Deep Dark Night

by Steph Broadribb

  JT’s just gotten out of the shower. The white towel wrapped around his hips makes the tan of his chest look even deeper. Now I’ve told him my plan he’s frowning, looking unsure.

  ‘You think that’s wise?’ he says.

  Sitting on our bed, I cradle the knight in the palm of my hand. It’s heavier than it looks and it sure is real pretty – solid gold, with a line of emeralds around the base. I stroke the smooth sides. Thinking. ‘Thing is, I’m not sure he’s telling us his whole plan.’

  JT’s frown deepens. ‘How so?’

  ‘I can’t see how this exchange at the poker game will get him what he wants. The point of this operation is to catch Cabressa in the act of buying knowingly stolen goods. If he wins them, or is gifted them as I’m instructed to, we’re not fulfilling that brief.’

  JT sits down on the bed next to me. Looks real thoughtful. ‘I can see that’s an issue, but surely Monroe would say something if he thought it was a problem. Could be he thinks the video from the micro camera is enough.’

  I watch a trickle of water glide from JT’s shoulder, down his chest to the fluffy towel at his waist. Nod. ‘Could be.’

  We sit side-by-side, not speaking for a moment. The only sounds are the slow drip of the shower in the bathroom and the hiss of the coffee maker.

  I exhale hard. ‘I just don’t think he’s telling me everything, and that worries me. Most non-Bureau people Monroe works with have a tendency to wind up dead or in jail. I don’t want that happening to us is all.’

  ‘For sure,’ says JT.

  I turn a little ways further towards him. ‘That’s why I think we need my back-up plan.’

  JT runs his hand over the two-day-old stubble on his jaw. ‘So you hold the knight back from the deal at the poker game. Then what?’

  ‘When Cabressa realises it’s missing, I offer it to him for an extra fee.’

  JT cusses under his breath. ‘That’s a real dangerous game, Lori.’

  ‘For sure, but if Cabressa is as obsessive about completing this set to keep alive the memory of the last time he saw his son, then he’ll pay. I’ll meet him somewhere public, do the exchange – dollars for the knight – and get it on film. That way Monroe will have evidence that’ll stick without doubt.’

  ‘Cabressa could get real pissed, Lori. He’ll think you lied to him.’

  ‘I’m pretty sure I can talk him around.’

  JT holds my gaze a long moment, then nods. ‘Monroe will be pissed too, and that footage you’ll have of Cabressa will also show you selling stolen goods. Monroe could use that against—’

  ‘Monroe only wants the evidence on Cabressa, and we’ll have gotten it for him. He’s got enough bullshit claims against us already; he’s FBI for God’s sake – if he decides he wants us in jail he can make that happen. This way he gets what he wants and we’ll be free. We can be out of this city and back with our little girl.’ I clench my fists. ‘And we won’t ever have to work with Monroe again.’

  ‘I get that’s why you want to do this, for sure I do.’ JT looks at me all serious. ‘But I just don’t—’

  ‘You got a better idea?’

  He shakes his head. ‘Can’t say that I have.’

  I turn the knight over in my hand, thinking. He’s right about Monroe – there’s no guarantee he’ll keep to his word, and he could throw me in jail. My best chance to prevent that is to give him what he wants – a watertight case against Cabressa. I stand up, turning towards JT. ‘Well then, my way is the way it’s going to go down. Doubling down on getting Cabressa – it’s our best shot.’

  JT nods. ‘I don’t like it, but you know I’ll support you.’

  I smile. Feel relieved that he’s not going to fight me on this. Need to get this job done and get out of this city. I step closer and put my arms around him. Lean down and kiss the top of his head. His dirty-blond hair is damp against my lips. ‘I’m counting on it.’

  *

  I hide the knight in our hotel room. Standing on a chair, I use the screwdriver from the tool set in my go-bag to undo the screws holding the grill over the central air vent in the corner of the room, and remove it. With JT standing beside me, watching, I place the knight inside. I glance at JT. ‘Okay?’

  He nods. ‘Yup.’

