Steal Read online

  "I envy you," she said when they were alone in the corridor. "I had long hair once, and it was a perfect cover for this contraption."

  "Why'd you cut it?" Blair asked, trying to picture her in long hair.

  "Got mad at a boyfriend and just started whacking. I guess I was feeling aggressive or something." She shrugged. "Should have cut his while he slept I suppose."

  Blair nodded, then turned to see who was coming off the elevator. After the couple passed them, he turned back to Diana. "How long have you two been together?"

  "Oh, I dunno. Maybe three or four years. Who counts?" She glanced down the right-side hallway as they heard a door. "What about you and Don Juan?"

  Blair was taken aback for a second by her reference, but he quickly recovered. "Not long, really. Not quite a year." He watched the man who had exited his room pass them and walk to the elevators. As the gentleman passed, he gave Diana a long look. "Don't they start to wonder, seeing the two of you at these hotels for so long?"

  She shook her head, "No. We only work one hotel for no more than a week, and the staff just figure us for working girls. You know, the professional type. The one's that high-paying guests might call in while they're in town. Hotels like these don't make waves for high priced guests. Actually, I'm surprised they haven't gotten into the business of supply and demand themselves. Think of the money the hotel could bring in on the side if they provided their own."

  Blair just raised his eyebrows for a second and nodded. Her comment reminded him of Amber, and that in turn reminded him of Zeller. Which all served to remind him of why going undercover with Jim could be not such a desirable thing to do sometimes. Calm down, there's no target painted on your butt this time. Just then the door to room 713 opened. Blair and Diana watched as a gentleman in his fifties stepped out, tested the door before putting his key-card back into his pocket, and walked to the elevators. Diana reached into her purse and pulled out a small beeper-sized box and punched a button. Within seconds, Jim was on the headset.

  "Sandburg, which elevator is he in?"

  "The far right. He's wearing a black wool jacket." Blair answered, hearing Diana tell Jennifer the same thing. "Looks like he's dressed for the weather."

  There was a pause, "Here he is. He's hailing a cab." Then to Jennifer, "Who gets this one?"

  "We've got two more check-ins, both for the seventh floor." Jim paused again and Blair turned to Diana as she spoke to Jennifer.

  "Okay, come on up. I can handle it. Those rooms are just around the other side. We could hit them all this afternoon if they leave."

  "Sandburg, Jennifer is coming up to take room 713. The other two check-ins are heading up in the left elevator, rooms 719 and 724. Keep an eye on them."

  "Right." This was getting complicated. Jennifer stepped off of the elevator before the other guests arrived, moving straight to room 713. She used the same device Jim had to open the door, then stepped inside just as the second elevator opened. Blair and Diana switched seats, so she had a more straight on view of the room her partner was in while Blair kept an eye on the new arrivals as they approached their rooms. Each of the two men that passed him was carrying a brief case with a small silver handcuff and chain, securing them to their property. Ten minutes later, just as Jennifer was coming out of room 713, Jim announced the arrival of guest number four.

  "She's done." Blair said, speaking quietly into the microphone. He watched as Jennifer calmly shut the door behind her, glanced at them for a moment, then walked to the elevators and pressed a button. As she waited for the car, Blair saw the man from room 724 come out and walk down the corridor towards her. "Jim, room 724 is coming down. The same car as Jennifer."

  "Got it." Jim replied. "You ready to go to work, Chief?"

  "Hang on...here comes room 719, too." Blair watched the second man come out of the room, spray his breath with an atomizer from his jacket pocket, then walk towards them, smiling at Diana as he passed. He had just missed the elevator Jennifer and room 724's guest were in, so he pressed the button and waited, still smiling at Diana.

  "He's getting into a cab. I'm coming up." Jim's voice was clear enough to Blair, but he knew Diana couldn't hear it. As soon as the elevator opened up, and guest 719 got in, he told her.

  "Jennifer will take room 719, as soon as Mr. Friendly takes off." She turned to Blair, "This is turning out to be a good day. Maybe we'll get this wrapped up in time for some dinner?"

