The camera closed in as JD and I stepped out of the lobby.
"Deputy Wild, what can you tell us?” Paris asked.
I gave a brief overview of the incident and asked anyone with information to contact the Sheriff's Department. I didn't think we’d get many tips, but maybe someone overheard the assailants discussing the heist at a coffee shop or bar. Maybe they’d brag about their score, and a friend or family member would rat them out. Criminals love to brag.
It was wishful thinking.
JD and I returned to the station and filled out after-action reports. The sheriff poked his head into the conference room. He was not pleased. "You guys had one job. One job!”
I exhaled with frustration. "What were we supposed to do? They were completely understaffed and unprepared.”
"That's why I sent you guys over there.”
"There wasn't enough time. You said to show up at seven, we showed up at seven.” Then I added, "Even if we’d had more time, this was organized.” I told him my theory. “We needed double the amount of security that we had, and we needed patrols on the beach. Too many vulnerabilities in that place. Everything that could go wrongdidgo wrong.”
"Stay on top of this. If you two can get those gems back, you’ll be heroes. As it stands, the media is painting you guys and the department as zeros.”
JD and I frowned.
"We're on it," I said.
“A job this big has a lot of moving parts,” Daniels said. “Somebody’s bound to slip up and start talking.”
One can dream.
We finished up at the station and returned to theAvventura, feeling deflated.
I took Buddy out for a walk, then JD and I sipped cocktails on the sky deck and post-gamed the event. We went over what went wrong and what we could have done better. It was an important part of any mission, failed or not.
In the morning, I woke with the sunrise and pulled myself out of bed. After a shower and a shave, I headed down to the galley and fixed breakfast. Bacon sizzled, and the smell of fresh coffee swirled.
I still felt unsettled from the night before. I didn’t like to lose. Nobody does. Bad guys 1. Good guys 0.
There were too many people in the ballroom to track cell phones. Besides, these thieves were professionals. Too well-organized to carry cell phones on them while committing a heist. It didn't make sense to waste Isabella’s time or resources on that kind of endeavor. It wouldn't turn up much. She and I went way back. Isabella would do anything I asked. Still, I didn’t want to use up all of my good credit with her. She had a life and clients of her own.
JD and I chowed down on the sky deck and soaked up the amber rays of morning. Afterward, I rode with him over to the dentist’s office.
We parked in the lot of the professional building and strolled into the lobby. It was full of plant boxes. Skylights in the atrium allowed copious amounts of Florida sun to spill through. Water trickled, and koi swam around in a pond. It was mostly dentists and orthodontists, along with an acupuncturist and an insurance agent.
We took the elevator up to the second floor and found Dr. Latham's office. Jack stepped into the small waiting area, and I took a seat while he checked in with the cute receptionist. She was a silky brunette with azure eyes and striking features. Pepper wore lavender scrubs, and the office had a pleasant floral scent. A glass coffee table held everything from fashion mags to car magazines. Complimentary bottles of water sat in the mini fridge, and coastal art hung on the walls.
"Good morning, Mr. Donovan," Pepper said with a cheery smile. "She'll be with you shortly.”
I don’t think anyone is particularly fond of dentist appointments, but Jack was dreading this. He fidgeted with nervous energy. He knew the drill was in his future.
6
“So, what’s the word?” I asked when JD stepped back into the lobby after his appointment. A grim look tortured his face.
I tossed the magazine back on the coffee table, stood up, and followed him out of the office.
“She says this old filling has caused cracks in the molar. Every time I bite down, the cracks expand and irritate the nerve. She’s recommending a crown. Says it can be difficult to manage if the tooth breaks.”
“That doesn’t sound fun. When are you going to do it?”
“I’m debating.”
I chuckled, then joked, “You could just let it fall out.”
