A few minutes after Noah started driving, a rustling in the back seat made Mack turn around. The Russian was riffling through his lunch box and handing out snacks to Hop and Liv.
“What are you doing?” Mack asked.
“I’m hungry,” the Russian answered.
“You packed food?”
“I get very hungry.”
“There’d better not be any fucking cheese in there.” Mack turned back around in his seat. “This is quickly becoming the worst idea in the entire history of bad ideas.”
“Here they come.”
Just before eight, Mack sat up straighter in his seat and watched one of the computer monitors in the back of the van. They’d parked the van on the top floor of the parking garage overlooking Savoy. Malcolm’s black SUV stopped at the valet stand in front of the restaurant. A black-attired driver opened the door for Malcolm’s wife, Tracy.
“I can’t believe we’re really doing this,” Liv breathed, scrunched next to Mack on the floor. He took her hand, and she laced her fingers with his. That’s how nervous she was.
“It’ll be okay,” Mack reassured her. He kind of wanted to lean over and kiss her head, but that was probably pushing it.
Less than a minute passed before Geoff reported in. “They’re being seated.”
Then a few minutes more. “He’s coming out to greet them.”
“That’s our cue,” Mack said.
Mack turned to his left, where Liv sat biting a fingernail. “It’ll be okay.”
She nodded. “Be careful.”
Fuck it. He dipped his head and kissed her hard and fast.
He, Noah, and the Russian jumped out of the van and jogged down the stairs. They were all winded by the time they reached the ground floor. They rounded the corner into the alley behind the restaurant. Ahead, a back door to the restaurant swung open. Silently, all three ducked inside.
Geoff guided the door closed with a silent click. He handed Mack a key card.
“Whose is this?” Mack asked.
Sweat dripped from Geoff’s chin. He was nervous as shit. “No one’s. It’s the generic card that we use for deliveries.”
“So they can’t track it. Perfect.”
They’d entered the delivery bay of the restaurant, which was probably bustling during the day but was thankfully deserted now. The place smelled like dirty concrete and motor oil. A door at the far end was illuminated only by a red EXIT sign.
Geoff pointed to it. “That’s the staircase. Do you remember what I told you about how to get there?”
“Turn left at the top of the stairs,” Mack said.
Geoff nodded and wiped his hand down his face.
“You’re sure the office is unlocked?” Noah asked.
“I just unlocked it myself. You have ten minutes.”
“Let’s go.”
“Talk to me,” Hop ordered through the earpiece.
“We’re in,” Mack answered. “Headed up the stairs now.”
Mack remembered Geoff’s instructions from earlier. There were two main staircases to the upper floors. The one from the back, which they were taking, was used mainly for daytime staff, so it would be empty this time of night.
The screens of computer monitors bathed the entire administrative floor in a soft blue glow when they snuck out of the staircase. The office they wanted was at the end of the hallway and to the left, Geoff had said.
“Hurry,” Mack hissed.
The three of them crept across the carpet until they spotted the office Geoff had described. Mack held his breath as Noah gripped the door handle with his gloved hands. They were really doing this. Jesus Christ.
With a quiet turn of the handle, they were in.
Mack let out a breath and followed Noah inside, the Russian on his heels.
Mack motioned to the door, and the Russian nodded. He took up a guarded position by the door to keep watch while Noah and Mack crossed the small space to the desk. The computer was on but needed a log-in.
Mack swore under his breath. “You’re sure you can do this?”
Noah sat down in Royce’s chair and immediately started pounding the keys. It was like watching Mozart compose a symphony the way Noah manipulated the computer. Seconds later he was in.
“Jesus, you did that fast.”
“People don’t give enough thought to passwords,” Noah said. He dug a thumb drive from his pocket and shoved it into the port on the side of the computer.
Mack turned away to study the office. He glowered at the picture of Royce with his wife.
“Ten minutes,” Hop said into their ears.
Sweat rolled down Mack’s face. The Russian was at the door, ready to take out anyone who happened to come upon them.