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Aviss shrugged. “Possibly. Or it might go righter than you think. We’ve got reason to believe Murphy might be looking for a way out. Even turn state’s evidence. If it wasn’t for that, we’d tell you to turn her meeting down flat.”
Sam scoffed. “Give up her cozy life for WITSEC? Not likely.”
“Except the new man in charge threatened her daughter.” Aviss raised her brows. “Erin is her weak spot. Murphy actually called Erin and told her to watch her back and that she should close the shop and leave town for a couple of weeks. Erin told Wiz; she and Ryan are at Wiz’s estate. Deb, her sister, and the kids are at Wiz’s too. The Acers are working, but on high alert. We got your secretary out of town, Sam, and your office mates are working from home.” She half-smiled. “That takes care of the closest non-combatants. We’ll be watching the bank and quietly intercepting armed individuals if any attempt entry before business hours. We may intercept some lower-level bank employees, too, like tellers, and put them in protective custody. But that may take more people than I’ve got.”
Aviss put her tablet on the table. “Here’s a layout of the bank. Assume everything you do inside and out is on video. At ten-fifty, you’ll pull into a parking space at the back of the bank; back in so you can pull out fast. First plan, call Sharlene and ask her to join you outside in your car. She’ll refuse, I’m sure. Remove your weapons because the metal detectors will go off. Then, you’ll walk around to the front and into the lobby. Past the lobby and tellers on the left, there are several cubicles to your right, then Sharlene’s office is along the back wall of the bank. It’s enclosed, and she doesn’t have a back door, so we don’t want you going in there. Tell her secretary you don’t have much time and ask that she join you in the lobby. If she refuses, use the glassed-in conference room next door, but only if it’s empty. Do not enter her office.” Aviss tapped the table hard. “We can’t protect you there. If she insists, leave. The meeting isn’t worth the risk of an execution, and she could have a silenced weapon back there. Or someone with a silencer.”
Trevor nodded. “Got it.” But he’d been in Murphy’s office and remembered a door.
“Yes.” Sam’s nose wrinkled like she smelled something bad. “I’ve spent enough time in her office. She’s got her own bathroom and access to the kitchen. She could hide several people back there for a couple of days, and we wouldn’t know until it was too late.”
But if bullets flew, a bathroom made a decent emergency shelter. Bathrooms had heavier sheetrock and cabinets to hide behind.
“Exactly.” Aviss nodded to Sam. “Second, if you talk to Murphy, Sam, tell her you’re nervous about the upcoming regulatory inspections. Suggest meeting outside the bank to talk about a past case you worked. Maybe the one that made you leave. Tell her you’ve got a conference room set up at a friend’s office and invite her to ride with you. Don’t take no for an answer. Grab her arms and march her out, one of you on each side.” Aviss pointed between him and Sam. “We’ll drive to the front of the bank in a big, black unmarked SUV. I’ll be waiting in the middle seat. Make sure I’m there, push Murphy in. Then you two get in, Sam first, then Trevor. That’s plan A.”
Trevor nodded, then repeated the plan back. “Don’t go in Murphy’s office. Try for an outside meeting, then a lobby meeting, tertiary is the conference room. Get her outside and into the vehicle.”
“Exactly. Now for contingency plans. If you’re met by armed individuals inside the bank, run.” She tapped the tablet. “There are back doors here and here. If weapons are drawn, our insider will fire, and we’ll enter. If you’re grabbed, scream, then fight or drop. Don’t go in that office.” Her eyes widened to emphasize her point. “Get out. If you can’t, get on the ground, because I’ll enter with a tactical team.”
“Got it.” Trevor wondered what they expected in Murphy’s office. “So you expect Bratva enforcers will be hiding in Murphy’s office?”
“Yes. And possibly someone higher in the Bratva. We want to get Murphy away and get her to turn. I don’t have justification for an armed invasion of the bank, but if you ‘help’ her out the door, then we’re just having a discussion.” Aviss smirked. “It’s skirting the law, but it’s a chance I’m willing to take with Murphy’s latest actions.” She pointed at Sam. “If you’re in the conference room and confronted by armed individuals, again, run.” She bent below the table, then handed them each a knife-like tool. “Put these on a key ring or something. It’s a combination seatbelt cutter and glass punch. Use the glass punch on the office window, then kick out the safety glass and run. If you’ve got Murphy, and enemies coming at you, drop her and run. Your lives are more important.”
“That’s reassuring.” Sam shivered. “But this whole thing seems riskier than I’d thought.”
“They’re contingency plans. Everything might go perfectly.” Aviss shrugged one shoulder. “If you get Murphy to the door and there’s gunfire, use another exit. If Murphy comes along, great, but she’s secondary to you two. Check for enemies outside before exiting. If there are enemies, get into the teller’s area and hide behind the vault door. If Murphy doesn’t follow you, we’ll retrieve her if we can. If she runs to them, it’s her funeral.” She pointed at Trevor, then Sam. “Just make sure it isn’t yours.”
“Copy that.” Trevor sighed. “The whole thing seems awfully risky for a maybe. Can’t I do it and leave Sam with you?”
“Hey!” Sam poked his bicep with a finger. “I can take care of myself.”
“The request is specifically for Sam. I’ve talked to Erin. We’ll get more out of Murphy with Sam at the helm because she underestimates women. We’re taking a big enough chance sending you with her, Trevor. But if we can get Murphy to turn, we’ll take down a vast organization, saving hundreds of lives from misery and drugs. You know this.” Aviss frowned at him.
“Yeah. Just wanted to check.” Trevor rubbed his eyes.
“I don’t like using civilians any more than you do, Mills.”
“I know.” He sighed. “Are you staying or leaving?”
“Staying.” Aviss grimaced. “We think you were undetected, but just in case. Besides, all three of us need some sleep. We’ve got to be on top of our game tomorrow.”
Geo joined Aviss, squeezing her shoulder. “I’ll rotate my team members in and out all night, then surround you on the drive. Standard urban shadow, Mills.”
“Copy that.” He turned to Sam. “That means their vehicles will speed past us, then let us pass, so we all trade around and avoid detection.”
“Okay.” She yawned. “On that note, I’m headed to bed.” She stood and scooped up their dishes.
Trevor took the dishes from her. “I got ‘em. You cooked, I clean.”
“Mills, you’re upstairs with Sam.” Geo pointed at the stairs. “Aviss and I have the master. My team will rotate through on the couch. Alarm system will be on silent notification, so disable it on your phone, or you’ll never get any sleep.”
Trevor nodded. “Got it.” He turned back to Sam. “Go get ready. I won’t bother to change.”
“Okay.” She trotted up the stairs.
He put the dishes in the sink and ran water. Aviss joined him. “You doing okay? It’s almost over.”
“Yeah. One way or another.” He flipped the water off. “Look, I’ve enjoyed working for you, but I’m moving back here. Consider this my resignation.” He scrubbed a plate.
