Play Along

“Okay?” I ask hopefully.

“It’s still ok, see you soon.”

“Bye,.” I whisper though my dread.

I sit for another five minutes as they count the last of the cash and I load it into my small overnight bag. “Thank you.” I smile as I sling the bag over my shoulder.

I push through the double glass doors and put my head down and go straight to the cab. “Hello, thank you for waiting. Back to the hotel, please.”

“You took a long time. I nearly leave.”

“I know, I’m so sorry. I will pay you extra.” I glance through the back window and down the street in front of me., I can’t see anyone suspicious. The cab pulls out into the traffic as my phone beeps another text.

They have seen you. Keep your head down and stick to the plan.

I drop my head as fear starts to make me nauseous.

Holy fuck.

I see the Ferrari pull out into the traffic and turn back towards the hotel. The cab comes to a stop at the hotel, and with shaky hands, I pay the driver and get out. I walk straight to the lift and push the button as planned.

The lift doesn’t come. Why is it taking so long?

Hurry, please hurry. I watch the numbers above the doors and they are going so slow. I push the buttons again and glance outside to see a car pull up out on the street and two men get out. Ahh, I push the up button on the lift and run into the fire stairs. I take two steps down at a time, nearly frantic. The bag of money is heavy and swinging around and hitting me as I run. I burst through the door at the bottom and see the black Ferrari sitting over by the lift where he is expecting me to come from. I run through the parked cars and open the door and dive into the seat.

“Go,.” I yell.

Stace revs the engine and we fly through the parking lot.

“Come on, faster,.” I yell. “We need to get out of here now.”

20

We fly through the underground parking lot and up towards the exit ramp. Stace slides the parking ticket into the machine and the roller door slowly creeps up.

“Get down,” he says as his eyes flick over to me.

I nod nervously and bend down over my knees as he drives the car out slowly. “This car was probably a good idea after all.” He turns out of the driveway and onto the street as I watch him from my crumpled hunched position. “They aren’t expecting us to have money. They won’t be looking for this kind of car,” he replies as he drives down the street.

“Can you see anyone?” I whisper.

His eyes flicker up to the rear view mirror. “No.” He pauses. “They are still inside the hotel.”

“Do you think they know that we have the diamonds?” I ask.

“I doubt it,” he replies as he reaches over and pulls the wig from my head and throws it onto the floor. “The ship is still at sea. Nobody would even know they are gone yet.”

We drive for a while longer in silence and his eyes continuously flash to the mirrors to check if anyone is following us.

“See anything?” I ask again.

“No, it’s okay.” He reaches over and rubs my back and I blow out a breath and shake my head.

“I-I didn’t think the bank was going to give me the money,” I stammer.

“What happened?” he asks.

“They were just taking so long and I was freaking out. I thought they had called someone to let them know I was there.”