“How long until the repair shop answers the call to come check the air conditioner?” Cold asked, redirecting the conversation back on track.
“It can take a few days for them to schedule an appointment.”
“What’s stoppin’ us from goin’ ’round and helpin’ ourselves to a van to speed that up?” Jules asked with a grin.
“Why, nothing at all!” Valdemar grinned back.
Cold appeared to still be thinking about it. “A fire is much more risk than I was anticipating… although it has the element of surprise.”
“My boy here can create a timer to start the fire whenever you’d like. Not an explosion, but a simple device to spark the accelerant and allow the flames to spread. They’ll never know it’s coming until the entire house is already starting to fill with smoke.”
“What about smoke detectors? Alarms?” Roger asked. “I mean, pretty much every home ever has them.”
“Easy enough to check those little buggers while I’m there and disable them. Complimentary battery check!”
“Oh, so you’re going?”
“Naturally!” Valdemar puffed up his chest. “I’m a master of disguise.”
“And the Luchesi bastards don’t know him,” Thirdsies chimed him. “They only ever met with me.”
“Mmm, they’re quite familiar with the rest of us, that’s true,” Cold mused. “How about this… the last fire you started there. You said it spread, yes?”
“Oh, yes!” Valdemar was beaming again. “Those homes are so close together, it’s nothing for the fire to reach out and make new friends.”
“Instead of walking into the house they’re currently occupying, why not start the fire next door, hmm? Less risk, same results.”
“I’ll do you better than that, my liege! We can start fires in the houses on either side of our Luchesi foes and box them in. They will have no choice but to promptly evacuate!”
“And run right into our waiting arms,” Cold concluded. He was smiling now. “How soon can you and your grandson be ready?”
Valdemar and Thirdsies exchanged shrugs, and Thirdsies replied, “I mean, like a few hours maybe? I have most of the stuff I’ll need in my backpack.”
“One never knows when the urge to destroy might arise,” Valdemar said mysteriously.
“Jerry,” Cold said. “Go disable the units at the houses flanking the Luchesi’s hideout.”
“Too easy,Monsieur. I’ll drain out all the freon.”
“Oh, very clever!” Valdemar cheered. “That’s what I would have done!”
“Jules, Pym.” Cold looked to them now. “Confirm the home warranty contract and which repair shop will be called. We’ll need to borrow some equipment, so case the property as needed.”
“Done, Boss,” Jules confirmed.
“All over it!” Pym said.
“Mickey, stay ready,” Cold ordered. “I’m trusting your aim to make short work of the Luchesis when they flee the house.”
“You got it, Boss.” Mickey nodded.
“What about me?” Roger asked. “What do you need me to do?”
“Yeah, and me?” Duncan frowned. “I wanna help too.”
“The safe house needs provisions,” Cold replied shortly. “Doc Brown has made a list.”
Duncan seemed disappointed by the menial task, but Roger grinned.
