Chapter 7
"So anybody got a plans?"
Nine pairs of eyes rested on Yen. He smiled sheepishly, showing all of his teeth.
"Nope," Basher ran a hand through his hair, "Glad you picked up some English anyway." Reuben emptied his glass of milk, burped and plodded to the refrigerator for more. The men laughed, then fell quiet.
Danny looked at Frank, who looked at Linus, who stared at Basher, who turned to Virgil, who passed the look to Turk, who looked pointedly at Dell, who gazed at Reuben, who looked at Yen, who grinned at Saul, and they all, with a unique and mutual understanding, looked at Rusty and Andie Ocean.
Who, of course, had their heads bowed down, one pair of eyes studying an empty glass of orange juice, and the other concentrated on a fusion of red, blue and green lines, oblivious to the men.
The men grinned at each other knowingly.
Danny leaned forward from his seat, to his left and snapped his fingers in front of his daughter's nose. "Andie."
She looked up dazedly. "What?"
"Found anything yet?" Virgil.
A small smile formed on her lips. "Maybe."
"Let's hear it." Danny leaned back against the couch. The men followed suit.
Andie turned the laptop around. "The red lines are the ventilation, blue's for sewage and green's for electric. Just above the Diamond is the ventilation shaft. The ventilation's connected to the sewage, so if we can find a way into the sewage …"
"Ugh! That's gonna stink!" Virgil scrunched his nose in mock disgust.
The men laughed until Danny gave them an un-Danny like stern look. Then he turned to Andie and smiled, "I thought so."
"Then what happens after we get into the sewage?" Frank.
"Diamond's kept in a huge chamber after opening hours, guarded by random laser movements and ultraviolet cameras and it's got some three or five men keeping close eyes on it," Rusty spoke suddenly, still watching his glass.
Danny arched an eyebrow at his daughter.
She sighed and nodded. "He's right. So the only way to get into the chamber's from above … and below."
"You mean the drain?" Basher said incredulously.
Andie smiled, but didn't reply.
"Ventilation shafts layer each floor. We close in from below or from above."
"I suggest we take the downwards route from the top," Rusty cleared his throat and looked at Danny. "We've got men to spare."
Danny thought as he nodded. "And we have to take care of the security room, too. Blanking the cameras out is too risky."
"Sleeping pill," Reuben smiled, his eyes half-closed in drowsiness. "Pill in beer. Great diversion."
Danny: "I like that. It should buy us enough time, but it shouldn't be too long. Fifteen minutes perhaps?"
"I should be able to pull it off," Linus volunteered. Danny nodded. "Okay. What about the lasers? Andie?'
"It'll go off automatically at seven in the morning, just before the guards carry it out. Alternatively, there's a switch and a ten-numeric password."
Danny: "Where's it situated?"
"On the door."
They groaned simultaneously.
"Don't worry, I'll try to find a way to alter the automatic function," Andie began typing furiously. "You'd better," Rusty chimed. Danny gave him a hard look, and he grinned weakly back.
"But the lasers are touching the Diamond, right?" Saul finally spoke up. "I'm sure the laser's able to detect if the Diamond suddenly disappears."
"Make a replica," Danny replied.
The men murmured in agreement. The Malloy brothers raised their hands, "We'll take care of that."
Danny nodded again. "Good. And make sure you finish it in two days tops."
They saluted him. "No problem, Cap'n."
Danny grinned. A plan was taking shape. He was beginning to see a ray of hope.
"Let's say Miss Ocean gets to clear the laser for ten minutes or fifteen," Basher said thoughtfully, "How are we gonna grab the Diamond from above?"
Rusty answered as he grinned, "Mission Impossible."
The men hooted and hollered. Even Andie burst into laughter. "I see you're giggling," Rusty murmured into her ear. She gave him a smile. "I guess I am, assuming you're going to be the guinea pig?"
His grin became wider and more earnest. "Does that mean you'll forgive me?"
"Who knows?" she shrugged and winked before turning back to her laptop screen.
When the laughter subsided, Danny said, "Okay, but Rusty, I think Yen's better suited for the job since he's the tiniest here. You and I will help Yen. Yen, your job is to grab the Diamond and replace it with the replica in the chamber; Linus, Reuben and Dell, the security room is all yours; Malloys: replica; Frank and Basher will man the cable that's going to help us move in and out of the ventilation and sewage; and Andie'll be our getaway driver. That way you can still keep tabs on the laser movements and tell us when to pull out."
"Gotcha, Dad."
"Hey, then what about us?" The Malloy brothers whined.
Danny frowned. "You've got the replica to make."
"What about during the stealing?" Virgil folded his arms and pouted.
Danny sighed. "Okay. Turk, you can help Linus, Reuben and Dell. Virgil, you team up with Basher and Frank. That okay?"
The Malloys looked at each other, sniffed and nodded.
"What about me? Come on, you can't leave the old man out just because he's old," Saul folded his arms and looked at Danny questioningly.
Danny stared at Saul questioningly back. "What do you want to do?"
Saul shrugged. "You know, help."
"Well, you're already helping by promising to sponsor us."
"Of course I am going to sponsor you, silly. What am I going to do when you're pulling off the job?"
"Why don't you come with us into the sewer?" Frank grinned at Saul. "Basher and I can use another pair of hands."
"Yeah, Saul, that is, if you're not scared of getting wet and stinky."
Saul hesitated, then he looked back at Danny.
Danny shrugged.
"Hey Saul," Rusty grinned at him, "go for it, old fella. It's an experience of a lifetime."
Saul bit his lip, then nodded. "Fine. The sewer'll do."
The men burst into applause and Basher and Frank shook Saul's hand, grinning from ear to ear.
"All right, does everyone know what he or she - " Danny winked at Andie, "- has to do?"
"Yeah!"
Danny grinned. "Now this is more like it."
By the afternoon of the next day, Danny's double-room suite had become a huge workplace. The sofas were pushed to the walls and a huge makeshift table dominated the room. Pieces of plaster and shreds of plastic littered the floor.
At one corner, Turk and Virgil worked on a replica of the Gabanski Diamond according to the specifications Andie hacked from the Gallere website. Occupying a whole side of the table were Yen and Frank, testing the cable they bought that morning with Rusty, Basher and Danny. Andie sat at a corner trying to figure out a way to stop the laser movements. The only ones missing from the room were Linus, Dell and Reuben, who paid another visit to the Gallere and were to go to the drug store after that. Saul was the only one not working. He slept on a sofa by the wall, snoring with his mouth hanging open.
Virgil nudged Turk and whispered something in his ear. The brothers laughed. Danny gave them a smack on their heads. "Don't laugh at our kind benefactor."
"What? He ain't even looking?"
"I won't tolerate any of your practical jokes anymore. I really won't."
"Aww, boss …"
"Get back to work."
Andie grinned, and her eyes met with Rusty's. He smiled at her. She smiled back.
Andie was beginning to see a glimmer of hope for the plan. Maybe it would work out. Maybe Europol had given up on her. Maybe she was too paranoid. She laughed silently, to herself.