Catch As Cat Can

51

Pulling into Don Clatterbuck's, they grabbed their guns and opened the car doors, crouching behind them. Coop dearly wished she weren't in a ball gown.

Rick moved away from the door, running low. He stood outside the shop door, reached over, and opened it. He flattened himself against the building. Nothing.

Coop, keeping as low as her dress would allow, joined him on the other side of the door.

Rick reached in, flicking on the light switch.

No sound. No movement. He ran inside, diving for the workbench. Nothing.

“Coop, come on.” He scrambled to his feet, brushing off his tuxedo.

The door to the safe hung wide open. It was empty.

“Our birdie can't be too far away.” Coop grabbed a chair, placing it under the camera. She turned off the camera, removing the tape inside.

Yancy had set it up, locking the tiny TV playback box in Don's broom closet. Coop hiked her long skirt up, stepped down as Rick opened the closet. They quickly plugged in the small monitor.

“Dammit!” Rick exploded.

A masked figure. A black cloth covering the face, slits for eyes and mouth, wrapped in what could be a black bedsheet or long cloak, it stopped in front of the camera after emptying out the safe to give them the finger.

“I'd like to see his face when he discovers the money's no good.”

“Won't discover that until he gets it in a bright light.” Rick slipped his gun back in his chest holster. “Whoever did this knew we'd be at the ball tonight.”

“Boss, that's no surprise. Everyone's at the ball tonight.”

“Maybe, but we know this—he knows that we're here. I think we've just been suckered.” He sprinted for the car, Coop right behind him. She turned out the lights as she ran out.

“Boss, Boss, I can't run as fast as you.”

He waited the extra twenty seconds it took for her to fold herself into the car. “Coop, I wouldn't give you a nickel right now for Sean's life or Lottie's.”

“We'll nab them.”

“That's not what I mean. One of them is going to be dead.” He peeled out, spewing stones everywhere.