EMMA

The more we planned, the more I realized how foolish and impulsive I had been. Walking in without a solid plan, not knowing what to expect, was reckless. I knew I was lucky to have made it out alive.

Whenever I pulled an insanely brazen move during a con or heist, Eric used to say I was like a cat with nine lives. Now, I couldn't help but wonder how many of those lives I had left. Probably not many.

Declan's murder and Eric's close call to getting arrested had impacted me more than I wanted to admit. Maybe I should have listened to Eric and taken some time away from New York to clear my head, instead of risking ending up in prison or worse.

But this time, I was feeling optimistic. We had planned everything to the T, and Eric had already hacked into the system using a phishing email that mimicked their IT department's communications perfectly.

And I was confident we would find something in Vitale's office, either in his safe or on his computer, which Eric would hack while I cracked the safe.

With everything in place, we were ready to meet the real estate agent again, pretending to be a wealthy couple searching for their dream home.

Vitale was still overseas on his business trip, but he was scheduled to return to the States in just two days. We were fortunate that Mr. Davis was able to fit us into his schedule before Vitale's return.

And now, Eric and I walked together toward the conference room where Mr. Davis was waiting for us. Eric looked sharp in a designer suit, and I was dressed in an expensive jumpsuit. Both in disguise, Eric wore a black wig and big glasses, while I wore Clara's long, blonde wig again. Eric also carried a sleek briefcase with everything we needed for our plan.

As we approached the conference room, Eric and I exchanged a knowing glance before walking in. Mr. Davis greeted us with a huge smile and gave me a small hug. "Clara! It's great to see you again," he said, then shook Eric's hand. "And Mr. Carrington, I'm glad you could join us."

Eric, looking unimpressed, flashed him a quick smile before checking his watch. "Yes, but I'm short on time. Shall we get started?"

Mr. Davis looked like someone had popped his balloon for a moment, but he quickly collected himself and smiled. "Of course, of course." He pulled out a chair for me, and we all sat down around the table.

"I've picked out some of our best properties for you to look at today," Mr. Davis said as he started the slideshow. We pretended to be interested as he showed us luxurious homes, each more extravagant than the last.

Pointing to a photo of a penthouse with a stunning view, Mr. Davis said, "This penthouse has amazing views of Central Park and a rooftop infinity pool. It's the epitome of luxury living."

Eric looked unamused. "It's nice. But does it come with a wine cellar and a private bowling alley? We need something that stands out. Something...unique."

I had to hold back a laugh as I watched Mr. Davis turn pale for what seemed like the hundredth time today.

Mr. Davis cleared his throat. "Ah, well, we can certainly discuss customizations. Many of our properties can be tailored to meet your exact specifications."

Eric and I shared a sly smile. And as Davis continued with his slideshow, pointing out a luxurious estate, I interrupted him again. "Oh, does this one come with a helipad? We can't be expected to deal with city traffic, you know."

Davis' eyes lit up. "Yes, it does. And it also includes a private cinema and a heated driveway for those chilly winter months."

I looked at Eric, who nodded approvingly, playing his part with a straight face. "Perfect. But before we proceed, I need to, uh, excuse myself for a moment. Nature calls, and when it does, it's like a relentless creditor. You understand."

Davis' grin became slightly strained. "Of course, sir. The restroom is just down the hall to your left."

Eric nodded and made his way out of the room. His true plan was to manipulate the security cameras in the nearby conference room.

I continued to engage Davis in conversation, distracting him with more outlandish requests. "And what about a panic room? It should be more like a panic suite, really. You never know when you'll need to host a last-minute dinner party during an apocalypse. I mean, Mark Zuckerberg must have one of these in his new underground home, right?"

Davis, who was struggling to keep up with my whims, nodded along. "We—We can definitely explore those options. I mean, it's all about creating the perfect living environment for you."

I grinned and continued to torment him for a few more minutes until Eric finally walked back into the room, his expression casual but his eyes glinting, signaling his success.

I decided it was time to end our little act. "Thank you for your time, Mr. Davis. We still have a lot to think about. We'll be in touch soon to discuss the next steps."

Mr. Davis appeared relieved and offered a polite smile as he stood up to shake our hands. "I look forward to it," he said. "Feel free to contact me if you have any further requests or questions."

With that, Eric and I exited the room and quietly slipped into the adjacent one, where Eric had already manipulated the cameras to create the illusion that it was empty.

Wasting no time, Eric quickly pulled out two coveralls from his briefcase, similar to the ones worn by the cleaning staff. This disguise would help us blend in and avoid drawing any unwanted attention.

We put on the coveralls over our clothes, and Eric stood prepared, holding his phone.

"Ready?" he asked, eyes sharp, but with a flicker of doubt I almost missed.

I nodded, saying nothing.

