“If that equipment doesn’t work, you won’t be able to get out of bed for months,” I warned, cutting him off. “And not in a good way.”
Gage wandered through the house pretending to be keeping watch. The rest of us made our way upstairs. The house had been staged for viewing, with high-end furniture and luxury decor. I wasn’t expecting to find an actual safe in the master bedroom.
“This is staging to a whole new level,” I said.
“Dog told his real estate contact we wanted a safe for our private viewing so we could see how it looked,” Jack said.
“If I had enough money to need a safe, I would be concerned with security and not aesthetics, but now we have a safe to crack.” I stood aside to give Jack access. “Did you bring your tools?”
Jack pulled out a notebook, pen, and stethoscope. “Let’s get started.”
“That’s it?”
“That’s it.” He knelt in front of the safe and turned the dial.
“My dad has a safe almost identical to that one,” Anil said, flopping backward on the bed. “He uses it for his paratha recipe. My paternal grandmother kept trying to steal it so he has to lock it up.”
Jack looked over his shoulder. “Seriously?”
“They’re the best parathas in the state,” Anil said. “Probably even the country. The recipe has two special ingredients and was handed down from father to son for over a century. My grandfather wouldn’t give it to her, and when he passed, she tried to get it from my dad. Every time she came to visit, she would search for it. We caught her crawling under tables, wiggling under beds, and climbing on the counters in the kitchen to reach the high cupboards. Once she got stuck on the roof trying to get into the master bedroom because my father had locked the door. We had to call the firefighters to get her down.”
“I really hope this works out so Anil can get the fuck out of that batshit crazy house.” Gage leaned against the doorjamb, one foot crossed over the other, instead of being outside pretending to watch for guards like he was supposed to be doing. Managing a heist, I’d discovered, was much like trying to organize a Chopra family dinner.
“You’re supposed to be on watch downstairs,” I said.
“I got bored.”
“We’ve only been in here for five minutes. What’s going to happen during the real heist?”
“Hopefully, I’ll get to shoot someone,” Gage said. “Otherwise, what’s the point?”
“I’ve got it.” Jack opened the safe and moved to the side to show us the empty interior.
“That was fast. I thought cracking safes was hard.”
“It wasn’t locked,” he said. “I just spun the dials for show. Were you impressed?”
“For half a second, then I was disappointed. Now I’m worried about how long it will take in real life. We don’t even know what kind of safe they have. Maybe it’s one of those super-duper ones you see in banks with a spinning dial on the front and three locks.” I held out my hand to Anil. “I need the fake necklace to put in the fake safe.”
Anil handed me the large velvet box. I lifted the lid and felt my heart leap. Inside was an exact replica of the necklace I had only ever seen in police photographs. The diamonds sparkled, the emeralds glowed, and the pink heart glittered in the sunlight streaming through the window. I lifted it carefully from the box, feeling the substantial weight in my hand. It was hard to believe it wasn’t real.
“This is amazing,” I said. “Garcia was right. Why would anyone spend insane money on real jewelry when they can have the same look for a fraction of the cost and without any risk?”
“For the same reason people buy NFTs,” Anil said. “If you have the money, why not buy the real thing?”
I put the fake necklace in the safe and then removed it and gave it to Anil. “Fake in. Real out,” I said.
“Why are you giving the necklace to Anil?” Jack frowned. “Don’t you trust me?”
“Not entirely. Plus, no one’s going to mess with The Butcher.”
Truth was, I still didn’t trust Jack. How could I? From skulking behind the museum to dragging me into the bushes and from ditching the crew on the boat recon to disappearing for most of the evening at the charity ball where another necklace was stolen, he hadn’t left me much choice. On a personal level, I didn’t care anymore. I was desperate to jump into bed with him and explore our crazy chemistry. But professionally—and I counted the heist as a professional venture—I wasn’t taking any risks.
“I accept this important task and the responsibility you have given me,” Anil said, his tone formal, face serious. And then he ruined it by pumping his fist in the air and grinning so wide, I could see every one of his teeth. “The Butcher won’t let you down.”
It was almost worth trusting him with the necklace to see all that joy.
Eighteen
It was almost ten a.m. on Sunday morning, and Chloe and I were sitting in the bridal shop, sipping mimosas in a fantasyland of white organza. Chloe was our official photographer for the pre-wedding events. She’d taken photography courses in high school and had planned to pursue it as a career until her unexpected pregnancy changed the trajectory of her life.
“I don’t usually start drinking until eleven,” I told the elegantly dressed sales associate as she refilled my glass.
“If you worked here,” she said, “you’d start at nine.”
“I always imagined the day we’d come to a bridal salon together,” Chloe said after our high couture barkeep had returned to the front desk. “But it didn’t involve committing a crime.”
“Some of these dresses are a crime.” I pointed to three giant meringue-like gowns suspended from the ceiling beside an elevated carpeted dais. “A little necklace theft pales in comparison to the travesty of someone dressed as a marshmallow to start the next stage of their life.”
Bella and her mother arrived a few minutes later. They sipped herbal tea—oh, we couldn’t possibly drink alcohol in the morning—and talked about the weather while Chloe and I got tipsy waiting for the sales associate to bring out the dress.
“Are we good?” Chloe asked after Bella had gone to change. “I know I hurt you last night, and don’t say you’re fine because I saw your face and I know you too well.”
“I’m fine, really. I’m glad Gage was there.” I still had mixed feelings about Gage. On the one hand, he scared me with his quiet intensity and deadly shooting accuracy. On the other hand, he’d stepped up for Chloe. He’d protected her and made her feel safe. For that, I could forgive him for almost anything, even getting between me and my girl.
“He’s installing a high-tech security system at my place this afternoon,” she said. “I might actually be able to sleep through the night without waking at every sound.”
We didn’t get a chance to continue our conversation because Bella came out of the fitting room and twirled in front of us in a strapless floral sequined mermaid gown with an enormous layered lace skirt and a low-cut bodice embellished with crystals.