  Blair tried to smile. "Maybe." God, he didn't want to spend too much time alone with her. It hadn't taken Jennifer long to get into the safe, but Blair hadn't seen what method she used. He had decided the idea of her having a Sentinel sense of touch was just too far-fetched. She had to have equipment like that which had been given to Jim by Fingers McCoy. Even if she did turn out, against all odds, to have one sense...she couldn't possibly have all five. Blair really didn't expect to find another Sentinel anywhere near Cascade during his lifetime. After all, one was enough for any Guide to handle.

  Jim came off the elevator and walked towards Diana and Blair as they sat in the corner, watching. He didn't pause, but continued down the other side to room 724, swiped the key-card through the lock, and went inside. "Jennifer is coming up in the next car, so Diana will be occupied."

  "Good." Blair replied over the headpiece.

  Jim smiled to himself and found the room safe behind the dresser mirror. "Okay, Chief, here goes." He took hold of the tumbler and let his tactile sense become prominent in his mind, feeling the metal underneath his fingers take on a larger-than-life feel.

  "Jennifer's in her room." Blair's voice was inside his head and Jim mentally took hold of it to keep from falling into a sensory trance as he moved the tumbler into its first position. He remembered to breathe, and turned the dial in the opposite direction. The tumbler had magnified itself in Jim's mind, and through his sensitive fingers he could envision the inner workings of the lock, even to the point of feeling the wear and tear this safe had been through in the years since it was first installed. His mind began to pull him into the safe as the focus intensified itself. He began to feel smaller and smaller, and a voice in the back of his mind was trying to call to him, trying to pull him back out of the safe. Jim could feel his heart begin to race with the effort it took to hear the voice, then the tumbler hit a combination, and the teeth falling into place sent a jarring through his arm and up to his tensed neck.

  Part 6

  * * *

  "Jim!" Blair's voice was clearer now, and Jim used it to pull himself back out, looking at the safe as he forced himself to let go of the tumbler.

  The safe door was open now, and Jim was startled. "It's open," he said, trying to keep his voice level.

  "Jim, you zoned out, didn't you?" Blair's voice was a concerned whisper. "You wouldn't answer me for almost five minutes."

  "I'm okay, Chief," Jim replied, pulling the door open all the way. "Where's Jennifer?"

  "Still inside 719. What's going on?"

  "Just gotta empty this out and I'm done." Jim reached into the safe and pulled out the small black-velvet bag that was the only thing inside. He walked it over to the bed and dumped the contents, pulling a ziplock bag from his jacket. Sitting on the bed, sparkling up at him, were some of the most magnificent jewels he had ever seen. Diamonds, emeralds, and rubies, some set in old-fashioned looking settings, some loose. Jim quickly bagged up the stones, making sure he got each one, and zipped the bag closed. He then returned the empty velvet bag to the safe and shut the door, spinning the dial, then walked to the bathroom. He couldn't discount his partner's reluctance to commit a real crime, even during the course of a case; breaking the law wasn't an easy thing to do for a cop, either. He put the bag of stones down on the bathroom counter and took the lid off the toilet tank. Blair's feelings about the case raised Jim's opinion of him, maybe even beyond Blair's own opinion of himself. That conversation they had the night before was more for Jim's own amusement than anything. He was certain his partner wouldn't have been ab
le to Guide someone whose sole reason for being was to hurt others. Blair wasn't like that, even for the sake of his beloved research. But what would Jim had done if Blair hadn't found him? When his senses returned back in Cascade, he honestly thought he was losing his sanity. Then, after the doctors couldn't find anything wrong with him physically, he was convinced it was psychological.

  "Jim, Jennifer just came out and she's heading downstairs."

  "I'll be right there." Jim stuffed the jewels into the tank and replaced the lid, then retraced his steps to the door and out, making sure the door locked behind him. Blair was sitting with Diana still and he glanced at the two of them as he passed, reaching the elevators as the doors opened. When he reached the lobby, Jennifer was waiting for him.

