She was greeted by six return smiles, including Paul’s. Paul walked over to her and guided her to the others, introducing them one by one. Rachel shook hands with each of them.
Tony, the tallest of the group, came first. Rachel thought he was the funniest looking out of all of them, with a square face and a bald head. When he smiled, she noticed he was missing a couple of teeth in the back of his mouth.
She met Aaron second. Pulled back in a ponytail, his long hair was such a light blonde that at first she thought it was white. She had never seen a man with a ponytail before, but her mom had teased her dad about wearing a ponytail before Rachel was born. Aaron’s pale face matched his hair, and Rachel wondered if he had to wear a lot of sunscreen when he went outside. His thick glasses magnified his blue eyes, which made them look cartoonish. Rachel had to stop herself from giggling at the sight.
Eric was the third in line. His hair was shaved close to his head, so she could only see little bits of brown. His face matched his head, with dark stubble from ear to ear. He shook her hand, squeezing it so tight she thought it might crush her.
Joe was the last of the group, and Rachel liked him at first glance. She could tell he liked her, too, as he called her “kiddo” and tousled her hair. He told her a knock-knock joke that Rachel had heard many times from other kids at school. She knew he was trying to make friends with her, so she laughed along with him, even though she never found the joke funny.
After meeting the four men, Donovan told them they could leave. Rachel turned around to look at Donovan and he flashed another smile. “Rachel, this is Claudia,” he said as he gestured to the stout, Hispanic woman standing beside Paul.
Rachel waved a shy hello to her. “Nice to meet you, Claudia,” she said. She wanted Claudia to like her the most out of everyone since she would have to ask Claudia to buy things for her.
Claudia walked over to Rachel and knelt down in front of her so they were on the same level. “Nice to meet you, Rachel. I think we’ll be real good friends. If you need anything, let me know and I’ll go into the city to get it for you.”
“Can I go with you?” Rachel asked with excitement.
Claudia looked above Rachel’s head at Donovan. She looked back at Rachel, her face now somber. “I’m sorry, Rachel, but I have to go alone. The city is so far away that it takes a long time to get there. I also have other errands to run when I go to the city, and I’m gone most of the day. I don’t want to take you away from your studies.”
Rachel scrunched up her face. “It’s okay,” she said, even though she was disappointed. “I know school is important, too.”
Claudia rose to an upright position. “I have to go now, but if you need anything, come find me. I am usually on this floor cleaning.”
Rachel didn’t want Claudia to go yet. She lunged forward and hugged her waist as tight as she could. Claudia’s warm arms surrounded her for a moment before she let go.
After Claudia left the room, Donovan looked down at Rachel. “I still have quite a bit of work to get done today so I need to go as well, but I will see you soon.”
“Thank you, sir...I mean, Donovan.”
“You’re welcome.” He turned and climbed back up the steps.
Paul put his hand on her shoulder. “So what do you think?”
“I think I’m going to like it here, but I still want to see the backyard.”
Paul laughed. “Okay, okay. Let’s go outside.”
Chapter Thirty-eight
Careful with her footing, Rachel stepped across the slate roof until she stood a few inches from the edge. The warm rays of the mid-morning sun streamed over the forest that started at the estate’s fence.
Though she had lived on the estate for eight years now, the view still invigorated her. Endless miles of trees came together in the finest of nature’s many symphonies, composed for only those who listened. She filled her lungs with fresh, clean air and smiled, grateful to have the opportunity to grow up on such beautiful land.
The only thing that had changed on the estate in the last eight years was her. As a ten-year old child, Rachel was an unexpected addition to the estate, which brought about challenges of its own.
The scenic views were just one of the things that differed from her life before her parents died. Rachel’s upbringing had been unlike any other. Every morning, she worked with the schoolbooks her uncle brought her. She studied English, history, math, and science like any other child attending school. Paul assigned her homework each night and gave her exams on the material to ensure she learned on the same level as other kids her age.
Most afternoons, she patrolled the grounds with Paul until darkness claimed the land. She loved being able to enjoy the sunset through the tops of the trees each night, almost as much as she enjoyed her long discussions with Paul about all sorts of things. After rounds each day, she went with Paul to the gym, where he taught her how to fight and how to defend herself against an attack.
When she turned thirteen, Paul succumbed to her requests to teach her how to play poker and she became a regular at the poker games with the others on the estate. At a time when girls her age were discovering boys and makeup, Rachel discovered another lifestyle, a criminal one. Paul’s schoolbooks were accompanied by Joe’s lessons on bypassing security systems. Eric taught her how to open a safe without the combination and how to pick even the most complex lock.
Tony and Aaron were the only ones who didn’t play a role in her education. Aaron was a walking encyclopedia of drug information, and he often worked offsite. He could identify any illegal substance, and knew all the sciences behind manufacturing drugs, including taking an existing drug and breaking down the chemical compounds. Rachel had no need for that knowledge.
She fought Paul to learn about explosives from Tony, but he remained steadfast against the idea. She gave up when Donovan told her it was out of the question; explosives were too dangerous.
