How to Rob a Billionaire

Chapter 4 - A Sneaky Mouse

I shook my head.

"If you are late, you can forget about any sort of freedom for the next year."

With that, I turned on my heel and left the enigma behind me.

The kitchen was a sleek blend of black granite and dark wood. Between the breakfast bar and the dining room, a serene open space was occupied by a vibrant orange tree, its bright green leaves catching the sunlight streaming in from a skylight above.

Sitting at the breakfast bar was Secretary Coy, his eyes never leaving his tablet.

"Alistair is back from his trip to Paris," he said.

"When?"

"Thirty minutes ago."

"Is there a reason the information is thirty minutes late?"

"Apologies," he looked up for the first time, adjusting his glasses. "Our spy seems to be missing a head."

I pulled a copper skillet from one of the push latch cupboards and sautéed some butter and garlic. With a nice sizzle, I added shrimp, tossing them until they turned pink.

"Send another," I said flatly.

"I'll have someone prepared by the end of the day."

Taking the skillet off the burner, I added seasoning.

"Do we know where Alistair plans to spend his night? I must thank him for that deal we lost with Mont Charles."

Secretary Coy angled his tablet, flipping through an album of surveillance photos.

"He spent every night with a different woman during his trip. Although being back home, I reckon we will find him tending to one of his businesses. The trick is pinning down which one."

Water boiled as the pasta cooked. I stared at the steam as though the answer lay within.

This was a rather tricky dilemma.

Alistair Chase's syndicate was known as The Four Suits. As the name suggested, he had his hands on four businesses. Half of which I would rather not get involved with.

"So, which is it?" I asked. "Clubs, spades, diamonds, or hearts?"

Secretary Coy tapped a finger on the side of his tablet, his lips pouted in thought.

"Clubs, I would bet," he concluded. "Though it's hard to be sure."

"You know I hate betting."

"I would wager my vacation days on it."

A smile nearly won me over. If he's betting his days off it must be all but guaranteed. I finished up with the pasta and tossed it together with the shrimp.

"That's perfect then," I said. "Perhaps we can make use of Alister's love of women. We'll get Miss Corday cleaned up and send her in as tonight's bait."

"There is a problem with that, Sir."

"What?"

Secretary Coy fiddled with his hands.

"Alister has a love of beautiful women."

I paused.

"She isn't... ugly."

"I didn't say she was, Sir."

I finished cooking and cleaned up the kitchen.

"I'm sure with professional help, she will do just fine."

"In a sea of already beautiful women — all with professional help to top it off, would she really stand out?"

I stared at the food.