It Takes a Thief

by Liz Wolfe

  Logan hadn’t been properly prepared. But everything happened for a reason. This was only a part of it. He had to believe that Logan wasn’t intended to be prepared. Everything was a part of the Legacy.

  The Triumvirate he’d appointed didn’t understand the Legacy completely. Even though they’d been prepared by their fathers and had grown up knowing about the Legacy and what it meant. They didn’t understand that every single piece had to fall into place. But they were learning. He’d be patient with them for now. It seemed that he alone was able to see the overall picture. None of the others had even recognized that this was the time. None of them had been able to locate the Legacy document. After generations of waiting, this was the time for the Legacy to come into power. To save the world.

  “This woman, this thief. She’s an important part of the equation,” Capo said.

  “How do you know that?” von Bayem asked. “You get a vision or something?”

  Capo turned slowly. “Do I detect a note of cynicism, Axel?” He smiled and lifted a hand to still the response. “No, I understand your reluctance to believe. Sometimes the father fails to properly prepare the son.”

  “No, Capo.” Von Bayem’s hand ran across his close-cropped hair, then patted the top of his head ina familiar gesture. “It’s not that. Just my smart-ass mouth. I didn’t mean anything by it.”

  “I understand.” Capo turned to Weisbaum. “See that we enlist her services.”

  “What if Logan can’t contact her?” Weisbaum asked.

  “Oh, he will. I have no doubt of that. Logan will do whatever is necessary.” He turned back toward the hallway. “I need more sleep. These transatlantic flights exhaust me. When do we leave for Italy?”

  Weisbaum checked his watch. “In six hours, Capo.”

  “Good. I need to get back to the lab.” There was so much to do, so much to take care of. All in good time, he reminded himself. This had been waiting centuries.

  November 5, Outside Bethesda, Maryland

  “You are one tough woman to get a hold of.”

  A shiver of excitement skittered up Zoe’s spine when she heard Logan’s soft, masculine voice on her phone. “Maybe that’s because I don’t want to be gotten a hold of,” she replied smoothly.

  “I wanted to tell you how much I admired your work at the German Embassy.”

  “You’re mistaken. I don’t work at the German Embassy.”

  He laughed softly. “Well, not officially, of course. I’m speaking of your work at the ball last week. Very impressive.”

  “I have no idea what you’re talking about. In fact, I have no idea who you are.” She pressed the off button and laid the phone down. It rang in five seconds. She waited until the fourth ring before picking it up. “What?”

  “I have an offer for you.”

  “Not interested.”

  “You haven’t heard it yet,” he argued.

  “Whatever it is, Mr. Forrester, I can assure you I’m not interested.”

  “Ah, so you remember me?”

  “Of course, I remember you. However, believe me, you have nothing to offer that I’d be interested in.”

  “I beg to differ.”

  “I like it when men beg, but it won’t change anything.”

  “You won’t even listen to the offer?”

  Zoe sighed, making sure he could hear her. “Fine, I’ll listen, if it’ll get you off my phone.”

  “I’m in business with some people who need some items procured.”

  She said nothing.

  “I’m convinced you’re the one who can procure these items.”

  “Not interested,” she said.

  “How much would you want?”

  “I said I’m not interested.”

  “I heard that. But everyone has a price. What’s yours?”

  “You don’t seem to understand, Mr. Forrester. I work alone. By myself, for myself. I’m not interested in work for hire.”

  “Not even for a million?”

  Zoe hesitated, as she’d planned to do when money was offered. Not being prepared to hear that number made it easy.

  “How long does it take you to steal enough to make a million dollars?”

  “I don’t think that’s any of your business. I don’t do work for hire. Under any circumstances. You need to find someone else.”

  It was his turn to sigh and he did a good job of it. “Fine. Forget I asked. But how about dinner Saturday night?”

  Just the opening she’d been hoping for. “Sorry, I have a benefit gala to attend in New York on Saturday night.”

  “A gala? Sounds interesting. I don’t suppose you’d like an escort?”

  “It’s not that kind of evening for me.”

  “Ah, work then. I certainly understand.”

  “If there’s nothing else, Mr. Forrester, I really have to go.”

  “Of course. Maybe we’ll run into each other again.”

  “Highly unlikely,” she said.

  “Still, you never know.”

  “Good-bye, Mr. Forrester.” She hung up the phone and waited five minutes, but it didn’t ring again. She picked it up and punched in Shelby’s number.

  “You were right,” Zoe said when Shelby answered.

  “Forrester contacted you.”

  “Just a few minutes ago. I told him no, and alluded to the gala I’ll be attending on Saturday night.”

  “Are you really sure about this, Zoe? It’s not too late to back out. The FSA or CIA could send in a seasoned agent,” Shelby suggested.

  “They don’t have an agent who can do what I can do. It won’t work.”

  “You could train them.”

  “Shelby, it takes years. I can’t train an agent to be a thief in a few weeks. Dad trained me for four years before I ever did my first job.”

  “Fine, you’re right, I suppose. What if Logan doesn’t show?”

  “He’ll show. He sounded desperate.”

  “And how are you going to get him to make you another offer?”