To placate her, Paul allowed her to start going on rounds alone and she received her first gun, a present from Donovan. Every morning before the rest of the world stirred from bed, Donovan took her shooting in the back of the estate’s grounds, and she soon hit the middle of the target with every shot.
When she turned sixteen, Paul declared her education complete and she no longer studied schoolbooks. Instead of getting a driver’s license and being giddy with friends about first loves and homecoming dances, Rachel committed her first burglary. It was a rite of passage, a final exam of sorts, and one she easily passed.
She hid the guilt she felt from the others and silenced her nagging conscience by telling herself it was like the cops and robbers games she played as a child. Some people chose the law, and others chose to rob. She happened to be a robber. Standing on the roof now, she was fully immersed in that role.
Rachel spun around at a noise behind her. She smiled at Donovan standing against the mountainous background. His casual dress of jeans, a black t-shirt, and hiking boots surprised her. He rarely walked around the estate in less than suit and tie, and only dressed down for a job.
“Are you trying to kill yourself?” he asked, as he crossed over to her.
She laughed. “No, I’m not trying to kill myself. What are you doing up here?”
“I was in the middle of a telephone conference and Tony barged in to tell me you’re on the roof. Naturally, I changed clothes and climbed up here to see for myself.” An amused expression softened his face. “But maybe I should ask what you’re doing up here.”
“I was checking something out for the Halsey job.”
“Halsey is already taken care of,” he said.
“Your plan is way too complicated.”
“We don’t have many choices, Rach. Those damn dogs are causing a lot of problems.”
“You don’t have to worry about the dogs. If you take them out of the equation then it’s real simple.”
Donovan paused, as if mulling over her words. “Tell me.”
“You guys are so conc
erned about entering from the ground level. If you enter from the third floor, the dogs aren’t a problem.”
“That would be great, but we can’t get to the third floor unless we go in the backyard and use a ladder to get up to the balcony. Besides it being too much equipment to bring, the dogs are in the back.”
“But there’s no need to ever touch the ground in the backyard. On the west side of the house, there are two large oaks next to each other and they straddle the fence. From the pictures, the branches where the trees intersect are more than strong enough to hold one man at a time. It’s you, Aaron, and Eric going in, right?”
“Yes,” he said.
“Can you eliminate Aaron?”
“Possibly.”
“If it’s you and Eric, you’ll have enough time to climb the first tree, get over the fence, and then cross the branches to the second tree. Next to second tree is a small flare on the edge of the roof.”
“So we use that to get onto the roof.”
She smiled. “Exactly. The roof has slopes similar to this one,” she said, pointing to the roof under her feet. “I’ve been able to get from one side to the other several times on this roof without any trouble. Once you get on the roof, scale the slopes to the other side of the house. On the east side, there’s a third story balcony you can jump down to. The doors on that balcony have flimsy locks. Since the security system hasn’t been set up yet, you won’t have any problems getting in.”
“And we’ve avoided the dogs. It’s brilliant, except I feel a little old for tree climbing.”
Rachel regarded him skeptically. Age did not control Donovan King. Strong and agile, a tree wouldn’t have the slightest advantage over him. Her eyes raked over his body. A light breeze blew against his t-shirt and she could discern the definition of almost every muscle.
Not for the first time, she wondered what it would be like to have the warmth of his body against hers, how his touch would feel on her bare skin, and how his kiss would taste. She cut the thoughts from her mind before he could read them. “You’re not too old to climb a tree. How long did it take you to get up here?”
“A few minutes once I figured out how you managed to do it. Although you could have done me a favor and used a ladder.” He chuckled. “Okay, I see your point. Looks like I’ve got some tree climbing to do. Not that I don’t appreciate your help with Halsey, but I thought you would have been more concerned with your own job.”
Rachel took a deep breath. She was trying to focus on everything but her job. Working to solve the problems with the Halsey job helped distract her overactive mind. She did not want Donovan to see her appear weak regarding her own job. Instead of responding to his statement, Rachel asked, “Why are we always doing favors for Wilkes?”
“I think you know the answer to that, Rachel.”
Yes, she knew the answer. Graham Wilkes was a powerful force whose criminal influence far surpassed Donovan’s. Beneath his legitimate chain of Bella Hotels and Resorts laid a complex network of drug running. The largest drug outfit in the nation, it was so well buried it was hard for anyone to keep up with his movements. Because of Aaron’s vast knowledge about drugs, Donovan lent him out to Wilkes on a regular basis.
Donovan often commented that despite their lifelong friendship, he and Wilkes had traveled different roads in life. Wilkes played in the drug arena. Donovan preferred art and jewelry; more specifically, the extraction and illegal sale of it. But no matter what paths the two had taken, Rachel had a feeling that even if Donovan had not grown up with Wilkes, they would still be trading favors with him, if not working for him outright.
“Besides,” Donovan continued. “Graham has always been there whenever I’ve needed him. He’s never hesitated, and we don’t either.”
“You’re right. I know he’s done a lot for you in the past, and if you were in his shoes, he would help you out with this.”
Donovan tilted his head. “Are you having second thoughts about the job?”