  Taking the grill from him, I fix it back into place with the screws and step down from the chair. From the ground I can’t see that there’s a knight hiding behind the grill, but from certain angles I can see the light glinting off its golden body. Figuring that’s good enough, I put the chair back behind the desk and check my watch – it’s almost a quarter after five.

  ‘You want to have another practice game?’ JT asks.

  ‘Sure,’ I say.

  Anything to help me kick ass tonight.

  13

  Use whatever you’ve got to get the job done – that’s a rule I made for myself when I started bounty hunting and one that I’m using tonight.

  JT whistles as I come out of the bathroom. ‘Well damn.’

  I smile, pleased with his response. ‘You think it’ll work as a distraction?’

  ‘I’m real sure.’

  I exhale, relieved. The low-cut black dress is tighter and shows a whole lot more of me than anything I’d usually wear. In truth I’m a jeans-and-tee kind of girl, but I need to get into character. The dress is my disguise for this evening, the costume of a bold and experienced poker player – a female poker player joining a table of male players. I’m guessing those boys will have all kinds of tricks up their sleeves for trying to distract and outsmart a new player in the group, and I figure the dress will help me cause a little distraction of my own. Like I said, you gotta use what you got to get the job done.

  There’s a rap on the door. Nerves start to fizz in my stomach.

  JT answers and stands aside to let Monroe and one of his team enter the room. They’re both wearing dark suits – the FBI uniform – but that’s where the similarities end.

  ‘This is Dirk, the tech guy,’ says Monroe pointing to the younger, skinny guy with acne scars and black-framed glasses. ‘He’s going to get you set up.’

  The young guy raises his hand in hello. He’s as smart as Monroe is crumpled-looking.

  Monroe looks at me expectantly. ‘You ready?’

  I nod. ‘Yes.’

  ‘Good.’ Monroe looks at the tech, and gestures towards me. ‘Go ahead.’

  The young guy puts his bag down on the desk, and points towards the chair. ‘Would you mind taking a seat for me, Miss Anderson.’

  His voice is deeper than I’d have imagined. I nod and do as he asks, watching as he pulls a small metal box from the bag and opens it carefully.

  Taking a piece of shiny card from the tin, he carefully removes something from it with his index finger and then turns towards me. ‘I’m going to position this in your hairline so it captures whatever you’re looking at.’

  ‘Is that the micro camera?’

  ‘It is.’ He moves it closer so I can take a look. It’s tiny. A flesh-coloured dot that looks nothing like a camera.

  ‘That’s going to film stuff, for real?’

  ‘Totally,’ he says, nodding enthusiastically. ‘It’s been tested in the field with great results. It’s sweat resistant and should blend with your natural skin tone. Just tilt your head back a little for me, and I’ll get it fitted.’

  I do as he says. He pulls back the hair to the right of where my hair parts and presses the dot firmly against my scalp. Holds it for a few seconds, then releases the pressure. I can’t really feel anything now he’s removed his fingers.

  As the tech guy arranges my hair back into place I glance at JT. ‘What do you reckon?’

  He squints at my hairline. Shakes his head. ‘I can’t see it from here.’

  I take that as a good thing.

  The tech guy rummages in his bag and hands me a compact mirror. ‘Take a look for yourself.’

  Holding the mirror close, I look. At first I don’t see it, but on my second
scan I notice the slight change in skin tone an inch behind my hairline. The micro camera is so small that it blends in, unnoticeable. ‘Okay,’ I say.

  Reaching into his bag again, the tech guy pulls out a device the size and shape of a cellphone. He switches it on, and as the screen comes to life I feel the micro camera high in my hairline buzz.

  ‘What the—?’

  ‘I’m just activating it, sorry, should have warned you it’d vibrate as the pairing was made.’ He taps a few things on the screen of the device he’s holding, then turns the screen to face me.

  ‘Wow.’ My word repeats from the device’s speaker a fraction of a second after I’ve said it. The image on screen is clear and almost the same as what I see in front of me. The only difference is that the micro camera’s vantage point is a few inches higher. ‘That’s so clever.’

