Chapter 33
Ava
It was two o’clock in the morning. The whole team was gathered in a shitty bar on the outskirts of Willsbury City.
We had done our usual evasive manoeuvres, just in case we had a tail.
We were also using burner phones to communicate.
We discussed nothing at the office. We told no one what we were doing.
Where we were going. It had come to that—the FBI sneaking around like a bunch of criminals because nothing and nowhere was safe.
We only trusted each other. The five of us. Nothing left our circle.
Owen leaned closer as Marshall sat down in the booth, the last to arrive. “We have something,” he whispered, his eyes darting over the filthy, empty bar.
Emerie’s lips thinned. “Is it for real this time?”
“Well, Raina is sure it’ll get her killed for telling us, so…” I trailed off, meeting everyone’s gaze at the table.
Syntax straightened in her seat. “Then out with it.”
“Varon has a bucket list piece, and we know what it is,” Owen started.
“How does that help us?” Emerie questioned sarcastically. “Even if we know what he’s after, we still can’t seem to stop him.”
“For starters, he won’t know we know about it.
” I gave Emerie a glare. “All this time the Apparitions had been the ones planting the breadcrumbs and we’ve been following it like idiots.
This time around, we’re flipping the script.
No more chasing. We will lay the snare and wait for them to come to us. ”
Marshall nodded slowly, leaning back into his seat, eyes narrowed. “What’s the plan?”
Owen and I grinned at each other, feeling a twinge of optimism for the first time in weeks.
“It’ll go down in three months. At a Da Vinci exhibit in Italy,” Owen started, giving my hand an excited squeeze under the table.
This better work.
I flinched as the doors slammed shut with a deafening bang.
Syntax laughed like a maniac mad scientist. “And that’s how you trap the devil.”
I grinned, looking around one of the viewing rooms of the museum—our snare. The trap was almost complete, and it was perfect.
The room was circular with only two doors, each on the north and south side of the space.
Something about its ancient stone walls seemed familiar.
In the middle, stood the pedestal with a glass enclosure where the Codex Leicester would be displayed as part of the Da Vinci Appreciation Week, hosted every five years by the Italian museum.
We had stealthily convinced the owner of the Codex to showcase it here, keeping the part where his precious book would serve as bait for the best thieves in the world to ourselves.
The museum director was easier. He was just too happy to secretly help us catch art thieves and getting to display the Codex in the process.
Owen laughed excitedly from where he stood on the concealed pressure plate that had triggered the heavy steel doors to slam shut, turning the room into an inescapable prison.
Emerie grinned at us through the small window in the northern door, then pressed the release button on the outside and the door slid open again. It could only be opened from the outside.
“The pressure plates are working, the heat detectors are in, the beams inside the glass box are on. Ava, how’s it going with the cameras?” Syntax asked.
“It is…” I looked down at footage on my phone screen and adjusted the angle of the camera, hidden in the small vent. “Perfect! All of them are in, hidden and working.”
“Now for the final touch,” Marshall said, surprising us with a wide grin. He placed the signs outside each door.
No Entry. Viewing of Codex Leicester strictly with tours only.
Viewings would be held only in certain timeframes when the system was off while we watched closely. That way, no civilians would trigger the system.
We all came together in the middle of the room, looking at each other, excitement and hope sparking in our eyes, drowning out the fear.
It was the first time we’ve all been together since hatching our secret plan.
According to the FBI’s books, Owen and I were in Germany, following a fictitious lead.
Emerie, Marshall and Syntax were in Paris, tailing the art informant, stupidly hoping he led us to the Apparitions.
We told no one of our true plans. Not even Director Devereux.
We made sure our presence were known in Paris and Germany.
Only at night did we enter the museum to set it up, and never together, making sure most of us were out and about.
“This is it.” Owen grinned, his energy feeling a tad nervous. “Everything is set up for next week’s exhibit. Marshall?”
Marshall nodded once. “I will call for you and my team tomorrow with our story of why we believe the Apparitions will show in Paris.”
“Only after everyone’s phones are confiscated and they are completely dark, do we let them in on what’s really going on.”
“Aye, aye, captain,” Syntax smirked at Owen.
Emerie shifted nervously. “Syntax, why the hell are you so excited? This will probably get us fired and thrown in prison. We’re full rogue right now. The director will skin us.”
“Or he will hand us a medal for our excellent police work when we apprehend the infamous Collectors,” Owen countered.
“And speak of your cunning and unmatched determination in the documentary they’ll make of us,” I added.
Even Marshall laughed excitedly.
“Now go get your beauty sleep,” Owen ordered. “The Codex arrives on Monday. And we don’t know when the Apparitions will show. We have a long week ahead of us. Or short.” He shrugged.
“Aye, aye, captain,” Emerie mimicked Syntax, giving her a small smile before they disappeared out the room.
Owen turned to me, pulling me against him with a sigh, his eyes roaming the space around us. “I have a good feeling about this. By this time next week, the Apparitions will be behind bars.”
I snaked my arms around his neck. Yes. I could feel it. This room was right where we were supposed to be. Fate had led us here. My stomach fluttered nervously. “Then we can finally get lost at sea.”
Owen snickered and brushed my hair back.
“Hold your horses. I still have a job. When we catch them there will be paperwork, interrogations, court cases… it’ll be a lengthy process.
” Seeing the look on my face, he added, “But I’ll see if I can put in some leave for a week or two.
I did promise to take you sailing. I’ll keep my word, A. ” He leaned down and kissed my nose.
I sighed heavily. “Fine. I’ll take whatever I can get.”
Owen chuckled. “Let’s get going, beautiful. I want to see you naked.”