  "Room 910 just went into the restaurant for an early dinner." She stepped into the elevator and pressed the ninth floor button. "I thought we'd do this one together, for fun."

  "Blair, we're heading up to the ninth," Jim said into his microphone.

  "Already there," Blair replied.

  Jennifer smiled up at him, "I sent them up while you were coming down."

  "So, you're calling the shots, now?"

  "Take it easy, big fella." Jennifer wrapped her arms around Jim's left arm. "I just thought we should strike while the iron's hot, as they say. Besides, tomorrow we've got six, and might not have time to compare technique until Vancouver."

  Jim raised his eyebrows and looked down at her. "You're inviting us along?"

  She shrugged, letting go of his arm as the elevator doors opened. "If things work out, I thought it might be fun. Who knows, maybe you and I could break out on our own?"

  Jim was about to question her when she pulled him out of the elevator and down the hall. Room 910 was at the far end of the second corridor, the farthest from the elevators. Jim found Blair and Diana standing right in front of the room next door, Diana searching her purse for what was presumably a key to their room if anyone came down the hall. Just as they reached the door, the room across the hall opened up, and an older couple came out.

  "God, I know the card is in here somewhere, honey. Just give me a minute," Diana said, still digging through her purse.

  Jim felt a hand on his back and turned to Jennifer as she produced a card. "Care to do the honors, sweetie?" she said, handing him the key. The older couple glanced at them all, then proceeded down the corridor, rounding the corner as they walked to the elevators. Jim caught sight of a relieved look on his partners face as he and Jennifer entered the room and shut the door.

  "Nice duplicate," he said, handing her back the key card. "Get that from your inside source, too?"

  "Yep. Just borrow the ones I need for the day." She crossed the room and found the safe, pulling a box from her purse identical to the one Jim had been avoiding putting into use. "How do you get in?"

  "Tricks of the trade." Jim said, producing the key decoder.

  "Impressive," she replied. "Care to go first?"

  Jim eyed the safe. She obviously had no sense of touch, and relied on the box to tell her what to do. But, if she was proficient in that method, as she obviously must be, then she would far outdo Jim. And, if he had to worry about beating the box, would he be able to crack the safe without zoning out? "Go ahead, ladies first."

  She smiled and reached for the tumbler while Jim moved in closer, putting the headset on. "How's the hallway?" he asked, watching Jennifer.

  "All clear," Blair replied. "You okay in there?"

  "Jennifer's doing the safe." He watched as the first pair of numbers appeared on the box. She was good with the sensor, but had most likely been using it, or something like it, her entire criminal career. What would it look like if he was asked to finish the safe, and wanted to remove the box to do it? She would definitely get suspicious. How couldn't she? Jim's answer came when the third pair of numbers was displayed. Jennifer turned to him, eyebrows raised expectantly.

  "Jim, someone's coming."

  He looked at Jennifer, "Keep going, we might have trouble." Before she could comment, Jim moved to the door and listened. "What's up?"

  "Our guest changed his mind about eating," Blair said urgently.

  "They can handle him, don't worry," Jennifer whispered from the safe.

  "Just finish it," Jim replied, turning to her then back to the door. He focused his hearing through the door, to the hallway. He could hear footsteps coming down the corridor towards the room, two sets. Three doors down, Diana screamed, then moved quickly back down the hallway towards the approaching footsteps.

  "Oh my God, a mouse!"

  "Unbelievable!" Blair was moving with her, towards the returning guest.

  "What? A mouse? Where?" He heard another woman's voice, raised in fear.

  "Back there, by that door." Diana's voice was near hysteria. "I told you I saw a mouse in our room last night. He never believes me, but I swear there was a mouse under our bed." Her voice lowered a bit. "We got a little wild last night, and I was on the floor, and I swear to God there was a mouse under there."

  "I told you that was just my shoes." Blair replied.

  Jim could picture the conversation in the hallway and marveled at Diana's quick ability to lie. Almost rivaling his own partner's.

