YOU WILL GET AN EXACT SAME BAG FROM THE CASINO, PUT THE CASH IN IT, AND TIE ONE OF THOSE PET BAGS TO ITS HANDLE.
AT 10 P.M. YOU WILL WALK TO THE END OF THE CASINO’S PIER, DROP THE BAG IN THE TRASHCAN BESIDE THE LAST IRON BENCH THERE, THEN LIGHT A CIGARETTE. YOU WILL THEN LEAVE THE BOARDWALK AND CIRCLE THE PARKING LOT, FINISHING YOUR CIGARETTE.
EXACTLY 20 MINUTES LATER YOU WILL REALIZE YOU ACCIDENTALLY LEFT SOMETHING IN THE BAG AND RETURN TO RETRIEVE IT.
IF I FIND THAT ALL THE MONEY YOU PROMISED IS IN THE BAG THAT YOU LEAVE, YOU WILL FIND THE NOTEBOOKS IN THE BAG THAT I LEAVE.
I WILL BE WATCHING. WHAT WILL YOU BE WEARING?
She read that over once—Not that I could possibly count two hundred thousand dollars in the freezing dark—then sent it.
Five minutes later she nervously upended her wineglass, then fired off:
WELL?? THESE ARE MY RULES. DO YOU WANT THE BOOKS OR NOT?
The clock now read: 7:23.
Then a bubble popped up:
267-555-9100
I WEAR BLACK PANTS AND A BLACK LEATHER JACKET. ALSO WILL HAVE A GRAY WOOL FEDORA WITH SMALL FEATHER IN HATBAND.
BUT I WARN YOU — DO NOT WASTE MY TIME.
Maggie felt her heart trying to burst through her chest.
Okay, now, Ricky . . .
She went to that conversation thread, then looked at the clock. It turned to 7:25.
Her hands shaking, she quickly typed:
BE AT LUCKY STARS CASINO BOARDWALK TONIGHT.
THE NOTEBOOKS WILL BE IN THE CASINO BAG THAT WAS IN THE PHOTO I SENT YOU EARLIER. YOU WILL GET FROM THE CASINO ONE OF THE EXACT SAME BAGS. THERE IS A DOG PARK BY THE BOARDWALK. TAKE ONE OF THE BLACK PLASTIC BAGGIES FROM IT AND TIE IT TO THE CASINO BAG HANDLE SO MY MAN WILL RECOGNIZE YOU.
THEN AT 10:15 BE WAITING ON THE BOARDWALK FOR THE EXCHANGE TO TAKE PLACE.
MY MAN WILL WEAR BLACK PANTS AND JACKET AND A GRAY FEDORA THAT HAS A FEATHER IN THE HATBAND.
She reread it and clicked SEND.
Five minutes later, a bubble popped up:
215-555-3452
WHO IS THIS MAN? THIS IS BULLSHIT!
I GAVE YOU TWO HOURS!
She looked at that for a long moment, took a deep breath, and then sent:
CALM DOWN, RICKY. JUST BE THERE. 10:15.
The next minute felt like it lasted forever. Then came the reply:
215-555-3452