  The tech guy grins. ‘Told you it was neat.’ He takes a set of ear pods from the bag, and hands them and the device to Monroe. ‘You’re all set. It’s transmitting live via the paired satellite link and recording simultaneously.

  ‘Good work.’ Monroe gives the tech guy a pat on the back. ‘You can go back and join the others.’

  ‘Yes, sir.’ The tech guy packs up his equipment and moves to the door. Pulling it open, he turns before he exits and catches my eye. ‘Good luck, Miss Anderson.’

  ‘Thanks.’

  The door clicks shut behind him.

  Monroe puts in the ear pods and pockets the device. ‘How did your practice go this afternoon?’

  ‘Fine.’ I don’t go into detail; I had quite enough of his help earlier.

  He gives me a smile. ‘You’re going to be fine. I’ll be watching the whole time; if something goes wrong I’ll send in the cavalry.’

  ‘The last time I did a job for you, you told me that if things got messed up I’d be on my own.’

  Monroe glances from me to JT. JT crosses his arms. I keep my stare fixed on Monroe.

  He sighs. ‘Look, sure, I did say that, but that job was off-the-books, whereas you’re part of an official operation this time. You’re my asset, and I’ll protect you.’ He clears his throat. ‘And speaking of which, I’m going to need you both to sign this.’

  I take the sheet of paper from him. Take in the FBI logo, the official wording. ‘What is this?’

  Monroe waves his hand dismissively at the letter. ‘Standard procedure; you and JT need to say you’re entering into this willingly, you know the risks associated, yadda, yadda, yadda.’

  ‘So you can absolve yourself of any responsibility if things turn bad?’

  Monroe looks shifty. ‘So the Bureau can, or something like that.’

  JT looks real pissed, and I get where he’s coming from, but the paper looks legit, and we already know we can’t trust Monroe. If this piece of paper proves we’re working with the FBI that could benefit us later down the line if Monroe decides to try and double-cross us. Grabbing a pen I sign on the dotted line and hand it to JT who, after a moment’s hesitation, does the same.

  ‘There you go,’ he says, handing the paper to Monroe.

  Monroe adds his signature then takes a photo on his smartphone and hands the letter back to JT. ‘For you to keep.’

  ‘Great,’ JT says, in a tone that implies anything but.

  Turning away from Monroe I walk over to the mirror on the wall by the closet and look at my reflection. Even when I lift up my hair I can’t really see the micro camera attached to my skin. I turn back to face Monroe. ‘I still don’t get how this camera is undetectable when they sweep me for bugs.’ I narrow my eyes, trying to gauge Monroe’s reaction. I’m unsure whether he’s really in my corner or if he’s hedging his bets and has got some other plan running alongside the one I’m about to put into action for him. ‘I’ve never heard about anything like this.’

  ‘The US Government doesn’t like to share its technology innovations with the public,’ Monroe says. ‘I’m not trying to stitch you up here. I’ve got your back, Lori.’

  ‘Then tell me exactly how it is that they won’t be able to detect it.’

  He shakes his head. ‘No can do, that’s classified.’

  I shrug. Look at JT then back to Monroe. ‘Yeah. Thought so.’

  Monroe sighs and runs his hand through his hair. ‘I need you on this, Lori. For God’s sake just believe me when I say I’m not messing with you.’

  I hold his gaze. He looks sincere, but I’ve met one of his assets before, and after the operation they were doing went bad, the asset got arrested and thrown into jail for multiple homicides they didn’t commit. Monroe left them in jail for two years before agreeing to help. A few months later, Monroe’s help cost that man everything he loved. Monroe didn’t show any remorse, only anger that the job didn’t get finished. That’s how I know he only cares about himself and his career. And he needs this operation to go right if he’s going to get his career back on track. If he can’t then he’s screwed. So I know that whatever he tells me, he’ll always do what’s best for him and to hell with everyone else. He’ll make JT and me collateral damage if it means saving his own skin. And if there was nothing personally at stake here, I’d have walked away a real long time ago. But there is – I need the deal Monroe’s promised me: one last job, then I’m free of him for good. So I stay, and I play my part. ‘Okay.’

