Page 83 of The Shadow Friends

“Why not? Jo’s a good egg. We can trust her.”

“She’s also too straight an arrow. She won’t approve of our plans.” Ben looked around the table. “I assume we all agree what needs to be done?”

“It is self-defense, after all,” said Declan. “And no one has to know about it.”

They waited for Lloyd’s response. Surely he knew what they were talking about, and he understood the consequences if they were caught. He took a deep breath and sat up straight. “You’re right. No one has to know.” He looked at Declan. “I take it you’ll need our cell phones?”

“And your chargers.”

Lloyd handed over his phone, which was still powered off.

Ingrid slid her phone to Declan as well. “We’ll take shifts,” she said.

“No,” said Ben. “You and Lloyd have to stay out of the action. Let us handle this.” He looked at Maggie and Declan, who both nodded.

“We start tomorrow night?” said Declan.

For the first time all evening, Ben smiled. “It will be just like the good old days.”

Chapter 31

Early Sunday morning

Surveillance had never been so civilized.

While Ben had chosen to station himself in his parked van across the street, Maggie and Declan enjoyed all the indoor conveniences of the Slocums’ home: a bathroom, a sofa to nap on, and a ready supply of coffee and sandwiches to fuel them through the night. They consumed those in the dark, with the study’s blackout curtains closed to avoid being seen from the street, but all in all, this was a comfortable assignment.

And an unexciting one, at least for the moment. When an operation went wrong, it usually went wrong in the blink of an eye, which was why she kept her Walther within reach as she sat in front of Lloyd’s home computer, monitoring the different video feeds. The Slocums had installed an excellent security system, with cameras mounted on every corner of the house, as well as the front porch and on the back deck. Now it was just a matter of waiting for an intruder to show up, lured into the trap by Ingrid’s and Lloyd’s cell phones, which were charging in the kitchen. Both phones were switched on, their cell signals announcing to the world that the Slocums were now at home. That the target was stationary and ripe for the picking.

She heard Ben’s query over her headset: “See any movement?”

“Nothing on camera. How about from where you’re sitting?”

“Quiet as the grave. This street rolls up the sidewalks at nine. It’s got too many old folks living here.”

“That would be us, Ben.”

“Yet here we are, wide awake and ready to rumble at three a.m. Not bad for geezers, hey?”

“You’re enjoying this way too much.”

“I didn’t realize how much I’ve missed it. I never minded pulling all-nighters. It beats falling asleep and drooling all over myself in front of the TV.”

“Ouch. That is not the Ben Diamond I know.”

“Not yet, anyway. Is Declan still asleep?”

“I’m about to wake him. It’s time for us to switch.”

“Nighty night then, Mags. See you in the morning, unless . . .” There was a pause.

“Ben?”

“A car just turned onto the street. Moving slowly.”

She looked at the video feed. The vehicle had not yet come into view, but the street-facing camera suddenly brightened, lit by approaching headlights. And there it was, rolling slowly into the frame. A dark compact sedan. It crept past Ben’s parked van and continued on, passing out of camera range.

“It’s pulling over,” Ben said, his voice suddenly tense. “Parking at the end of the block. Get Declan up. I think this could be our boy.”