Page 97 of In the Line of Ire

"Me too.Last night was too close for comfort."

"I thinkwe should cut Charlaine Beck loose. Someone is definitely on hertail."

"It'sthe new girl from the store. Lexi something. I suspected she didn'tquite fit but when I saw her snooping around last night, I knew it.I don't know what she's up to but I don't like seeing her followCharlaine around. She's not going to be a problem anymore," saidJoan.

"How doyou know that?"

"I gaveher a pretty strong warning last night. I doubt she'll come intowork today."

"Thatbitch," I muttered. "She’s the one who hit me over the head!" Inever would have guessed Joan had that much strength.

"What doyou think she is?" asked the woman.

"A cop,maybe. Or one of Charlaine’s customers. Maybe she sold her one ofthese crappy purses. We both know the quality is getting noticeablyworse. All the same, she hasn't seen you or me so Charlaine can bethe patsy when we take off."

"We'vehad a good thing going on down here."

"And nowwe're done. It's time to move on, Carrie. Plus, that bastardupstairs is getting too greedy; he wants a bigger cut. As soon as Iswap out these purses, I'm taking off. I have seven differentstores in towns from here to Boston that are waiting on the realpurses."

"What ifthe fake purses are found at Page's and they suspect you hadsomething to do with it?" asked Carrie.

Joan laughed. "This mall is run by dummies. It'd be a miracleif they suspect a lowly sales clerk had the luck and the smarts topull this off. Plus, all the clues I planted will pointto—" Her voicedropped and I missed the name.

"I thinkwe should go somewhere warmer next. Florida maybe."

"We canhit the road tomorrow," said Joan. "Pass me those boxes and I'llmake the swap before Magda the Malevolent gets in."

"There'sa lot of stock. It's risky."

"Wewon't be here long enough to care if anyone finds it," saidJoan.

Carrielaughed and leaned into the trunk, passing up several boxes. Theypaused when the doors opened and Joan waved as a man jogged over.At first, I wasn't sure who the man could be, then he turned andglanced in my direction. "Hey, Oliver," she said. "Load these boxesonto the dolly, won’t you?"

"Where'smy cut?" he asked, stopping in front of her and refusing tobudge.

"It'scoming. We need to make the swap before I can get yourcash."

"I wantit now!"

"I can'texactly bring two grand into the mall, Oliver. I'll get you themoney just as soon as we finish the job. No job, no money. You knowthat. That’s how we've always done it."

"Nexttime, we do it my way," said Oliver. "Cash up front. You know, Icould easily call the cops on you and your sister and have you botharrested right now. You can't do this without me."

"Okay,"Joan sighed. "You win, Oliver. Next time, we do it yourway."

As heturned to retrieve the dolly parked against the wall, I saw thesmiles exchanged between Joan and Carrie. Both women knew hewouldn’t get a penny because they would be gone before he couldprotest again. I seriously doubted he'd see any cash from thisexchange. It sounded like Joan planned to take off before her shiftstarted.

"Lucas,double-check the store room cameras," came Solomon's voice. It wassoft and little more than a whisper.

"Rollingand recording," said Lucas.

"As soonas the exchanges are made, let Joan and Oliver return to theloading bay with the real purses. If one of them deviates fromthat, take them into custody separately as soon as you can," saidSolomon.

"Agentsin position," replied Maddox.

"Let'sget these out of here," said Joan as she checked her watch. "Wedon't have long. Carrie, stay in the car and if that guard comesback, just tell him you're waiting for me. He seems kinda dozy so Idon't think he'll ask any questions."

"No onewill ask any questions if I'm with you. That's why you need me,"said Oliver. He took the dolly and they walked across the loadingbay before going out the doors. We waited silently for more thanten minutes, each of us tense with anticipation, before Lucas'svoice came through the earpiece. "All the swaps have been made inthe store room. Targets are on their way back to you."

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