“Jack told me he loved me last night,” Tina whispered to Nic on Sunday morning as they made breakfast.
“He didn’t!” Nic gasped.
“He did,” Tina giggled. “Asked me to go away with him after the heist was over.”
Nic smiled at her. “Good for him. I’m glad he finally found someone. He’s been so… lonely I guess… since…”
“Since Colette?”
“He told you about her?”
“How she died in prison? Yeah. He’s still torn up about that. He must know it wasn’t his fault that happened.”
“Yeah, he knows. But sometimes the heart is hard to convince.”
“He must have really loved her.”
“He did. But you know what? I was telling Marshall last night after we went to bed that Jack looks at you like he used to look at Colette.”
Tina smiled. “She was a lucky girl. Well... you know what I mean.”
“Yeah… I know what you mean. I think she knew it, too. I liked her. She was good for Jack. She… calmed him. Kind of like you do.”
“I just hope I can live up to his expectations,” Tina said.
Nic patted her on the hand. “Don’t worry. I think you already have.”
Tina felt a warm glow spread through her. Nic was such a wonderful woman, and though she may be ten years older, Tina was rapidly becoming close with her. Kind of like the older sister she never had.
“What’s your secret? You and Marshall have been married how long? You seem very happy. Both of you do.”
“We had our eight-year anniversary last month. And we are happy. There is no secret. Just make sure you talk to each other. Communication and trust… those are the keys.”
“I’m trying,” Tina said as she chewed her bottom lip. “It’s hard sometimes.”
Nic smiled. “Most things worth having are,” she said quietly, and then turned her head to the side to yell, “Who’s ready to eat?” loud enough for the men to hear.
***
After breakfast the four of them piled into Marshall’s Tahoe and took a drive. “I see my Audi… or one just like it,” Jack said as he peered into the police impound yard out of the side window. “I bet the Ferraris are in that building.”
“If they’re here at all,” Marshall said.
“They’re here,” Jack said with confidence.
“How do you know?” Nic asked.
“I called the tour promoter and asked if the Ferraris would be in Salt Lake City since they had been recovered. They said no, that they were still in police impound, but they expected them in the show in Boise... or Seattle at the latest.”
Everyone else began to chuckle. “Just that easy?” Tina asked.
“Just that easy,” Jack confirmed “Why make it hard on yourself?”
“You are a slick son of a bitch, I’ll give you that,” Marshall said as he shook his head and grinned. “Let’s go,” he said as he began to punch in the next address on his list into the SUV’s satnav. They have a busy afternoon ahead of them, and they needed to get rolling.
“I think this is the place,” Jack said as they sat outside Arsky Towing. The trucks were clean and new… and, most importantly, there were a lot of them. Twelve identical white rollbacks were lined up and ready to go.
Jack opened the door and stepped out. “Have Rachael get us a tow order made up. I’ll call as soon as I pick up a car so she can fill in the plate, make, and model. Tina can run it out to me,” he said to Marshall.
“No way. I’m going with you,” Tina said as she opened her door as well.
“Tina… you can join me after—”
“Forget it, Jack. I’m going,” she said as she shut the door.
“Women!” Jack spat, but he didn’t look all that upset. “Can you or Nic run the tow order out to me?”
“I’ll take care of it,” Marshall said. “Be careful.”
“Hey… it’s me!” Jack grinned.
“That’s what I’m worried about,” Marshall said.
He waited long enough for Jack to retrieve some tools from the back of the SUV and then drove off, already on the phone with Rachael.
“Keep an eye out,” Jack muttered as he put the bolt cutters on the lock. He leaned into the handles and with a snap the lock fell away. He picked the chain up and tucked it inside the yard as he pushed the gate open.
He handed Tina his phone. Get a picture of that lock and send it to Marshall. Have him get another one just like it.”
“Why?”
“I want him to come relock the gates. That should buy us a little time.”
“They won’t be able to open the gates.”
“That’s their problem.” He grinned.
While Tina did as he asked, Jack started checking trucks, finding the third one unlocked. Tina was just climbing aboard when the truck shuddered to life.
“Can you drive this thing?”
“No problem. It’s an automatic. It’s just like driving a big car,” he said as he slipped the truck into gear.
He stopped on the way out to rethread the chain through the gate. It had no lock but it made it quick for Marshall to padlock and would pass a cursory glance from the street. That task complete, he pulled out on the street and went on the prowl for a car.
***
“It’s a brown, 1992, Toyota Corolla… plate number 754 MBK,” Tina said into the phone while Jack winched the car onto the truck.
“Is it abandoned?” Rachael asked as she filled out the forged tow order.
“I would say so. All the tires are flat, or nearly so, and the plate has a 2011 sticker on it.”
“Okay. I’m printing it now and Marshall is here. He wants to know where you want to meet.”
“Jack! Where do you want to meet?”
“Cottonwood Mall, at the Sears. We’ll be there in thirty minutes.”
“Thirty minutes at the Cottonwood Mall by the Sears,” Tina repeated.
“Marshall is rolling now. You’ll have to wait on him. He can’t make it that fast unless he is hammer down.”
“Don’t have him do that. We’ll take our time.”
***
“Here’s the order and the key to the lock,” Marshall said as he handed the items to Jack in front of Sears.
