why you need to take your precautionary measures, and I know you’re going to understand why I need to take mine.”
There was a sudden gleam in her eyes that Grant didn’t trust. “Understand what, exactly?”
In answer, Mandy reached into one of the deep pockets of her bathrobe and instinctively Grant went for the gun in the shoulder harness he always wore. But she beat him to the punch as she pulled her hand out of the robe and Grant saw the flash of silver—
Of a small tape recorder.
He let out a deep breath in frustrated relief. “Jesus Christ, Mandy. What the hell is that?”
“I told you—my precautionary measures.” She hit play on the tape recorder, keeping the volume low, but high enough so Grant could hear well and clear.
“I’m sorry, Grant. I think I’m getting nervous about all this.”
“Don’t be nervous. All you need to do is turn the camera on when you hear Hodges knock—make sure you put the armoire doors back in the exact spot they’re in now, then turn the camera off when he leaves. The rest of it is no different than any other job. I’ll be watching in my car from the street below. Turn the lamp by the window on and off three times so I’ll know when you’re done. I’ll come up, check the tape to make sure everything’s okay, and then you’ll leave just like you would any other night.”
“Thanks, boss. Anything else?”
“Yes. Make it look good.”
Mandy shut off the tape with a smug grin. “That spy shop on Wells Street you sent me to was quite a find.” She held up the recorder. “It’s amazing how small they can make these things nowadays. The whole time you were here earlier, you never noticed I had it in my pocket.”
“I’ll have to remember to frisk you next time,” Grant said sarcastically. “What’s with the tape, Mandy?”
“I want to renegotiate the terms of our arrangement.”
“You think you should get more than half?”
“I think I should get it all.”
“Why the hell would I ever agree to that?”
“Because if you don’t, I’m going to Hodges with this tape and telling him this whole thing was your idea,” she said.
“As if he’d ever believe that.”
“Men believe a lot of things they shouldn’t when they’re thinking with their dicks.” Mandy gave the tape a little shake for his benefit. “Besides, he doesn’t have to believe me. I have it all right here. I love how this little clip makes it sound like it’s your idea—like you had to talk me into the whole scheme. And that, of course, will be exactly what I tell Hodges. And the police.”
Grant knew he should’ve been nervous. Panicking, even. But instead, he felt a cold blue flame of anger beginning to burn inside him. And he felt strangely calm.
“I’m not giving up my half,” he said.
Mandy laughed scornfully. “Half. As if you even deserve one-tenth of this money. I set this up. I did all the work. The only thing I’ve ever needed you for is to make sure Hodges doesn’t go to the cops. And that you will still do, unless you want to do twenty years in jail for blackmailing a federal official. Because if I go down in this, trust me—you will, too.” She flashed him a smile. “Sorry, Grant. But like we said, this is a one-shot deal. I have to make the most of it.”
She was so proud of herself right then. So smug and confident.
Too confident.
As Grant stood there, pointing his gun at her, he had one thought on his mind.
He would not be out-smarted by a fucking whore.
Mandy slipped the tape recorder back inside the pocket of her robe and eyed his hands unconcernedly. “You can put the gun away, Grant. We both know you’re not going to shoot me.” She turned her back on him and began heading toward the bathroom.
Grant reached under his blazer and tucked the gun back inside his shoulder harness. “You’re right. I’m not going to shoot you.” Without warning, he lunged for her—pleased she never saw it coming—and grabbed her by the throat and threw her onto the bed. She hit it with enough force to bang the bed loudly against the wall. Before she could scream, Grant was on top of her, and the bed slammed against the wall a second time as he pinned her. He slapped his hand over her mouth.
“You don’t know who you’re messing with. You need to understand who’s in control here,