Three Fates

assistant.
    She had the clock reset, the computer shut down, the mic Tia had put under the chair in her bag and the drapes open again when she heard Jack coming up the stairs.
    “We’re set here.”
    “Check again,” he ordered.
    “Yes, Mr. Anal-Retentive Sir. Drapes, computer, lamp, flashlight, mic and articles suitable for framing,” she added, waving the file in her hand.
    She relocked the office door before strolling over to lay the file on Anita’s assistant’s desk. “Being an efficient soul, the girl will likely have this sent off first thing in the morning. I should tell you she’d already added a couple of things to the claim. Some sort of plate that’s apparently worth some twenty-eight thousand American dollars.”
    “Added to this . . .” Jack tapped the bag on his shoulder. “That takes her claim over two million. She’ll sure have a lot of explaining to do. Security’s reset. We’ll bring it back on-line when we’re clear.”
    “Then our work here is done. Let’s go.”
    “There’s one more thing.” He dug in his pocket, took out the ring box. When he flipped open the top, Rebecca leaned in to study it in the beam of her flashlight.
    “That’s a lovely sparkler. Did you steal that from here?”
    “No. I brought it in with me. Want it?”
    She looked back up at him, cocked her head. “You’re asking me to marry you here, in a building we’ve burglarized?”
    “I’ve already asked you to marry me,” he reminded her. “I’m giving you the ring here, in a building we’ve technically burglarized. It belonged to my great-great-grandmother. She was wearing it when your great-great-grandfather saved her life.”
    “That’s lovely. That’s all-around lovely, Jack. I’ll take it.” She tugged off her glove, held out her hand. “And you.”
    He slid it onto her finger, dipped his head for a kiss to seal the bargain.
    “That’s a very sweet moment,” Malachi said through the headpieces. “Congratulations and best wishes to you both. Now would you mind getting your asses out of there?”
    “Oh, stuff it, Mal.” Rebecca leaned up for one more kiss. “We’re on our way.”
    When they got back to the van, Cleo slid the partition open so she and Rebecca could change places. “Let’s see the bauble,” Cleo demanded. Impatient, she tugged off Rebecca’s glove. “Whoa. Some rock.”
    “Save the girl stuff for later.” Jack strapped into his seat. “Bring the system on-line.”
    “Now that we’re engaged, he’s full of orders.” Rebecca stepped through and took over the controls from Tia. “Booting it up.”
    As she worked, Malachi bent over her, pressed his lips to the top of her head and made her smile. “I’m going to get all gooey and sentimental in just a bit.”
    “Me, too.”
    “It’s a beautiful ring.” Unable to resist, Tia leaned down to get a closer look. The diamond flashed as Rebecca’s fingers raced over the keyboard. “I’m so happy for you.”
    “We’ll have a party tonight, won’t we? For all sorts of reasons. Primary’s up, backup booting,” she announced. “And there we are. All neat and tidy.” She leaned back, took the bottle of water Malachi offered. “We’ve done it.”
    “Time for Act Two.” Cleo propped her feet on the dash. “We got time to grab a pizza?”
     
     
    GIDEON SAT IN Kennedy Airport, reading a paperback copy of Bradbury’s Something Wicked. He’d settled into a gate area where he could easily observe the first-class lounge.
    The flight to Athens was on time and had already started to board. He was beginning to feel a bit twitchy, yearned for a cigarette.
    He shifted in his seat, turned a page without reading as Anita strolled out of the lounge. He let her get another gate down before he rose and wandered after her.
    Like dozens of other travelers, he pulled out a cell phone. “She’s queuing up to board,” he said quietly. “Flight’s on schedule.”
    “Let us know when it, and she, are in the air. Oh, by the way, Becca and Jack got engaged.”
    “Did they?” Though he kept his attention on the back of Anita’s head, Gideon grinned at his brother’s news. “Official and all?”
    “She’s wearing a ring with a diamond fit to blind you. We’re heading toward the second target now. If all goes well, we’ll meet you back at base on schedule. You can see it for yourself.”
    “Good thing I’ve got me sunglasses. She’s just going down the jetway. Thirty minutes to takeoff. I’m sitting