  "I'm not going down there if there's mice," the strange woman said. "Come on, my room's down three floors, and at the other side. What say we take our party there, instead?"

  "Whatever you say, love," a man's voice replied. Jim heard the footsteps move back away from the room, followed by Blair's and Diana's.

  "All clear." Blair's voice came back over the microphone and Jim had to damped his hearing so he wouldn't get an echo from the hallway and the headpiece.

  "Good." He turned to Jennifer and saw that the safe was now open. From inside she pulled out a small case and set it on the bed. Jim walked over to the bed and opened the case, gazing down at more jewelry.

  "Jackpot," she said, picking up a necklace. "Found gold coins in the first one. How about you?"

  "More of these, plus some loose stones." Jim replied. He helped her bag up the new gems, then placed them inside the toilet tank. "This insider of yours, the maid, does she know what she's doing?"

  Jennifer shook her head as she shut the safe door and replaced the mirror. "Nope. Can't take the chance of someone dipping their hands in, can we?" She placed her headset on then. "Diana, take the car and head for home. Jim and I will follow in the truck." She looked up at him then. "Okay with you?"

  "Jim?" Blair's voice held some concern, but Jim didn't want to rock the boat at this early stage.

  "Go ahead, we'll be right behind you," he replied.

  Jennifer smiled and took his arm again as they walked out of the room. The hallway was deserted as they approached the elevators. Jim could see the light still on as Blair and Diana descended. "Your friend doesn't seem to like Diana much," she said as they entered the second elevator.

  Jim pressed the lobby button. "He's just shy."

  "Ah. And, what about you?" She reached over and put an arm around his waist, looking up.

  "I just believe there's a time and a place," Jim replied, gently but firmly removing her hand from inside his back pocket. "Maybe after the job's done."

  She sighed and removed her arm, shaking her head slightly. "Too bad. I was hoping for a little recreation tonight." The elevator reached the lobby and Jim led the way to the truck. On the way out to the parking lot, he could see Diana and Blair pulling into traffic in Jennifer's car. He held the passenger door open for Jennifer, then got in and followed the other two.

  "So, tomorrow's the big finish. Then what?" He looked at her as he drove.

  "Then, we cash in and move up north," she replied. "Unless you can tempt me into something else."

  "What did you have in mind?" What was she getting at?

  "Oh, I don't know. I was thinking it might be time for a change of dance partners." She reached over and put her hand on Jim's knee, squeezing gently. "We could take turns, being o
n the outside. I know how to use the computer to get the check-in lists, and we're the ones doing all the work, anyway."

  Trouble in paradise? "Just like that, we each dump our partners and go off together into the sunset?"

  She laughed. "Something like that."

  "What about your silent partner? Will he go along with a change in personnel?"

  "He'll go along." She removed her hand as they pulled into the driveway. "You can ask him yourself. He's coming into town tomorrow night. That's when we offload this weeks bounty and head north."

  That was fast. Faster than he had expected. "Good. I'd like to meet this genius of yours who can give liquidation turn around like that." He parked the truck and they both climbed out, then went inside.

  Blair was sitting at the computer on the kitchen table, while Diana was no where to be found. "How'd it go?" he asked, looking at Jim.

  "Fine. Where's your friend?"

  Blair shrugged and Jennifer touched her nose, sniffing loudly. "She's got a little recreation of her own."

  Great. Robbery, breaking and entering, illegal distribution of stolen goods, and cocaine. Jennifer was looking at him with a knowing glance. "Maybe we could make it a threesome?" Jim asked, motioning to Blair who was looking at them both with a puzzled expression.

  "I'll keep that in mind," Jennifer replied.

  "Jim, there's been a change in plans." Blair motioned for him to look at the computer screen. "Two of tomorrow's guests have changed their reservations from tomorrow to late tonight."

  "What?" Jennifer approached and leaned over Blair's shoulder to view the display. "Damn. Two hours from now." She paused, and Diana came into the kitchen. "And you probably just ruined the rest of the evening?"