Eric then began tapping on his phone, initiating the sequence that would send the security team scrambling. Different alarms blared from the lower floors, indicating a possible break-in. Then we heard the rush of footsteps as the guards moved to investigate, including those on Vitale's floor, as Eric confirmed by watching the footage on his phone.

"Let's go. We don't have much time," he said.

We put on latex gloves and quietly left the room. Everyone was preoccupied with the commotion on the lower floors, so no one paid us any attention.

We made our way to the staff elevator with no issues, and this time, Eric was able to bypass the code, so we didn't need to steal any cards.

As we stepped into the elevator, I couldn't help but glance at the camera and then at Eric. "Are you sure we're in the clear?"

Eric nodded, eyes still on his phone as the elevator went up. "Positive. I've looped the camera feeds in the places we'll be. They'll only see what I want them to see."

As the elevator doors opened on Vitale's floor, Eric quickly double-checked on his phone that it was empty before we hurried to the office.

Even though Eric was confident he could bypass the electronic lock without setting off any alarms, I insisted we use the Gremlin again for good luck. It had saved me before, after all, and it worked like a charm once again.

We slipped into the office, locking the door behind us. The guards were probably on edge after the false alarms, and if any of them decided to check if everything was clear on this floor, the door had to be perfectly secure.

Watching on Eric's phone, we saw the guards return and start checking each part of the floor as we had expected. When they reached the office, Eric and I held our breath.

One guard tested the door. Finding it locked, he nodded to his colleagues, and they moved on.

We sighed in relief and quickly got to work.

Eric settled into Vitale's chair, his fingers dancing across the keyboard as he began hacking into Vitale's personal computer.

I walked over to the large painting on the wall, took it down, and studied the massive titanium safe hidden behind it. I examined its surface with a practiced eye, calculating my next move.

"How's it looking? This thing's got to be a beast," Eric said, not looking up from the computer.

My fingers traced the safe's keypad and dial, identical to the ones I had been practicing on for the past few days. I smiled, feeling a familiar rush. "Nothing I can't handle."

I heard Eric chuckle as he continued to type furiously on the keyboard. Taking a deep breath, I kneeled in front of the safe, then pulled out all the tools I needed to crack it from the briefcase and laid them out beside me.

Looking around the office, I thanked heavens that Vitale's office didn't have any cameras and was sealed tight with a soundproof system. It made sense that a man like him wouldn't want anyone eavesdropping on his shady business and whatever else he did in there. Yet, it made me shudder to think about how many people might have met their end in this very room without a soul hearing their cries.

First, I placed a sensitive electronic stethoscope against the safe's surface and listened for the faintest clicks and ticks.

I adjusted the stethoscope's earpieces and honed in on the faintest of sounds as I worked on the dial. Every turn was deliberate, my movements smooth and controlled. I was in my element, my mind tuned to the subtle symphony of the lock's inner workings.

Focus... Listen for the clicks.

Gently, I turned the dial, my ear pressed to the safe. After a few moments, I heard the first faint click. I smiled, feeling the first tumbler fall into place.

"Gotcha!"

"You make it look easy," I heard Eric say.

Still focused on the safe, I grinned. "Years of practice. Just have to find the rhythm."

As I continued working, my hands skillfully turned the dial, listening for each subtle click. The room seemed to close in on me as I focused, blocking out the sounds of the outside world. Each click felt like a small victory.

After a few more moments, I felt the final tumbler drop into place. I let out a slow breath, feeling my heart race with excitement.

"We're in," I said in almost a whisper, but I knew Eric had heard me as he left his spot behind Vitale's desk to stand behind me.

Carefully, I entered the deciphered combination, and with a quiet whir, the safe's lock disengaged. The heavy door swung open, revealing its contents.

Eric and I almost gasped at what we found inside. There was a trove of incriminating evidence—shady contracts, offshore account statements, and surveillance photos of people who were likely no longer alive. There were also small antiquities that I knew were illegally obtained and several velvet pouches that, when opened, revealed glittering diamonds.

I never expected this. Vitale must have truly believed he was untouchable, leaving all of this right here. Maybe he thought by keeping such evidence close, he could easily access it for leverage or destruction when needed.

I silently thanked Vitale's arrogance. This evidence could be enough for the FBI to issue an arrest warrant and build a strong case against him.

"We've hit the jackpot," Eric said.

"You can say that again," I replied. "We need to make copies of everything."

I reached for the documents and USB drives and began handing them to Eric, one by one. He had already set up his advanced portable scanner and began making digital copies of everything.

"How long will this take?" I asked as Eric scanned through the pile of papers.

Eric didn't look up, but he replied, "Shouldn't take too long. This scanner is pretty fast." He glanced up briefly as I handed him more batches of papers. "What about those diamonds? A couple wouldn't hurt, don't you think?"

I shook my head. "We agreed not to take anything that could be traced back to us. It's just not worth the risk."

Eric nodded and kept working. "Okay, got the important stuff."

