Chapter 3.
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Declan's POV.
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"Let's start with the obvious," Luther said as we discussed preparation in a conference room. "We're going to need a double of Mr. Madrid."
I nodded my agreement.
"So one of us is gonna hafta volunteer t' be Lover-boy Costales t' get Ms. Lucas away from the security and into somewhere alone."
"Just like the Davian job," Zhen said. "So which one of you guys are up for it?"
"I'm manning controls," Luther said, putting his hands up in surrender. "So don't look at me."
"You're too tall anyway, Luther," Zhen pointed out. "And Smartie has to man surveillance…"
"Charles. Charles or Martin," Martin corrected. "Not Smartie."
"So you're talkin'… puttin' me as point?" I guessed.
"Nice math," Roberta commented. "You conclude that all by yourself?"
I shot her a look.
Luther cleared his throat loudly, to get our attention back.
"Yes, Declan," Luther said to me. "You're taking front. Heron thinks you earned it from the last job."
This news, needless to say, put me in quite a good mood, and I grinned at Blake just to rub it in her face.
"Anyway…" Luther went on. "Sadly, there are no convenient tunnels like we had in the Davian job. It's a high security hotel not even on the map for very special kinds of people, with cameras like you wouldn't believe, and security up every nook and cranny there. This may seem like an easy job, but trust me, it's going to be harder than it sounds."
"I don't see the problem," Smartie wondered.
"It means, if we are exposed, the entire complex locks down in a defcon."
"Basically: we get busted, we're dead barbequed meat," Zhen translated.
"Mmm," Smartie said. "Suddenly, I'm hungry."
"Yeah, I could go for some chow," I added, suddenly realizing I was starving.
"Focus, people, please," Luther begged, rubbing a tense spot in-between his eyes. "God, it's like I'm directing children."
He looked at his satellite printout of the building, and put a red tack on the board.
"Zhen, I need you here. You need to cover Smartie as he gets inside, then move here to be with Declan to help him finish with Costales. Bobbie, you're going to check into the party, here, and keep an eye on the real boyfriend as Declan, here, gets Lucas out of the picture. Then I want you immediately in the getaway vehicle. The tricky part is, we can't let surveillance see two Mr. Costales's… Smartie—I mean, Martin, that's where you come in."
"Too easy," Martin said confidently. "You know, every once in a while a challenge would be nice."
"If only life were so accommodatin'," I said, shaking my head sadly.
"Don't underestimate this job, fellahs," Luther warned. "That would be your first mistake."
"You mean there are more mistakes t' be had?" I said, sitting up in my seat excitedly. "Suddenly this job seems more interestin'."
"Your life is a mistake, Declan," Roberta said harshly. "So being you must be very interesting."
Zhen's mouth dropped at Roberta's audacity, and I glared at Roberta again.
"Bein' with you was my only mistake, Bobbie," I shot back, gathering my things and preparing to leave.
"Okay, that's enough with the soap opera business, Declan, Bobbie," Luther said. "You better get this drama sorted out before we leave in the morning, or I'm making Zhen point."
I grabbed my stuff in anger and stormed out in a huff without another word, feeling it all extremely unjust.
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Things are heating up, eh? Please review.
Signed,
--RedRogue