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without getting caught.”

    ***

    It was getting dark by the time they’d finally come up with a viable plan. Kate sat back in her chair, a tickle of nervousness spreading in her belly as she watched the pelicans dive head-first into the waters of the bay for their dinner.
    Would the plan work?
    After several texts back and forth between Kate and Gideon—and even a few from Max—they’d worked out the resources and personnel they’d need. Max knew from previous jobs that Kate had access to people with unusual skill sets and he was all for recruiting them. Kate often wondered whether this easy access was what had prompted Max to offer her the job.
    Vic’s software had been able to determine the layout of the ice hotel and even figure out a little about their security.
    Uncle Benny would help her with getting around the internal security—that was his area of expertise. Gideon was sending down a package, which would include a covert communications system where Kate and Benny could send and receive messages. It was assumed that any communication going in or out of the ice hotel would be strictly monitored, but Gideon just happened to have some nifty gadgets that would communicate in code. Kate could give Benny more information on the security once she got inside. She was actually pretty good at disarming security systems herself, but the extra help couldn’t hurt.
    They’d even recruited an old friend to captain the ship and their old getaway driver, Sal, to drive the ski-cycle.  
    Everyone they’d contacted to help was agreeable—eager even. Of course, they were paid well for their efforts, but no one at Golden Capers needed the money. They all loved the opportunity for adventure, which let them make use of the skills they’d spent their entire lives honing. The adventure came with minimal risk … unless you counted getting shot at risky, which most of her parents’ friends didn’t.
    Max was working on getting Kate an invite as well as an alternate identity through his vast underground network. The cruise-ship-turned-research-vessel was already en route to a safe place where it could rendezvous with a helicopter carrying Kate’s backup team, which, against Kate’s wishes, included her parents.
    Gideon had already loaded the ski-cycle on the helicopter and was sending a care package with the necessary gadgets and some self-heating clothing down to Kate.
    Everything was running smoothly and Kate didn’t know whether to feel nervous or elated. This was the biggest job Max had ever asked her to do and she wanted to prove to him, the FBI, and maybe even herself, that she was good enough to pull it off.
    Kate’s phone vibrated on the table signaling another text. Her throat tightened as she read it.  
    Sucking her bottom lip between her front teeth, she looked up at her father. “How long do you think it will take to pull this all together?”
    Vic shrugged. “We’re all retired and looking for something to do so it shouldn’t take too long. Why?
    “According to this text … I leave for Antarctica tomorrow.”

Chapter Five

    The ice hotel rose out of the snow covered ground like a gigantic igloo. The two story high front was constructed out of two-foot wide ice blocks that sparkled in the sun like oversized ice cubes. Above that, a roof of snow sloped down to form the sides of the hotel.
    The double doors—made from real glass, not ice—opened and Kate did a double-take at her reflection as her white fur boots carried her inside. Her hair, now a sleek jet-black color, had been pulled into a tight chignon at the nape of her neck. Her dark eyes peeked out from underneath an ermine fur hat, which matched the hood and cuffs of her snow-white jacket.  
    The hotel lobby had an inviting aqua glow, even if it was a bit cave-like. The cathedral-like walls sloped upwards to a peak at the top. Along the sides were rows of round ice columns. The lobby furniture was made from ice and there was even an ice chandelier