Page 22 of French Escapade

Élodie

While the guys get all dressed up, I return to the boarding house reception area and check my phone.

There’s a message from Franck asking for confirmation of my training tonight. I totally forgot I booked him. Quickly, I apologize, claiming I have a work emergency.

It’s sort of true.

As the minutes tick away, I get second thoughts. Earlier, I believed I had made the right choice. Now, I wonder how crazy I am for gambling with my career.

My train of thought is derailed when three spectacular samples of the male species come down the steps. It’s real cute to watch these forces of nature in their tuxedos coming through a hallway barely wide enough for the likes of them. Three men, three military guys, three very different styles. I have to confess that the woman in me is feeling a little faint. Men in suits or in uniform are a dime a dozen in my line of work, but these three … I’ve got front row tickets to a very special show.

“Are you coming with us?” I ask Ted, who’s all dressed up as well.

“Ken briefed me, and I want to crash your party.”

“Ken, like Barbie’s boyfriend?

And then I get it—he’s talking about Kenneth. Oh, those Americans and their love of nicknames for everyone!

Ken looks at me, and I can’t read him. Yet when our eyes meet, I shiver a little inside. His two friends are drop-dead gorgeous in their classy getup, but Ken’s got something more. Allure, presence— it’s almost magnetic. I can’t look away.

He’s clean-shaven. The impeccably pressed white shirt sets off his tan, and his jacket looks as if it was tailored to his measurements. It molds to his shoulder perfectly.

The material is exquisite. This did not come off the rack. I’m not sure what sort of clients Ted’s agency caters to, but I’m starting to guess they have very high standards.

Someone coughs, and I come back to the present. Jimmy smiles at me. Seems that he noticed I was staring.

I act innocent. “We should get going. Jimmy’s hungry, and I have to tell you the plan.”

They follow me. There’s something exciting about having those three following my orders without thinking twice about it just because I’m a woman.

For now.

The jury is still out on how long it will last.

* * *

A few minutes later, we pile up in my living room. The place usually looks small, but right now, with those three around my coffee table, it seems minuscule. But the location kills two birds with one stone: feeding Jimmy and the others with the pizzas I ordered, and refining our plan in private.

I have an aerial view of Palm Beach loaded on my computer, as well as all the photos and information I have been able to gather on the venue. I know the place inside and out, but the rest of my team doesn’t.

“According to the program we found in the kitchens, the party starts at 2100. Madison’s message mentioned 2300, but that doesn’t mean she won’t get there earlier.”

“That would be great, the faster the better,” Jimmy says. “As soon as we see her, we grab her, throw her over our shoulder, and run.”

“With all the security they’ll have? It’s not doable,” Ted answers. “Maybe later would be better—you know, when the guards have spread out.”

I nod to indicate I agree with Ted, but Kenneth objects. “It would be easier to catch Madison in front of Palm Beach. Once she’s in, how do you think we’ll be able to get out?”

This time, I’m the one with the answer.

“That’s one good thing about this venue—there are many exits. The entire back of the building opens onto the beach. There is a basement and a staircase that leads to a landing on the port. The place is huge. And since the old casino has been shut down, I doubt they will have security at all doors. There are several ways to get out discreetly.”

“But if those guys are really mobsters, security has to be as tight as Fort Knox,” Jimmy says. We’ll never get in.”

“Not necessarily. Before I left the office, I did some digging about the birthday boy, Dmitri. Despite the fact that he does swim with sharks, he has no rap sheet. It seems he’s a regular business guy who likes to hang out with the wrong people to grow his business. What I mean is that, even though there will be security, it won’t be tight. I had some intel on the subject.”

They seem perplexed. I can’t blame them. I would react the same way if I were them, since my information is not specific. But that’s because I haven’t told them all I know yet.

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