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It's not that I haven't done that before, but the circumstances have to be dire.”
    Brook waved a hand as if it were no big deal. “I know there are risks involved, but that's why I'm willing to pay you handsomely. How does ten thousand dollars sound?”
    I gulped. “Ten grand?”
    “Yes.”
    I sat back, giving myself a moment to think. “I didn't bring any equipment with me. I'm supposed to be on vacation.”
    She tapped her manicured nails on the sofa, perhaps pondering a solution. “What about your partner back in New Hampshire? That Carter guy. Have him fly down here and bring the equipment.”
    “I could call and ask him, but I'm not sure he'd be willing to do that,” I said.
    She finally looked up with a hopeful smile. “I'll add another ten thousand for Carter. That should make it worth both your efforts. Tell him he has a place to stay. There's a unit on the sixth floor that's available for him. Please, Sarah, help me with this.”
    Ten grand was more than I'd made in the last six months. How could I pass it up? But money wasn’t everything. I didn’t want to fall into the trap and make hasty decisions just because of the figure. No, I needed to give this some serious thought. “I'll need to think about your offer,” I said. “I'll call Carter as soon as I can and see what he says. I can't promise that he'll want to make the trip.”
    Brook took my hands and squeezed. “Thank you so much. I can have half of your money by this afternoon. Could you come up to the penthouse around three o'clock?”
    She already assumed I couldn’t pass up the money. Would she be right?
    I checked my watch. It was almost one-thirty. “Let's make it four o'clock. After I speak with Carter, I'll have to discuss this with Max before I make a final decision.”
    “But you won't tell him any details about the job, right?”
    “Correct.”
    “Good. Four o'clock, then.” She stood up from the couch, and I took that to mean she was done with our little chat.
    I handed her my water glass as I walked to the door. “Just curious, when was the last time you saw Angela?”
    She shrugged. “It was before the wedding.”
    “Angela didn't go to the wedding?” I asked.
    “Nope. Like I said, she hates that I took the place of her mother.”
    I bit my tongue because I understood Angela’s feelings on that one. “And what about Andrew? How did he feel about you and his dad?”
    “He doesn't seem to care one way or the other.” Brook not-so-casually glanced at her watch, letting me know that any other questions could probably wait.
    I got the hint and continued to the door.

Chapter 5
     
     
     
     
     
    I walked down the hall from the penthouse and called Carter while I waited for the elevator.
    “Hey,” Carter said in his usual gruff tone when he answered. “I thought you were on vacation,”
    “Well, it's turned into a working vacation. Are you interested in a free trip to Palm Beach, expenses paid? Your split is ten grand.”
    “Who's the client?” he asked.
    “Brook Foster. A wealthy widow. She thinks her dead husband's daughter blackmailed her, and she wants proof. It's probably a two-day job, three tops.”
    “Why do you need me?”
    “Because this job will most likely involve breaking and entering. That's your specialty, isn't it?”
    I could picture Carter's taut expression as he ran a hand through his thick grey hair, mulling over the possibility. A fifty-something, ex-cop from Boston, he broke the law as often as he could get away with. Of course, it was all for the greater good – or at least the greater good according to Carter.
    “What's the plan?” he asked.
    “Book yourself on the next flight. And bring whatever equipment you can fit in the suitcase.”
    “What does Max think about this?”
    “I'm going to tell him in a few minutes. But I'm pretty sure he'll understand. So, are you in?”
    It took him all of five seconds to make up his mind. “Sure.”
    When I ended the call, I knew I could count