me. Would you help someone who ruined your life?”
Izzy’s friend frowned, looking thoughtful. “I guess that depends on why he did it—and what you were doing to deserve it.” He glanced around at the silent streets and then opened a zippered pocket on his jacket. “I’ve got the schematic here. There are some updates for wiring changes in the last six months. Your plans are only ninety percent accurate.”
“You want to tell me how you got that information?” Izzy said quietly.
“That’s the easy part. My wife happens to work at the museum three days a week. There’s a big costume show in the works, and she’s the assistant curator.”
Maddie decided she really wanted to meet Ian’s wife – assuming they all got out of this business in one piece.
“I’ve noted the guard rotations and their break times.” Ian opened a small penlight and shone it over a detailed diagram of the museum. “This is our best access point.”
“Our? I thought I made that clear. You’re not going in with me. I don’t want you involved in this, Ian. Things could turn FUBAR really fast on this one.”
“I got that impression. Which is of course why you need me,” the Scotsman said calmly. “I owe you for your last visit to Scotland, remember? Now let’s not waste time in arguing.” He tapped one corner of the schematic. “The guard in this sector takes a break in twenty-nine minutes. I’ll fill you in on the security.” He tossed a thin black nylon jacket to Izzy and another to Maddie. “Sorry. I’m afraid yours is going to be too big. By the way, what’s your name?”
“I’m Maddie —”
Izzy cut her off. “No need to know her name. So what kind of alarm system are they using now, Ian? I was told they updated their old 8100 unit to a new German model.”
“Worse. They completely revamped the network last week. Now there’s a custom made override. Heat sensors and lasers. The royal family is expected at the costume show opening, and this is all new security in place .”
“Hell. I hate infrared,” Izzy grumbled. “You have a safe car somewhere? We need to get to work.”
There was an odd sense of camaraderie as the three slid into the gray van parked one street over. Fishing supplies and hiking boots filled one corner of the back. Maddie thought this was Ian’s family van. Something told her that he was rich enough to have a whole fleet of cars at his disposal.
“I can deal with the infrared,” she said quietly. “They will probably use a standard interface. But the lasers won’t be so easy to handle.”
“Nae, they won’t, lass. Which is why I decided to change the plan. We’re not going in through the janitorial access area.” The Scotsman glanced up at a sprinkling of lights three blocks over. “We’re going in through the roof.”
“I’m not afraid of heights, you know.” Maddie tried to sound like it was true, but actually she hated heights almost as much as she hated flying. Still, watching the men suit up and make their cool preparations left her feeling useless. “I could go along and help.”
“You are going to help — by staying on the ground,” Izzy said flatly. “We need you working those codes. I also want to be sure that the photographs I’m sending to your iPad come through okay. We’re going to have to study them later.”
“Sure, but—”
Izzy shoved a headset into her hands. “Put this on and stop arguing. Use the transmit button to contact us if necessary.” He looped a climbing rope around his shoulders and then pulled on tight, supple climbing shoes. He looked as if he had done this many times before.
“Seventeen minutes,” his friend Ian said quietly.
“There’s something I still don’t get,” Maddie interrupted. “What are you breaking in for? What do you need to find?”
“I’ll fill you in after we finish. Assuming the mission is a success.” Izzy punched a few keys on his laptop and then handed it to Maddie. “Keep an eye on
Izzy’s friend frowned, looking thoughtful. “I guess that depends on why he did it—and what you were doing to deserve it.” He glanced around at the silent streets and then opened a zippered pocket on his jacket. “I’ve got the schematic here. There are some updates for wiring changes in the last six months. Your plans are only ninety percent accurate.”
“You want to tell me how you got that information?” Izzy said quietly.
“That’s the easy part. My wife happens to work at the museum three days a week. There’s a big costume show in the works, and she’s the assistant curator.”
Maddie decided she really wanted to meet Ian’s wife – assuming they all got out of this business in one piece.
“I’ve noted the guard rotations and their break times.” Ian opened a small penlight and shone it over a detailed diagram of the museum. “This is our best access point.”
“Our? I thought I made that clear. You’re not going in with me. I don’t want you involved in this, Ian. Things could turn FUBAR really fast on this one.”
“I got that impression. Which is of course why you need me,” the Scotsman said calmly. “I owe you for your last visit to Scotland, remember? Now let’s not waste time in arguing.” He tapped one corner of the schematic. “The guard in this sector takes a break in twenty-nine minutes. I’ll fill you in on the security.” He tossed a thin black nylon jacket to Izzy and another to Maddie. “Sorry. I’m afraid yours is going to be too big. By the way, what’s your name?”
“I’m Maddie —”
Izzy cut her off. “No need to know her name. So what kind of alarm system are they using now, Ian? I was told they updated their old 8100 unit to a new German model.”
“Worse. They completely revamped the network last week. Now there’s a custom made override. Heat sensors and lasers. The royal family is expected at the costume show opening, and this is all new security in place .”
“Hell. I hate infrared,” Izzy grumbled. “You have a safe car somewhere? We need to get to work.”
There was an odd sense of camaraderie as the three slid into the gray van parked one street over. Fishing supplies and hiking boots filled one corner of the back. Maddie thought this was Ian’s family van. Something told her that he was rich enough to have a whole fleet of cars at his disposal.
“I can deal with the infrared,” she said quietly. “They will probably use a standard interface. But the lasers won’t be so easy to handle.”
“Nae, they won’t, lass. Which is why I decided to change the plan. We’re not going in through the janitorial access area.” The Scotsman glanced up at a sprinkling of lights three blocks over. “We’re going in through the roof.”
“I’m not afraid of heights, you know.” Maddie tried to sound like it was true, but actually she hated heights almost as much as she hated flying. Still, watching the men suit up and make their cool preparations left her feeling useless. “I could go along and help.”
“You are going to help — by staying on the ground,” Izzy said flatly. “We need you working those codes. I also want to be sure that the photographs I’m sending to your iPad come through okay. We’re going to have to study them later.”
“Sure, but—”
Izzy shoved a headset into her hands. “Put this on and stop arguing. Use the transmit button to contact us if necessary.” He looped a climbing rope around his shoulders and then pulled on tight, supple climbing shoes. He looked as if he had done this many times before.
“Seventeen minutes,” his friend Ian said quietly.
“There’s something I still don’t get,” Maddie interrupted. “What are you breaking in for? What do you need to find?”
“I’ll fill you in after we finish. Assuming the mission is a success.” Izzy punched a few keys on his laptop and then handed it to Maddie. “Keep an eye on
Similar Books
