2. Plans and Requirements

A week later, Reuben Tishkoff had a veranda full of guests, who were sipping cool drinks under two large umbrellas while the sun beat down on them.

"What we need", Danny Ocean said, "is to find out exactly who's behind this. Until now it's only speculation."

"Duh", Frank Catton put in from across the table.

"We have a very good chance to do so, though", Danny continued, ignoring him.

Reuben nodded his grey head vigorously, so that his large spectacles almost slipped. "According to Terry, this nameless person will once again make contact during the gaming expo and congress, which leads us to the assumption that whoever is behind this plan to get me out of business will attend."

"I still think Bank is behind it", Turk Malloy put in. "He's the one with the most reason to harm you."

For once, his brother Virgil did not bicker with him, but agreed.

"But you heard the man", Eugene Tarr, better known as Basher, reminded them a little impatiently. "He's not on the guest list." Turning his head to the man leaning against the railing behind him, he wordlessly asked for confirmation.

"True", Terry Benedict answered the unspoken question. Immaculately dressed and exuding smugness as always, he was his arrogant, untrustworthy self alright, and yet he had seemed to remember an old agreement between himself and Reuben. If he felt uncomfortable on Reuben's ground and amid his associates, he did not show it. "Though that doesn't quite put him out of the running. Still, it seems less plausible."

"Yes," Linus Caldwell interjected. "Wouldn't Bank announce himself? Whe he goes to tha congress thing, I mean?" He caught Basher's grin at his awkward wording and smiled apologetically, shrugging.

"Theoretically." Danny replaced his empty glass on the table. "But he wouldn't have to be present. He might as well send his mysterious contact man, and be even more inconspicuous because he wasn't around."

Practically sprawling in his chair, Rusty Ryan shrugged. "All the same, then we find out who his contact is."

"It will be hard to keep that secret", Linus agreed.

"Moreover", Reuben reminded them, "I doubt I have more sworn enemies than I could count on the fingers of one hand."

"Don't be too optimistic", Frank laughed.

But Danny nodded to this. "I'm sure we'll manage to narrow the list down to one name during the expo week, with part of us present and the others out finding out more about those whose names we give them."

Beside him, Saul Bloom shook his bald head morosely. "Bad times", the old man sighed. "In my days, we knew what we were up against. Even the nasty ones had manners and style. This world is seriously going to the dogs."

"Who are you telling?" Basher muttered.

Saul raised his eyebrows. "Have you seen the old days then, young man?"

"No, but even from my point of view it's gotten lousy. Shame, really."

Seated across from him, Livingston Dell wiped the sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief and said nothing.

"We do the job that's ahead of us", Rusty put in. "We don't go soft."

"Oh no", Saul agreed gravely. "The first of you who accuses me of going soft –"

"Alright, Saul", Danny interrupted. "Nobody's going to accuse you."

"I do hope so", the old man stated with his chin pushed forward, not noticing how Turk and Virgil exchanged a glance and grinned.

"So," Rusty took over. "The plan is, Terry attends the expo, as is expected of him. So does Danny, disguised as some stuffed-up casino manager." As Basher, Linus and the Malloy twins began to chuckle, he waved them into silence. "The hotel they'll be staying at, the so-called Sunshine Resort, consists of two buildings. One of them is reserved for the participants, whereas the other is still open to anyone, which means we'll be placing a couple of our lot there."

Immediately Saul put up a hand. "I volunteer."

"That's what we expected", Danny stated. "Agreed."

"Also", Rusty continued, "most of the grounds, meaning the tennis courts, pools, golf courses and stuff, are open to all guests. Only the congress rooms are reserved for the expo people."

"So we can blend right in", Linus remarked.

"Exactly", Danny confirmed. "And keep an eye on people during their free time."

"And, of course, enjoy ourselves", Basher grinned.

"Do they have manicure?" Frank demanded eagerly.

"No idea", Danny replied, smiling. "Yet it will be of no consequence for both of you, since you'll be on the field staff."

"What? Are you kidding me?" Frank leapt up to his feet. "I'm the gaming expert!"

"Frank, seriously", Reuben put in. "It's getting a bit fishy, you always turning up in all kinds of places where big heists are going to be."

