Twelve minutes later, Sable kicked the vent so hard thatthe cover flew across the office. It clattered against the far wall, yanking a scream out of the man at the desk, but she jumped from the ceiling before he could finish the terrified sound. She landed with grace and sauntered across the room, where she settled in the chair opposite his stunned expression.
“Hello… Mr. Baxter,” she said, glancing down at the man’s name plaque to ensure she was using the correct one. Bank managers all seemed to have similar names. “My name is Sable, and I’m from The Rabbit’s Foot Consulting.” She handed him her business card, and he took it without closing his gaping mouth. For a moment he stared at her, and then he glanced up at the opening in his ceiling before looking down at her card.
“Rabbit’s Foot Consulting…” he mumbled. “Yes, we have a security consultation next week… what were you doing in my ceiling?”
“We do have a meeting next week,” Sable said. “And I can come back to give you my recommendations then, but beforeyou decideif you wantto keep our appointment, let me show you something.”
She stood up, unzipped her pack, and withdrew the contents. “Jewelry from box 441.” She laid the diamond necklace on the desk. “Cash from box 720.” She placed the pile of hundred-dollar pills before the gawking manager. “Paperwork from box 333, and bonds from 108.” She slipped the envelopes onto the desk before retaking her seat.
“What the hell?” Baxter tripped over his words.
“Oh, I’m sorry, I should’ve been clearer,” Sable said with a smile. “I just robbed your safe deposit boxes.” She glanced at the clock hanging on the wall. “About thirteen minutes ago.”
“That’s impossible.” Baxter fumbled with his computer mouse as he checked the security system.
“Unfortunately, it isn’t,” she said. “You hired The Rabbit’s Foot Consulting to conduct a security assessment of your bank, but to test your system and the reliability of your staff, I always attempt a break-inprior tomy appointments. No one knows I’m coming, so they don’t add any extra security measures. It gives me an accurate view of what is working and what isn’t so that my recommendations are tailored to your needs. Some of my clients have excellent surveillance, and infiltrating their systems is difficult, but sadly, Mr. Baxter, I strolled into your bank, stole approximately one million dollars’ worth of safe deposit box contents,thenexited your vaults without anyone catching on. I can leave and return next week for our scheduled meeting, but since a diamond necklace that costs more than your car is sitting on your desk, I think we should have that conversation now.”
“Ummm…” he clicked the intercom button. “Cindy, can you clear my calendar for the rest of the day?”
“Yes, sir,” his assistant said.
“Thank you.” He released the button. “Do you have proof that you stole from us and this isn’t a scam?”
“I’m so glad you asked.” Sable pulled out her laptop and opened it, twisting it on the desk so he could see. “My partner, Peter, is on the line. He recorded the entire theft to both act as proof and to help walk you through your most problematic areas.”
“Hello, Mr. Baxter,” Peter said.
“Hi, Peter. I believe I spoke to you to schedule the consultation, correct?” the manager asked.
“That’s right,” Peter said. “All correspondence goes through me because we like Sable’s identity to be a secret until after her assessment. If you recognized her voice, it might make breaking in harder for her since we utilize almost every trick in the book in our tests. Thieves are experts in multiple approaches, and Sable is one of the best in the world. There’s very little she can’t steal,which is whywe’re lucky she doesn’tactuallyrob anyone. All of her skills go toward helping people prepare for thieves like her.”
“That’s… cool.” Baxter stared at Sable with an expression that was equally impressed and terrified.
“Yes, it’s fascinating, and I tried a few approaches so I could find your bank’s weaknesses. There were a lot, but thankfully that’s why you hired us,” she said. “We work with the best companies in the business. Ipersonallyknow the head of security at Merveille De L’art Museum, so all our partnerships are made through his connections. By the time we’re done today, you’ll have one of the most fortified banks in the area.”
“I’ve heard of that soldier,” Baxter said. “He’s impressive. Security has never been better at The Merveille De L’art.”