He quickly transferred the files to an encrypted USB drive and then rushed back to Vitale's computer. While he finished backing up evidence from the computer, I worked on restoring everything in the safe to its original state, leaving no trace of our presence. Once everything was back in place, I joined Eric by the computer, checking my watch nervously.

"We're running out of time. The guards will change shifts soon. We need to be ready."

Eric nodded calmly as if we were just working from home and not in the middle of a risky heist that could end with us riddled with bullet holes.

"Got it!" he said, holding up another encrypted USB drive. "We've got enough evidence to take him down now."

I helped him put the desk and computer back in order, and then we waited by the door for the guards to leave. But things didn't go as planned. The guards didn't leave, and we watched in horror as the next shift arrived before the first had left.

"Shit," Eric muttered, his eyes darting to the door. "The alarms must have made them on high alert. We need a Plan B."

I scanned the office, biting my lip in thought. "Vitale's always ahead of the game. There has to be a way out—he wouldn't get caught without an escape plan. We need to think like him. Maybe a hidden door or passageway."

Eric nodded, and we started searching the office.

I examined the dark wood paneling on the walls for any signs of irregularity, while Eric checked around the desk and bookshelves.

"Think, Emma. Where would a paranoid crime lord hide an escape route?" I muttered, biting my lip until I tasted blood.

My focus shifted to a door leading to the adjacent private bathroom. I peeked inside. The bathroom was just as luxurious as the office, with marble floors, a gilded mirror, and high-end fixtures.

"I'm going to check the bathroom. Keep an eye on the guards."

Eric nodded, staying close to the office entrance and monitoring the guards outside on his phone.

Inside the bathroom, I began inspecting the paneling. The rich, dark wood contrasted with the pristine marble. I ran my hands over the panels, looking for anything that felt out of place.

Come on, Vitale. There has to be something.

My fingers caught on a slight indentation in the paneling near the corner of the room, almost invisible against the smooth surface. I pressed it gently, and a small panel popped open with a soft click, revealing a hidden button.

Excitement surged through me. "Bingo."

I pressed the button, and a section of the wall slid open with a faint hum, unveiling a narrow, dimly lit passageway stretching into darkness.

Peeking through the opening, I called out to Eric, "Found it! Over here."

Eric rushed over, his eyes widening at the sight of the hidden door. "Wow. I can't believe this actually worked."

I grinned. "Never underestimate a paranoid criminal."

Eric returned the grin. "Let's get out of here."

We stepped into the passageway, and Eric carefully closed the panel behind us, ensuring it locked back into place, leaving no evidence of our escape route.

The passageway was tight, walls pressing in on us. I hoped it led to safety and not a dead end.

"Vitale must have had this passageway built to avoid getting caught."

Eric nodded. "Let's hope it leads us out."

We navigated the maze-like tunnels, picking up our pace until we reached an exit door. Eric pushed it open slightly, scanned the area, and motioned for me to follow.

We found ourselves in a discreet service corridor. An unused trash cart was conveniently there. We grabbed it and placed the briefcase inside.

Eric then pulled up the building layout on his phone, locating the nearest exit. "There's a service elevator down the hall. It leads to the basement and the loading dock. We can get out from there."

We made our way toward the door, with Eric holding the trash cart and me adjusting my uniform and cap. As we stepped into the hallway, the guards barely glanced at us, assuming we were just doing our job.

With our heads down, we continued toward the service elevator. Eric kept a firm grip on the trash cart, ensuring it didn't make any noise. I walked slightly ahead, scanning the corridor for any signs of trouble.

As we approached the elevator, Eric murmured, "So far, so good."

I pressed the button for the elevator, and with a soft ding, it arrived. We stepped inside, grateful for the moment of solitude it provided.

I exhaled, my heart pounding in my chest. "Almost out. Just a bit further."

The elevator descended smoothly to the basement level, where we exited into another service corridor.

Following the signs to the loading dock, we finally reached a plain door leading to an alley. Eric quickly disabled the alarm with his phone, and we slipped outside unnoticed.

Breathing a sigh of relief, I looked around the alley. "We made it."

Grabbing the briefcase, we ditched the trash cart and hurried to the parking lot.

We got in and drove away quickly, the tension easing as Vitale's building faded in the rearview mirror.

Once we were far enough from the building, Eric parked the car discreetly. He grabbed his laptop from the backseat and began transferring the files.

Leaning over to look at the screen while he worked, I asked, "Do you think it's enough?"

"If this doesn't convince them, nothing will."

He uploaded the files to a secure cloud storage and drafted an anonymous email to the FBI, explaining the contents and urgency. He also included Vitale's plane ticket to let them know they needed to act fast.

We also made sure the email was directed specifically to Jake and his boss from the White-Collar division, ensuring it reached the right hands and not someone who might be on Vitale's payroll.

After hitting send, Eric leaned back with a sigh. "It's done. Now we wait and hope they move quickly."

I let out a sigh, too, hoping for the best.

Now it's your move, Jake.