“Thanks, Marshall. As soon as we return the truck I will give you a call and tell you where to pick us up.”
“Why don’t I just get you at Arsky’s?”
“No. Let Tina and I walk away in case someone sees us. I’ll let you know where we land.”
“Okay. Good luck.”
“Thanks.”
***
Jack leaned on the horn, the loud blat making Tina wince. A guy of about forty rolled up on a golf cart. “Yeah?” he asked after he stepped out of the yard to meet them.
Jack handed the tow order down to him without saying a word.
“Dammit. They’re not supposed to call for pickup of abandons on Sunday. You’ll have to take it back to your yard.”
Jack shrugged. “Okay. Just sign on the bottom that you authorize the storage fee.”
“I can’t do that!”
“I can’t take it back to the yard unless you authorize the storage fee. I can dump it on the street if you like.”
The impound officer looked at the ratty condition of the car and realized that wherever the tow truck dropped it is where it would sit. “Shit. No, bring it inside. Just follow me,” he said before he stepped away and swiped his card to start the big gate rolling open.
Jack grinned at Tina while the gate ground open. “See. Nothing to it.”
“You missed your calling. The way you lie… you should be a politician,” she replied with a smile of her own.
Jack followed the officer to a point far in the back where the junked cars were kept. “Can you put it in that hole right there?” the man asked.
“No problem,” Jack said as Tina hopped out of the truck.
“Hey! Are those stolen Ferraris still here?” she asked.
“Yeah. They’re locked in the garage over there.”
“Could I see them?”
“No, sorry. Drivers have to remain with their truck.”
Tina put on her best pout. “I really wanted to see those cars. I’m not a driver. Does that make it okay? Please?” She could see him waver a bit. “I won’t tell anyone. Promise,” she breathed.
She watched him lick his lips and she could tell he was thinking about it.
“I won’t touch anything. And what can I do with you standing there right beside me? You can stand as close as you need to to make sure I don’t touch anything. Come on, please. I would be so grateful...”
As Jack unstrapped the car, he smiled to himself. Jesus… she is really putting the screws to that poor guy, he thought as he worked.
“Okay. But you can’t touch anything.”
Tina squealed in delight as she jumped into his arms and kissed him quickly on the lips. “Oh… thank you!” she breathed.
He looked at her in shock, then grinned sheepishly. “My pleasure. You want to ride?” he asked as he took a step toward the cart.
“Oh… I’d love to ride with you,” she said slowly and seductively. He grinned and cleared his throat. When he turned away, his electronic gate key went into her pocket.
***
She watched him unlock the main entrance beside the big roll up door and return the keys to his belt. As she stepped in, she saw the big door was fastened on the inside with a simple slide lock… no key needed.
“Here they are,” he said as he gestured to the six shroud-covered cars.
“Can you take the covers off?”
He pulled the cover off the first car and Tina moaned. “Those cars are so sexy. Can I touch it? I’ve never touched a Ferrari before.”
“Just be careful.”
She lightly grazed the car with her fingertips and moaned again, using her other hand to drag slowly down her neck. She was laying in on pretty thick, but he was gobbling it up. “These cars make me so hot! Do they make you hot… what’s your name?”
“Raymond. Ray.”
“Do they make you hot, Ray?”
“Uh… yeah. It’s getting pretty hot in here, alright,” he said as she stared at Tina.
“Can I see the others?”
As Ray uncovered each car in turn, he stepped in closer and closer. “I need some air, Ray,” she panted. “I’m burning up.”
Ray covered the last car and took her by the arm and helped her out of the building. “Are you okay?” he asked.
“Yeah,” she said as she breathed deep to make her breasts heave. “I guess I just got a little excited.” She looked into his eyes, then stepped in and kissed him slowly on the lips. His arms went around her and he offered his tongue, but she kept her lips tightly shut.
“Thank you. Thank you for letting me fulfill my little fantasy. What time do you get off tonight?” she asked as she pulled back and stepped out of his embrace.
“What?” he asked. He was clearly still in shock.
“I want to know what time you get off,” she panted. “You’re not married are you?”
“Uh… divorced.”
“Oh… good. Can you give me your address?”
“Uh… yeah,” he said as he frantically searched for something to write with. He finally came up with a pen and wrote his address and phone number on the back of the lot’s business card.
Tina took the card and kissed it softly. “What time should I be around?”
“I get off at five, so…”
“Will seven-thirty give you enough time to get ready?”
“Yeah! Any time!”
She stepped in close and put her lips near his. “I’ll see you then,” she breathed as she stepped back and drug the card under his chin. “I want you to think about all the things for me to do tonight… okay?”
She sauntered away and put as much sway into her walk as she could... even though it made it slightly more difficult to pocket his keys.
***
“How’d it go?” Jack asked as Tina climbed into the truck.
“His name is Ray and he is expecting me at his place at seven-thirty.” Jack just stared at her while he waited for her stop yanking his chain. “Oh… and I got the electronic gate key, the keys to the shop, there is no lock on the roll-up door, all six cars are just inside so they will be easy to get out, the keys are in them, and he gets off at five.”
“Not bad for ten minutes’ work.”
“Men are so easy,” she said with a smirk.