  “Easy. I’m going to let him rescue me.”

  November 7, New York City, New York

  Zoe pulled on a dark blue bodysuit and regarded herself in the mirrored closet door of her suite in the St. Regis Hotel. Her back was bare to her waist except for several thin cords that crisscrossed over it. She pulled on the sheer kimono-style jacket and turned to check out her rear view in the mirrored closet doors. The diaphanous Japanese print swirled about her calves and did nothing to hide her body. She slipped her feet into flat ballerina slippers, momentarily regretting that she couldn’t wear the kind of heels that would make the outfit even more stunning. But she knew exactly what she would be doing tonight, and heels were out of the question. The salon had twisted her red hair into a French braid, leaving a few wisps to curl around her face. The cosmetician had applied creams, powders, and pencils until she barely recognized her own face.

  She picked up the specially constructed bamboo purse and pressed a fingernail into the recessed slot under the handle. A slender drawer slid smoothly out of the bottom of the purse. All for looks tonight. The only thing she’d be snagging was Logan’s attention. The phone rang and she answered it to hear the concierge say that her limo had arrived. If it wasn’t for dealing with the Order, she could get used to this lifestyle. She thanked the concierge and headed to the lobby.

  Fifteen minutes later Zoe slipped into the elegant crowd in the main room of the Friedlander Museum and looked for Logan. She moved from room to room, pretending to view the displays, but after almost an hour of mingling she still hadn’t spotted him. The sparkly spandex was starting to itch; the pile of makeup felt heavy on her face. She felt the beginnings of a frustration she associated with failure.

  “I hope whatever you’re stealing is really small if you plan to hide it somewhere in that outfit.”

  Logan’s breath whispered across the back of her neck, and the hairs on her arms stood up. The frustration eased. Her quarry had arrived.

  “W
hat makes you think I’m here to steal something?”

  “I see.” Logan moved to stand beside her. “So, it’s merely a coincidence that an internationally known thief is attending an exhibit of priceless Japanese artifacts?”

  “Internationally known?”

  Logan grinned. “Well, not by the general public,of course, but certainly the major law enforcement agencies.”

  “Wouldn’t it be foolish for such a well-known thief to attend a function and then commit a theft?”

  “Foolish?” He shrugged. “Perhaps. Or daring.”

  “There’s another term for a daring thief.”

  “What’s that?”

  “Convicted felon.” She turned her attention to the glass case before them.

  Logan grinned. “You arrived rather late. The gala will be over in an hour or so.”

  “Then I’d best enjoy the exhibits before we’re all ushered out. Excuse me.”

  Zoe turned and walked across the room to stand before a display of metal war fans. Taking a glass of champagne from a passing waiter, she moved from one exhibit to the next, comparing the floor plan with the one Ethan had sent her. It all checked out and she relaxed a bit.

  She had another half hour to get Logan where she wanted him. She wandered about the spacious main room of the museum, chatting with other guests about the exhibits. Logan was never far from her, and that was exactly what she wanted.

  The gala was winding down and everyone was being directed from the small exhibit rooms back to the main gallery where there would be a seriesof speeches thanking everyone and acknowledging the more generous patrons of the Friedlander. Zoe waited until the room was almost empty, then slipped behind an exhibit, making sure Logan saw the move. She ducked under the red velvet rope and ran silently down the hall to the double doors leading to the small gallery that held the priceless emaki. The thousand-year-old picture scrolls weren’t being displayed tonight. The Friedlander wouldn’t take a chance with such a valuable exhibit.

  The doors to the gallery were locked, but in deference to the socialites in attendance, no guards had been posted. Zoe pulled her lock picks out of the lining of the bamboo purse and quickly unlocked the door. Slipping into the room, she removed the kimono duster and knotted it around her waist to keep it out of the way.

  From the schematics of the alarm system that Ethan had provided, she knew that cutting the white wire was all that was necessary to deactivate the alarm. But it had to look complicated to Logan. He had to believe that she’d made a mistake. She moved to the display case and ran her hands over it to locate the thin wires, which is what she’d have done if she were really going to steal the emaki.

  Considering the value of the exhibit, Zoe didn’t think the museum had installed adequate security. They were probably counting on exterior security tokeep thieves out, which wasn’t altogether wrong. Most thieves would wait and break into the museum after hours. She would have.

  She barely heard the door open and close. He was quiet, she’d give him that.

  “Beautiful, aren’t they?” Logan asked.

  “What the hell are you doing here?” Zoe whirled and planted her fists on her hips in an imitation of outrage.

  “Just watching.”

  “I don’t need an audience. Leave.”

  “I’d rather stay. Always wanted to see a master thief at work.”

  She shot a glance toward the door, trying to look nervous. Which wasn’t all that hard, considering what she was attempting. Ethan had offered to set the ruse up with the museum, but Zoe had refused. The more people involved, the more likelihood of it looking like a setup. Logan had to believe everything that would happen tonight, and you just couldn’t beat reality. She turned back to the display case and knelt down, feeling for the wires at the bottom of the case.

  “Then don’t get in my way. Open that door a crack and see if anyone’s around. If you’re going to stay, at least you can be helpful.” She snipped the red wire, then stood and lifted the glass.

