach.

“Are we clear?” came Jayce’s voice, snapping me to the moment.

I strolled to the nearby library. A man and a woman in their finest sat at the table at the center, playing a game of chess. She was going to win in three turns, if she had any idea what she was doing. I made my way to the far wall and knelt on one of the window seats, peering outside.

The eastern side of the house faced the tennis court, which was surrounded by tall hedges and would be shaded by mature trees in daylight. Garden lights gently illuminated the stone pathway around the edge of the house, while the occasional bright red or blue flashed from what must have been the dance starting outside.

“Peaceful view,” I muttered to myself, advising Jayce and Declan that the first room was clear. With a brief nod to the woman at the table, I left the room, put a hand up to decline a glass from the champagne tower, and made my way through the drawing room. A few people sat on the opulent couches, another sat at the piano by the bay windows, while another couple considered the artwork on the opposite wall.

The curved turret room-like space which held the piano provided a floor-to-ceiling view of the grounds beyond, still on the east. A quick scan showed no people on this side of the house, no guests wandering the yard. “Nice to have the wedding on such a clear night.”

“There’s security walking the perimeter of the roof,” said Malcolm. “I only see one, but he’s on the west side.”

Jayce and Declan would approach in shadow and make their own determination. Were there people on the upper floors who could see down? More security personnel patrolling the roof walkway? Guests I hadn’t seen?

That was our first abort point of the night. My signal, their judgment. They could call an end or postponement to the entire thing. The latter meant I’d be stuck in a loop of visiting the library and the drawing room. Fortunately, other people were milling about, so it wouldn’t raise too much suspicion.

“Going up.” A blur of black caught my attention, but they were out of sight as quickly as they’d come into view. Up the side of the turret, to its top, between the windows. Scale the side of the house to the walkway.

Jayce would go up first, as the experienced climber. She’d then help Declan, who’d complained every second they’d practiced pulling, hoisting, or shoving him up. When we got home, he was going to have to spend more time training with her.

I stood by the piano, smiling at the man who played a few bars.

He patted the seat next to him. “Do you play?”

“I do, but I don’t think my husband would appreciate me playing.” I winked at him. “With you.”

Flirtation was all well and good, and it helped avoid my standing out. But I had a job to do, which required me in the backyard.

“Security’s heading your way,” said Malcolm.

All along the rear of the house, the tall windows showcased the stunning reception display. The sun may have been down, but it was practically daylight in the backyard. A tremendous white tent had been erected outside, and strobe lights in every color swayed in concert with the DJ’s music. The song choices were modern, but with beats which encouraged couples to dance as though they were listening to old standards.

I’d expected a live band for a black-tie event, but obviously the happy couple had different ideas. Screw class. It was time for a party.

“Malcolm, how’s the west side look?” I pulled my phone from my clutch and held it to my ear as I passed the people admiring the artwork, making my way to the family room. The concentration of guests was far thicker, and there were tables set out with more drinks, sweets, and savory snacks.

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