Danny nodded. "Instead, you can do some recon work in those people's casinos. Listen to every rumour there is to be heard, analyse every whisper. I'm sure you'll be more than capable of that."

"I can help him", Turk offered readily. "I can talk to the kitchen staff, over a couple of drinks."

"He'll only mess it up", Virgil called across the table. "Let me get the staff a couple of drinks!"

"Boys", Rusty said hastily before they could start a quarrel yet again, "you can both do some recon work, along with Basher. After all, once we're ready to do our trick, he'll have to know where he's going to work. Right, Bash?"

Basher nodded his consent.

"Now for the hotel crew", Reuben said, rubbing his hands.

"While Danny joins the casino bosses professionally, so to say, a few of us mingle with them on a more, well, private base", Rusty took up the thread again. "Installing cameras will be crucial, of course, so we need Livingston, with Linus and Yen to help him."

The last member of the group who had been silent until now, a small, slim young Chinese man, now raised a heavily bandaged hand and said something in Mandarin.

"Yes, I can see your problem." Rusty sighed. "We just hope there won't be too much climbing to do for you."

Yen muttered something, regarding his hand furiously.

"Saul and I will be pretending to be snobs just happening to stay on the premises", Rusty continued. "Yen is doing his Mr Weng stunt again, with a heavily disguised Reuben as his manager."

This caused some chuckles. "Like Linus last time", Basher grinned.

"Is he doing the brody?" Linus asked, which made the laughter increase.

But Saul frowned. "Are you sure about this? Reuben is the target. How likely is it that he turns up? They'll grow suspicious."

"Have him take his glasses off, and nobody will", Rusty said lightly. "The glasses are the first thing people notice about him."

"Hey!" Reuben protested while the others laughed.

"And Linus and me are hotel staff?" Livingston wanted to know.

Danny nodded. "I've already bribed someone big in the personal resources. Piece of cake, really."

"Isn't it always?" Saul provided wisely.

"So", Rusty said, "any more questions?"

Reuben refilled his glass. "A question to Terry", he said casually. "Have you contacted Toulour already?"

Everybody turned to look at Terry, who shook his head. "As a matter of fact, no."

"No?" Basher repeated, incredulous. "C'mon, man, we know you don't trust us."

Terry smiled slightly. "I don't trust Toulour either."

"Indeed", Saul put in. "He can't be bought because he doesn't need the money. That makes him a suspicious character."

"Is it true he pulled a rather spectacular job in Italy recently?" Reuben interjected. "I think I might have heard a whisper."

"More than one", Rusty said shortly.

"Let's hope he's busy there." Turk discreetly exchanged his empty glass with his brother's almost-empty one and drained it.

"Actually…" Danny began, and all heads turned towards him. "Actually, it might be useful if he turned up. Just think about it", he continued as others began to protest. "Another playboy who feels at home in tennis courts, strutting around in a white Lacoste polo shirt. He'll certainly distract people's eyes from Rusty. From what I've seen when I was doing some location-scanning, most people hanging out on the grounds are fifty or older." He looked at Rusty, who shrugged. "Moreover, we might get him to shadow one of our potential targets and find out more about him. As you said, Saul, he can't be bought, but he's in for the thrill, and his greatest weakness is his ambition. Just imagine the smug sneer on his face if he manages to find out who's behind this before we do – or at least he'd like to imagine that."

There was a moment of silence, then Reuben nodded slowly. "You have your point about the distraction, Danny."

"Besides", Linus suggested, "he might stand in for Yen as far as the climbing is concerned. You said he did that museum wall without a rope or anything, Danny, didn't you?"

Yen grumbled something that did not sound very approving.

"But you said it yourself, you can't do some of your tricks right now", Rusty reminded him. "Alright, boys, I can make contact and see how he's doing. From what I know, it might be in his personal interest to have friends for a little while."

"What do you mean?" Reuben asked, but Rusty had already gotten up. "I have to pick up Isabel, I'll tell you next time."

"Very well", Danny said. "See you, Rusty, and don't get into trouble."

Rusty waved and leapt down over the railing into the front garden.

"Ryan!" Terry called after him. "Tell him that if I find a fourth of those little onyx foxes anywhere on my estates, I'll kill him! With my bare hands!"

Saul chuckled quietly. "A fourth? What a devious little bastard…"

Terry's glare silenced him quickly enough.