  Alarms jangled and even though she was prepared for them, adrenaline still shot through her body. Shedropped the wire cutters and sprinted for the door, grabbing Logan’s hand to pull him out of the room. He looked stunned, which was just as she’d intended.

  Zoe pulled him down the hallway and shoved him into the men’s room ahead of her. She could hear boots pounding down the hallway as she yanked open the door to one of the stalls. Stepping up onto the toilet seat, she launched herself into the air and threw out her arms and legs. Her toes pressed against the rear of the stall, her palms against the door, wedging her into place.

  “Drop your pants and sit down,” she ordered Logan. “What?”

  “You heard me. Do it!” She inched her way up to the top of the stall, which rose almost to the ceiling. “And lock the stall. Look like you’re taking care of business.”

  Logan unbuckled his belt, dropped his pants, and started to sit.

  “Briefs, too.”

  He scowled at her.

  “The idea is to appear that you’re in here for a legitimate reason,” she explained. “You want them to think you’re taking a dump in your shorts?” She settled her palms against the door frame, careful that they weren’t in the way of the door opening.

  “Who?” Logan asked just as she heard the door to the men’s room swing open.

  She shook her head and pursed her lips to let him know to be quiet. Logan dropped his briefs and sat down just before a heavy hand banged on the stall door.

  “Hey, anybody in there?” a male voice called.

  “Well, yes, actually,” Logan answered.

  “Open up.”

  “Excuse me. I’ll be done in a moment.”

  “Open up now!”

  Logan reached out and flipped the locking lever on the stall door, letting it swing open to reveal two guards.

  “You see anyone come through here?”

  “I’m not exactly in a position to see anyone, but I haven’t heard anyone come in. What’s this about?” Logan asked.

  “One of the alarms got tripped.” The guard looked around the stall suspiciously. But he didn’t think to look up, which Zoe had counted on.

  “Well, no one’s in here with me. Now, if you don’t mind?” Logan’s voice held just the right tone of indignation and she grinned down at him.

  Her arms and legs trembled with the effort of keeping her body in place. She remembered her father chastising her for skipping a couple of gymnastic training sessions. Okay, she’d skipped seven. Over the past month. She pressed her hands and feet harderagainst the laminate and promised herself that she’d never miss another one.

  The guard looked down at Logan’s pants and underwear pooled around his ankles. Logan put his hand over his stomach and groaned. She silently cheered the ad lib.

  “Yeah,” the guard said. “Sorry.”

  Zoe listened to the guards check the other stalls and then leave. Her arms and legs were visibly trembling from holding her position for so long.

  “You can pull your pants up now,” she said. “Then get out so I can get down.”

  Logan zipped up his pants and looked up at her. “I’ll catch you.”

  “No, just get out so I can get down.”

  Logan reached up, put his hands around her waist, and lifted her down. He let her body slide down his.

  “That wasn’t necessary,” she said. Pleasant, though.

  Logan grinned at her. “What happened?”

  “The schematics I had for the alarm system were wrong.” She unwrapped the kimono from her waist and pulled it back on. “Or they changed something at the last minute.”

  “So, will you try again later?”

  She frowned at him. “I doubt it. They’ll step up security now.”

  “The emaki would have brought you a tidy sum.”

  “Yeah, I could use it, too. Check to see if anyone’s outside.”

  Logan opened the door, looked down the hall, and shook his head. “All clear.”
<
br />   She linked her arm with his, scooted them out of the men’s room, and strolled down the hallway back to the main gallery. Most of the guests had left. She picked up a champagne glass and sipped until they heard the announcement that the gala was over and the building would be locked in fifteen minutes.

  “I guess they want everyone to leave, then,” Logan said.

  “No doubt.” She set the glass down and they strolled to the front door. As soon as they were outside, she pulled her arm away from his and headed for the line of cabs pulled up to the curb.

  “What’s your hurry?” Logan grabbed her arm and pulled her back. “It’s still early. Let’s go have a drink.”

  “I don’t—”

  “The job’s over. For tonight, anyway. And you’re completely hyped-up.” He pulled her along toward a cab. “Besides, I find you interesting.”

  Just what she wanted. She let him hand her into the cab.

  “Here we are,” Logan said as the cab stopped in front of the St. Regis. Zoe wondered if it was just a coincidence or if he knew she was staying there.

  Logan paid the cab driver and led her through the revolving doors, across the lobby to the bank of elevators. They stepped inside and rode up in silence. Zoe breathed a silent sigh of relief when they got off on the eleventh floor instead of the fifteenth, where her room was located. Logan slid his key card into the lock and pushed the door open. Zoe walked inside, and behind her Logan flipped a couple of switches that turned on lights and started the gas fireplace. The setup made her jittery, looking a little too much like a seduction scene.

  “What would you like to drink?” Logan asked. “Brandy, wine, champagne?”

  “Brandy sounds good.”

  “So tell me about tonight.” Logan splashed brandy into an oversized snifter and held it out to her, taking a seat on the sofa facing her.

  “What about it? Other than the fact that it was a bust?”

  “Yes, that must have been hard to take, considering.”