Triple Diamonds (Mystic Nights #2)(65)

“What about us?” Joseph asked wanting to know what role he could play. Jonathan and his mother stood beside him.

“We would really like it if you could stay here. We don’t want your presence to spook them.”

Joseph didn’t like it, but he wanted this to be over. “What about Jewel?” he asked. He wondered how she was holding up.

Gio turned to the monitors and nodded at one of the technicians. The screen changed and now he was looking in the kitchen. Finally it panned onto Jewel. She mopped her brow with the back of her sleeve and then went right back to work at her prep station. “You can keep an eye on her from here. Although Andreas is going down to the kitchen to replace the guard on duty.”

Joseph nodded at the tall sinewy version of his brother. He felt good about that. He knew these men’s reputations preceded them, especially this man’s. “Good. I like that. It’ll make me feel better.” Both men sized each other up and then nodded.

“Us too. I won’t let anything happen to her. You have my word.” Andreas spoke gruffly. “But, we’d better hit it though and get in position in case they show up earlier than expected.”

“Good idea,” Tawny spoke the words as she shook each man’s hand as they began to file out of the security suite. He watched as each man left to go to their designated positions.

The chief of the Ledyard police department, Marshall Grant, who was staying behind as well, added his two cents, “Make it clean, boys.” When the room cleared and it was just two security men, Nikko Marino, Chief Grant, and them, he tried to relax. Glancing at the clock once more, he knew the next hour would be the longest of his life.

*

At five minutes before nine, Nikko’s radio chimed in. “We got a visual in the parking lot.”

Camera Two showed four young men entering the casino. They were dressed in nice button down shirts looking like they were headed into the casino for a night of gambling and drinking. Joseph recognized Justin right away.

Nikko spoke into the headset he wore. “Justin and Eddie Bauer identified, accompanied by two younger unidentified youth.”

A chorus of voices checked in. “Got it.”

“In position.”

“Decoys heading to the lobby.”

They watched the cameras and the two undercover police officers do their jobs. Justin was nearby and although they couldn’t hear the words spoken, they could see him smile. He headed over to Eddie who stood at the entrance to the casino from the lobby. They briefly conferred.

The two younger boys sat on a bench in the lobby conversing. Both looked slightly anxious.

Then Justin crossed the lobby once more. He stood near the exit and started a conversation with a guest. Apparently he was the lookout tonight.

A few minutes later, the female police officer rejoined the other man, and left. She wore different jewels. The minute they walked into the casino to head to the dining room, Eddie nodded at the two youngsters seated by themselves. They got up and joined him at the elevator, but stood off to the side. They waited and took the third elevator that came, not wanting to get into an elevator with other guests.

And, Joseph knew why. The three would go up, but one would stay by the elevator as lookout, and he would hold the door open preventing anyone else from taking it. He knew how fast they worked.

Once in the elevator he knew it was just a matter of minutes and it would all be over. He said a quick prayer that it would all go smoothly. He glanced at the monitor and saw Jewel. Everything looked good there. Thank goodness.

*

“All right kiddos,” Eddie encouraged the two newest recruits. “Do your thing. You got this.”

Although it was their first time, Eddie knew Rick and Dylan would do fine. He’d recruited and trained them himself. This was an easy gig. He’d seen the Vic himself. The diamond necklace she had gone to change would be worth a small fortune. That, plus whatever else she had brought for her trip made this one more than worth it. Normally he liked to have more time to target his heists, but Justin had sworn the info was good. And it looked like it was. Maybe his cousin would do well climbing the ranks. He was already doing well with recruiting.

He watched the two sixteen year olds who had taken off their shirts in the elevator. Underneath they had the black long sleeve t-shirts they were told to wear. From his nap sack, he removed the masks they were to wear. Tonight he’d selected gorilla masks. He laughed to himself. He had an array of old Halloween masks. He liked to change it up and use different ones every time. For himself, he used a ski mask. Keeping it simple tonight. The three shirts were stuffed into the small bag he had carried under his own shirt. It would be dumped. They’d take the stairs down, but he needed to keep pushing the elevator button while Rick and Dylan took the jewels from the room. It decreased the elevator traffic for the two to three minutes they would be in the room. He liked the odds. Again, Eddie laughed to himself at his own joke. This casino gambit, he’d come up with the idea himself, and it brought in a lot of money for the Dominguez syndicate. He knew Willie was pleased with him. He’d be moving up soon, and he’d give Justin his position.

He looked at his watch, and a trickle of fear coursed through him. The boys had been gone three minutes. They should pop out any second. He watched the door they had gone through pleased that the floor was still quiet. He began to count in his head. Sixty seconds. That’s all he could give them. Meanwhile, he fingered the phone in his pocket to alert Justin to get the car and bring it round to the stairwell exit.