Ngambolo listened in silence for a couple of minutes, then hung up, satisfied. His huge black face split into a grin — he clapped his hands and tiptoed around the desk in an African dance. For his size, Josef moved gracefully, almost silently — if it weren't for the glass of water rattling on the table. But he didn't care — everything was falling into place.73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡURaia2DBob
Two business jets, twins, would be at the airport at the same time: one for First Security, the other for some people who would call him. That's what he'd been told. He'd give them the original da Vinci — he'd already figured out how to swap Susanna for the copy — and the last thing left was to find his stewardess, who would carry the canvas onto the second plane. With sweaty, trembling fingers, he dialed:
"Come in."73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvPe0dCfMJE
A minute later, his deputy stumbled in — a younger copy of Ngambolo, about ten years his junior.73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlhNwigCMCY
"Boss?"73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYMOHeDer4P
"Two business jets are heading overseas on Thursday — they're already in the flight plan. One with the First Security crew, the other — ours."73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTT5NUbF5NV
"I'm aware."73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNKIylrEPIH
"Here's what I need... Find out which girls will be working our flight. One of them should be tall and very slender. And no more than an A‑cup. Better yet — a zero."73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyIGkTZOBhF
"Boss, where am I supposed to find a windsurfing board that works flights?"
73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0oZI1FBwrZ
Madlen's a saint. Have I said that already? If so, know this: she's a saint also because she showed up at the right place at the right time. When was the last time something worked out for you? If your memory's stronger than senility, you'll remember. Most people can't, but the tough ones will get it. Something only works out when the stars line up. A planetary parade. I remember Madlen taking me to the conservatory. Or was it the observatory?.. Who cares — neither one serves whiskey. But when the parade happens — go all in. The next one won't come until your grandkids have already ordered your headstone.
Here's my moment of triumph, remember:73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡobGIsgFJUZ
"Listen," — an idea hit me. "What if First Security leases a plane through Ngambolo? The antique‑vagina enthusiastcould skim some off that too."73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDTxQHH1YjG
"And how do we do that?"73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3TeoMXv230
"No idea..." — I lied, leaning back.73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLc8j7rS784
Yeah, I lied — because I knew exactly how. Madlen. She works at First Security. I called her that same evening.
"Hello?"73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjMdjncypMx
"Hey, it's me."73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtg3mzEpJha
"You're still alive, Paul?"73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAnpRO5s9HN
"Good to hear your voice too. Off the smack yet?"73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKtzmcC9JIi
"Save it for some writer. What do you want?"73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrVzXKCrHvi
"Madlen — your First Security..."73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxx0gSv4NeH
"Funny."73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcxFe3derqi
"What's funny?"73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2BmYq5jrvw
"You know where I work?"73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpxDKM1YUWk
"I'm your ex. Remember?"73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ay21fCeSH
"Yeah. Back when you were real, you didn't know. Or you acted like you didn't."73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgaVT5Iz0Dc
"We all get dumber with age. Start paying attention."73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJxRw5tRZsK
"Glad you're getting dumber — it suits you."73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEzXfvq8APK
"Thanks, honey."73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzaiw9TO4Sl
"Let's cut to it."73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2eNcWIBrTQ
"You know anything about the da Vinci shipment from Amsterdam?"73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzVhwCHAcgK
"Christ — what's it got to do with you?!"73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9d3IJcqteq
I said it had nothing to do with me — then asked who was handling the logistics.73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7cRkQvI1SD
"My assistant, Katy."
It wasn't safe to keep talking on the phone. I drove to her place — we met at a café. Why she left me — nobody's got an answer to that. Madlen listened, and I knew she'd do whatever I asked. She still loved me — no other explanation. What would I give in return? Probably the same, someday — if I stay alive. But you know what? We all know I'll never repay her. The alarm's set for any day now — time to move on. Anyway — the next morning, she gave Katy Ngambolo's number in Amsterdam. The Dutch gorilla got an order from First Security. And a shitload of cash for the referral.
73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYtoskeDfQf
Hernández showed up at a quarter to six. The consigliere called and reported to Carlos. He smiled — school. His school — you don't show up late to that kind of invitation. Hernández walked into the office at five past six...73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Yk0LfV7BT
...and walked out at ten past.73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGHVirpWtjJ
Screw it — if Carlos asks, I'll do it. I'll give him the First Security route from the airport.
73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsKu3c4B47a
Only two people had the key to that room at the airport — Ngambolo and Singh, the janitor. Ngambolo had sent the janitor on a week's leave. Now he unlocked the room with his key, stepped in, and flipped the switch. The fluorescent lights buzzed awake. A table, eight chairs, and a massive safe — this is where the handover from Zauber to First Security would take place. Two cameras on the ceiling would be recording. Would they? He hadn't decided yet. Either way, Nick — who'd be monitoring everything — had already gotten part of the cash Bathsheba had passed along. Nick was waiting for instructions. The cameras could be cut at any moment. It happened all the time — management was unlikely to panic. In the end, First Security would take the case with the painting and fly off. Right now, the main thing was to make sure the electrician didn't go on a bender — the night from Wednesday to Thursday had to go smoothly: a short circuit, smoke, the fire suppression system dumping water from the ceiling...
Ngambolo opened the empty safe, checking it inside and out. The recesses on the left and right were swallowed by the shadows — hard to see anything in that light. Ngambolo would slip the original into the right recess, and when the dust settled, he'd pull the twin case from the left and hand it over to the guys from overseas. Hole‑in‑the‑ass — Van der Werf — had sent him the case model number yesterday, the one Zauber would use to bring the painting. Shit — he'd finally be rid of his greedy mother‑in‑law...
73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtMmtWnSYIK
Bathsheba pushed the map aside and picked up her camera — the terrain is better than any map. She got dressed and went down to the garage.73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIGMyXgZW8k
From the airport to the vault was fifty‑three klicks. About eight spots where you could easily box in a vehicle. Just take it and box it. Two or three cars, then explosives on the door. When it blows, the guards inside would get such a blast their brains would pop — concussion, blood from the ears. They'd turn into a herd of sheep for the slaughter. What was First Security counting on? Their own invincibility? That the cops would back them up to the last round? They wouldn't even have time to get there before it was all over.73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcLRFRMbGv2
She smirked, clicked the gate remote, and drove out. About three klicks later, a blue sign appeared on a pole: "Airport." Bathsheba turned in the direction of the arrow.
Fifty‑three klicks... The seventh spot looked the best. A narrow street feeding into a big junction — three escape routes right there. About fifty yards before the junction, on the left, a small side street that cut across the main road and led down to an underground parking garage. Perfect. They block the street past the T‑junction, the armored truck slows down, and at that moment, something heavy — seven tons or so — barrels out of the side street, slams into the truck's side, and sends it rolling down the garage ramp. Out of sight, out of witnesses. Pachèrito's people take care of business in a couple of minutes, then vanish with the da Vinci at the junction. Perfect.73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHKpkKZZXcU
Bathsheba took several shots from different angles and walked back to her car. Something was off — she felt it. She opened the door carefully, tilted her head... And at that moment, everything went black.73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN3UuKLcDAO
and then Add to home screen.