“It hasn’t.” Sable couldn’t stop the blush. A year later,andjust the mention of Cash turned her into a puddle. “So, I take it you would like to have our consultation now instead of next week?”
“Youreallystole this from our safe deposit boxes?” Baxter picked up the diamond necklace as if it might shatter in his hands.
“Peter will play the proof for you now,” Sable said.
“Then yes.” The manager placed the jewelry down with a sick expression. “Idefinitelythink we shouldhave this meetingnow before someone else steals something because, unlike you, they won’t give it back.”
The late show played softly in the background as Cash read the final chapter of his spy thriller. Clover had gone to bed two hours ago, but ever since Sable had moved in, Cash found it difficult to sleep without her,which was whyhe’d gotten into the routine of staying up late to read when she was away. He was incredibly thankful that her consulting business was so successful. She’d brought the idea to him last year, and he’d helped her get it off the ground, introducing her to many of his contacts. What started as a local company was now an international business. Corporations and private collectors around the globe wanted an actual thief to teach them how to protect their valuables, and some even hired her for recovery missions. Her talent was in high demand, but because his job required him to be at the museum, he unfortunately had to stay home with Clover when work took her far away.
Thankfully, Sable hated being without him as much as he hated missing her, so she balanced her professional and personal life well. She’d placed boundaries in her business to ensure she wasn’t always working, and she scheduled clients wisely to give her plenty of time at home. She was currently out of town for the week, and Cash couldn’t relax in bed without her.He started reading on the couch in front of the TV.Otherwise, he wouldjuststare at her empty pillow with a hole in his heart.He didn’t know exactly when she’d moved in because he’d never officially asked her to. He’d wanted her to live with him since their night in the garden a year ago, but they’d planned to ease Clover into the idea of a woman entering their lives. It had been just the two of them for so long that Cash assumed his son needed time to adjust to a third person, but the boy had been one reason Sable moved in so fast.
The kid hadn’t been subtle, either. He would suddenly remember homework he needed last-minute help with when Cash was conveniently working a late shift, requiring Sable to come to his rescue. The projects often ran late, so the evenings always ended with her sleeping over tokeep fromfalling asleep at the wheel on her drive home. He also signed them up for every early morning family trip that the museum or his school offered, meaning that Sable stayed over to ensure they left on time the next day. One evening, he cooked them dinner for their date and sneakilykept refillingSable’s wine glass until she was too tipsy to leave. His tactics had been so successful that Cash woke up one morning to find Sable and Clover making pancakes and realized it had been an entire month since she’d slept at her place. The pair stood before the stove, arguing whether blueberries or chocolate chips shouldgo intothe batter. So engrossed by their breakfast prep, they hadn’t noticed him watching until the meal was ready fifteen minutes later, but Cash hadn’t minded. That moment was a glimpse into his future. He couldn’t let her go. Not after realizing she was what made their house a home, and as Clover dug into his hard-won chocolate chip pancakes, Cash wrapped an arm around her shoulders and whispered that he’d move her stuff out of the apartment. And that had been that. She was family, and Clover missed her almost as much as he did.
Cash closed the novel, satisfied with the ending but unsatisfied with his bedtime prospects. He’d changed into a pair of comfortable sweats that hung loose off his hips, hoping tea, his pajamas, and a book would put him to sleep, but this happened every trip. The longer she was away, the less he slept. How had he been single for ten years? How had he slept alone for all that time? Now, if he didn’t hug his girl at least once a day, his body felt jittery and unsettled. The soulmate bond had solidified quickly, and he supposed that was why he suffered without her. She was truly and completely his other half. He loved her more than he thought possible, and he grabbed his phone to text her. If he couldn’t kiss her goodnight, he at least needed to hear from her.
Cash
I miss the fuck out of you, but I have to be up early,so I’m going to sleep. I love you, and when you get back, please block off an entireday on your calendar, because I’m sending Clover to his grandparents and then spending it in bed with you. I won’t let you leave our room until your legs shake and you decideto never leave meever again.
P.S. I am very proud of you, so obviously, I want you to leave.Ijustmiss you.
