“Great. We’re in Portland. I’ll send you the details.”
We exchange a few more words before hanging up, and I remain standing there for a moment, thinking intently. Like Oli said, I need to be somewhere when the heist happens. An undeniable alibi, something rock solid that’ll exonerate me from suspicions.
What better alibi than being in the FBI’s offices in Portland, being interrogated by two agents the whole time? They’ll never even suspect me.
I’ll have a couple of stops to make before I go there, though. Just in case.
“Okay, Iris. I’m heading out now.”
“Good luck, Andrea,” the AI answers.
This is it. We’re ready. I’ve worked my ass off to make sure it’ll all go well, and now, I’m driving down to Oregon, my home state, to bring it to the finish line.
“Wait for my signal,” I remind her.
“Will do. Say hi to Alexander for me.”
I nod and exit the apartment. Nervousness has my bowels in knots, but I ignore it. I’ve been working on this for over five weeks now. I’mas ready as I’ll ever be—and Oli agrees. There’s no point in delaying any further. Lex needs to get out. Now.
During the entire drive to Sheridan, I replay everything in my head, making sure every variable and parameter is considered. I don’t see how this could go wrong, but it’s my first heist, so what do I know?
That’s why I’m going to see him. If I messed up somehow, they’ll come after me to lock me up, too. And if that happens, then I’ll never get to see Lex ever again. Now might be my last chance to see his gorgeous face, to hear his beautiful voice. I’m sure he’s still pissed at me, and he’ll probably try to stop me once more.
But skipping the visits and dedicating my entire life to this crazy endeavor has paid off. I’m ready, with months to spare. And I’m getting him out as early as I possibly can.
The whole ride there is grave and serious. I don’t even put music on, reflecting the entire time. I’m aware of the magnitude of my actions. Aware this isn’t just a minor detour on the wrong side of the law. The moment it happens, I’ll become a criminal. The feds will look into Nammota again—with more resources than they ever did because this is bigger than anything he ever pulled off. And this time, it’smethey’ll be looking for.
But it’ll all be worth it in the end. I know it.
Silence follows me all the way to the visiting booth that a guard leads me to. There are all sorts of noises around me, but I don’t hear them. I’m in my head, and in there, it’s alarmingly clear and determined. I know what I’m doing, and nothing can stop me.
When Lex arrives, I wait quietly as the guard handcuffs his wrist to the tablet. He looks even worse than last time, which only serves as a reminder that he’s running out of time. But today is the day.
We stare at one another for a long time. There’s rage in his eyes. Dormant, almost hidden by the hollowness in his gaze, but it’s there. It’s been over three weeks since I subtly let him know my plan. Three weeks of ruminating on it. Three weeks of resenting me for going against his wishes. Three weeks of worrying about me messing it up and blowing up my entire life for him.
There’s some white in his hair, near his temples. In his growing beard, too, close to the chin. Did the stress do that to him? I feel bad for causing him such turmoil, but not for the result. It suits him. And although it’s barely anything, it gives me a glimpse into the silver fox he’ll become in a couple of decades.
The scar on his eyebrow has healed, leaving a slit of flesh there. He looks nothing like the put-together man I met all those months ago. Between the scar and the beard, there’s something roguish about him. Something that somehow works well.
I’d say we stay like this for five entire minutes. No words, no arguments, no shouting. Just that. Looking. But God, do I hear his thoughts, as though screaming right into my ears.
I’m the one who picks up the phone first. Even if it’s as full of bitterness as his gaze, I need to hear his voice. One more time. Maybe one last time.
“Hey, baby,” I say into the phone once he picks up. He doesn’t answer, but something flinches in the stormy gray of his gaze. “I missed you,” I continue. Still nothing. “I was surprised they let me in. I thought you would have removed me from your list by now.”
“The thought crossed my mind, but I didn’t think you’d return.”
There. Through a phone and tempered glass, but there it is. His voice.
“I have a meeting in Portland this afternoon, so I thought I’d come see you first.” He doesn’t ask what it’s about, and I decide he doesn’t need to know.
But I doubt he imagines I’m ready to get him out. That it’s all unfolding today. There’s still time before the trial, so he must think I’ll give myself as much time as I can to succeed. Which maybe I should, but why wait when I’m as ready as I’ll ever be?
By not letting him know just how close we are, I’ll spare him more anguish. It’ll be like ripping off a Band-Aid, and by the time he hears of it, everything will be over. For now, the best thing I can give him is a glimpse out of this place. A reminder of what awaits out there.
“Did you know,” I start, “that there’s a website out there where you can rent a small private island? I looked into it, and it’s expensive as hell, but you can afford it. I scrolled through a few, and I think I found the perfect one, baby. It’s a small patch of white sand and coconut trees in Belize. And in the middle, a house that has more openings than walls, and white curtains that lazily fly through them, dancing in the Caribbean wind. There’s a small pool, a gorgeous primary bedroom, a bathroom with a massive tub… They offer full-time service, but we’d decline, wouldn’t we? Just you, me, and a boat with supplies now and then. And the website says there are no mosquitoes, so—”
I stop talking when I notice that the sad shimmer in Lex’s eyes has turned into a tear. I watch as it rolls down his chiseled cheekbone, then down to what used to be a stubble but is now a grown beard.