She hesitated for a moment too long. He moved closer to her and laid his hand on her shoulder. She almost jumped at his touch, and wanted him to walk away before she did something stupid.
His presence overwhelmed her and stole every thought from her mind. The slight afternoon breeze shifted direction and forced the combination of cologne, soap, and skin into her nostrils. The familiar scent squeezed her heart until she thought it would rupture. The sun adhered her clothes to her skin, along with the heat that crept over her flesh.
Donovan seemed unaware of the trembling in her body. “I have confidence you can do this, Rachel. This is important, not only to Graham, but also to me.”
She agreed. Wilkes’s oldest daughter, Jill, had been drugged and raped. A jewelry box was missing from her condo. Of course the job was important.
“You don’t know how much I wish I could keep you out of this one,” Donovan said.
“But you know that with a guy like Jeff Cox, the best way to lure him to the hotel room is with a woman,” Rachel finished for him. “I also think he’d be more willing to give up the location of the jewelry to a woman.”
“After what he’s done, I need you to be careful. I couldn’t stand it if anything happened to you.”
“Nothing is going to happen,” Rachel said, not for the first time.
“Have you seen Graham’s daughter?”
Rachel had only seen Jill Wilkes once, two years earlier when she came to the estate with her father. Aaron, Joe, and Eric still talked about her on occasion. Blonde hair that cascaded down her back like a waterfall. Perfect almond-shaped blue eyes that hypnotized any man who dared to gaze into them. Creamy skin which blemishes shied away from.
Then there were the things they latched onto and candidly spoke about, even in front of Rachel. Though Aaron and Joe both shared their lustful thoughts about Jill, Eric was far worse than the rest, commenting on things he would like to do to her, things Rachel wished she had not heard.
Rachel was sure Donovan had those same thoughts about Jill, since no one else at the estate could seem to forget her. She wondered for a moment if Donovan had ever dated Jill, or if he wanted to. Standing side by side the day Jill came to the estate, Donovan and Jill looked like they were made for each other. Suffering from a lingering case of jealousy, Rachel wished she had never met her.
“Compared to Jill,” Donovan continued, “I think you’d be a little more enticing to Cox.”
Startled by his statement, Rachel looked up at him and waited for the punch line. But Donovan rarely joked and his expression confirmed his seriousness. She stopped herself from laughing at his misguided perceptions of her. “I don’t think you have anything to worry about.”
“I hope you’re right,” Donovan said. “Paul is still incensed I’m sending you.”
“Paul will get over it.”
“Probably. I heard the dresses came yesterday. I’m sorry I wasn’t here to help you with that. Did you get one picked out?”
“It took some time, but we found one.” The dress was considered the most important part of the job, as it would help Rachel grab Cox’s attention amongst an influx of women all vying for him to return to their hotel rooms with them.
Since Donovan was absent from the estate when the dresses arrived, Paul decided Joe would provide the male opinion for selecting the right one. Paul was too biased, Aaron too meek, Tony too unwilling, and Eric too eager.
For over an hour, Rachel tried on dress after dress, and modeled them for Joe until they found one they both liked.
“Are you sure the dress will work?” he asked.
“The dress is perfect,” she said. “The plan is perfect. The job will get done perfectly.”
“I’m sorry,” Donovan said. “I should know better than to doubt you. I still have my concerns, but I’ll keep it to myself for now. I’m flying down to Los Angeles this afternoon for a meeting, but I’ll be back late tomorrow afternoon, before you leave for the job.” He moved to the edge of the roof and peered over t
he side. “By the way, did you have a plan for getting down?”
She walked up beside him. “Of course I have a plan,” she said. “What in the world would you do without me?”
He looked at her and grinned. “I probably wouldn’t be standing on my roof right now.”
Chapter Thirty-nine
Donovan’s smile fixed itself in her mind and followed her throughout the day. She dazed her way through her rounds and into the poker game that night.
Each of those who lived at the estate headed up their own security teams, made up of men from Donovan’s security company, while Paul was in charge of the entire operation. The rotations allowed for them to have one day off every two weeks.
To help relieve the team from the strenuous work schedules, Paul brought in an off-site team once a month so they could have a night off together. On that night, the residents gathered in the game room for intense, alcohol-infused competition. Though the chips they played for were only assigned low dollar amounts, every hand was layered with pride, as if thousands of dollars were at stake.
“How many, Rach?” Tony asked.
Rachel studied the five cards in her hand, and her mind calculated the possibilities. It could go either way. Two aces, two sevens and a lonely queen begged to become a full house, a great hand in a game of five card draw with no wilds. If she forfeited the queen, though, she risked getting stuck with nothing more than a two-pair, most likely a losing hand given the high bidding. Then again, the queen, one ace and one three were all clubs, and a flush could also take the pot, now standing at fifty-three dollars in chips.
“Come on, Rach,” Joe said. “The fate of the world doesn’t rest on this hand.”
“Yeah, but the fate of that pot does,” she said, She placed the queen facedown on the table. “Give me one, Tony.” She took a large swallow of her beer. She lifted the new card off the table, and did her best to not let her disappointment show. She had traded the queen for a five. With only a two-pair, she would have to fold.