  ‘Good.’ Monroe nods. He hands me bricks of fifty-dollar bills bound in elastics. ‘This is your buy-in money, plus enough to let you buy yourself back in twice.’

  ‘Thanks.’ I take the cash and pack it into the leather carryall beside the box containing the chess pieces and my Taser.

  Monroe raises an eyebrow at the Taser. ‘You know they’re going to take any weapons off you before you play?’

  ‘Sure, but it’ll make me feel more secure if I know it’s close by.’

  Monroe shrugs. ‘Well okay then, it’s your call.’

  I nod. Say nothing. There’s less than an hour before I’m due at the Skyland Tower. In the short amount of time we’ve had, I’m as prepared as I’m going to be. Now all I want is to get this the hell over with.

  Monroe seems to sense the vibe and turns to leave. ‘I’ll be in room 5209 if you need me.’

  I nod. ‘Sure.’

  JT and me are silent as Monroe leaves. Once the door closes behind him I pull out my cell and find Dakota’s number. I’m wrestling with the urge to FaceTime her, but it’ll be just gone 11.00 p.m. in Florida. It’s real late to call her, and I don’t think it’s smart to speak to her face to face right now anyways; she’s real perceptive and chances are she’ll see that I’m feeling stressed. I don’t want her to worry about JT and me doing this job, there’s no kind of sense in that. So I put my own needs aside and tap out a message instead.

  Night night honey. Love you xxx

  I stare at the words. They just don’t seem enough.

  JT moves closer to me. He sees the message on the screen of my cell and slides his arm around me. ‘It’ll be okay,’ he says. ‘We’ll be back with her soon.’

  ‘Yeah,’ I say. I know that he’s trying to make me feel better, but I also know that words don’t mean a damn. We both know there are no guarantees in the life we’ve chosen and the job we do.

  We take a moment. Stand with our arms around each other, sharing the hope that things will go our way.

  Eventually I break the silence. ‘I should tell Red we’re doing the job tonight.’

  JT nods. ‘Good call.’

  As I tap out a second message, JT splashes two fingers of bourbon into two glasses. He holds out one to me. ‘Some liquid courage for the road?’

  I press send on the message to Red then take the glass. I clink it against JT’s. ‘To staying safe and going home.’

  ‘Amen to that.’ He gulps down the whisky as I take a sip of mine. Looks at me all serious. ‘Lori, you know you don’t have to wear that goddamn camera. Hell, like I keep saying, you don’t even have to do this job.’

  I give JT a sad smile. Monroe will be
watching, listening, to this conversation. There’s no way we can back out now, it’s just not going to happen. I put my hands on JT’s chest and smooth down a wrinkle in the black shirt he’s wearing. ‘It’s okay. We’ve got this.’

  On tiptoes I reach up and kiss him, long and slow, savouring the feeling, before slowly pulling away. JT smiles at me, and for a moment I feel like the luckiest woman alive. Then I switch my mind to the job at hand. Know I need to focus hard, we both do, and that from here on in the job is the only thing we can think about.

  I take a breath and think about what comes next, then I pick up the carryall with the chess pieces and buy-in money and I turn to JT. ‘Let’s get this done.’

  14

  The Skyland Tower is the tallest building I have ever seen and all kinds of fancy – marble floors, marble-clad walls, oak concierge counter and uniformed staff. The doorman opens the door for us, and we stride boldly into the foyer. Our footsteps seem overly loud against the pale marble floor.

  Fake it. Play the part. That’s what tonight is all about.

  I stand a little taller. Tilt my chin up. Pretend like my ass isn’t so clenched that you couldn’t drive a straight pin up it with a ten-pound sledgehammer. Instead I act like I own the whole damn place. Beside me JT walks quiet and confident. He looks around us, constantly assessing for threats, just as good close protection does, especially given that the carryall in my hand contains assets worth over one and a half million bucks.