evergreens, next to the plain gray minivan that would blend anywhere. The van had compartments built into the floorboards. Intended for soccer balls and juice boxes, the concealed storage was excellent for hiding weapons.
They changed vehicles with a minimum of fuss. They all knew the drill. Dennis, Lincoln, and Carl had all done time and didn’t want to repeat the experience. Dennis was still on parole. Win had spent his teenage years as a guest of the state and had been set loose upon the world when he’d reached adulthood. They’d all worn gloves from the time they’d stolen the Buick until now. None of their fingerprints had ever graced its interior.
They assumed their positions in the minivan. Carl glanced into the back. Next to Win, the girl shivered. The chattering of her teeth was the only sound she’d made. No complaining. Still, once they were safe, the girl would have to go. In fact, when Carl did make his getaway, he sure as hell wasn’t taking Dennis’s crazy-ass nephew with him, which meant that Dennis would have to be left behind. Lincoln was more stable, but his company wasn’t necessary either. Carl would have better luck on his own. Besides, the authorities would be looking for four men. Might be easier to disappear if they split up.
“If we drive all night, we can be in New York State by morning.” Dennis took the ramp onto the interstate. He turned on the stereo and found a local news station. “We’ll lie low for a couple of weeks. It’ll be all right.”
Carl scrubbed a hand down his face. “We took out the cameras and didn’t leave prints.”
No one spoke for the next quarter of an hour. Carl listened to the news with one ear and fished a roll of antacids from the glove compartment.
“Using mug shots, a customer in the parking lot of the store identified two of the armed men who robbed River Liquors, murdered the night manager, and took the female clerk hostage as Carl Snyder and Winner Young.” Carl’s ulcer burned as the reporter supplied the listening public with accurate descriptions of both men. Obviously, one of those cars in the parking lot hadn’t been empty.
Carl and Dennis exchanged looks. Yeah. Now they were really screwed. Where could they hide? There was an eyewitness to their armed robbery and murder.
“Now what?” Carl asked. “Our mug shots are probably all over the fucking TV and Internet. Every motel clerk in the Northeast will be looking for us.”
“I think you overestimate the staff at the type of establishment we tend to frequent.” In the orange neon glow of the dashboard light, Dennis’s face split in a creepy smile. “I have an idea. Focus on the plan. No more deviations. Everything’ll be all right.”
Unease rumbled in Carl’s gut. That’s exactly what he’d said about the robbery.
C HAPTER T WO
Sean turned the SUV into the private drive. He took his wife’s hand, intertwined their fingers, and kissed her knuckles. “It’s nice to get away. You’re sure you don’t mind that this is a working trip?”
At the end of a tree-lined drive, the newly renovated luxury resort and spa, The Hideaway, sat on a wooded slope. Fifteen miles from its nearest neighbor, the small inn was exclusive, luxurious, and isolated. Cedar and glass, the structure blended into the Adirondacks as if it had grown there. Snow coated the trees that flanked the driveway. Behind the building, a frozen private lake sprawled. Moonlight glittered white on the ice. On the opposite side, a few thousand acres of state forest covered the mountainside.
“It is.” Amanda smiled wide. “I don’t mind at all. I’m going to curl up in front of the fire and read all weekend. Too bad the spa isn’t open yet.”
“Don’t worry. I won’t be leaving you alone all weekend.” He glanced sideways. Every inch of his wife was more beautiful than when they had married ten years ago. “Testing the system is a half-day job at best. Plus, Glenn said his new chefs wanted to use
They changed vehicles with a minimum of fuss. They all knew the drill. Dennis, Lincoln, and Carl had all done time and didn’t want to repeat the experience. Dennis was still on parole. Win had spent his teenage years as a guest of the state and had been set loose upon the world when he’d reached adulthood. They’d all worn gloves from the time they’d stolen the Buick until now. None of their fingerprints had ever graced its interior.
They assumed their positions in the minivan. Carl glanced into the back. Next to Win, the girl shivered. The chattering of her teeth was the only sound she’d made. No complaining. Still, once they were safe, the girl would have to go. In fact, when Carl did make his getaway, he sure as hell wasn’t taking Dennis’s crazy-ass nephew with him, which meant that Dennis would have to be left behind. Lincoln was more stable, but his company wasn’t necessary either. Carl would have better luck on his own. Besides, the authorities would be looking for four men. Might be easier to disappear if they split up.
“If we drive all night, we can be in New York State by morning.” Dennis took the ramp onto the interstate. He turned on the stereo and found a local news station. “We’ll lie low for a couple of weeks. It’ll be all right.”
Carl scrubbed a hand down his face. “We took out the cameras and didn’t leave prints.”
No one spoke for the next quarter of an hour. Carl listened to the news with one ear and fished a roll of antacids from the glove compartment.
“Using mug shots, a customer in the parking lot of the store identified two of the armed men who robbed River Liquors, murdered the night manager, and took the female clerk hostage as Carl Snyder and Winner Young.” Carl’s ulcer burned as the reporter supplied the listening public with accurate descriptions of both men. Obviously, one of those cars in the parking lot hadn’t been empty.
Carl and Dennis exchanged looks. Yeah. Now they were really screwed. Where could they hide? There was an eyewitness to their armed robbery and murder.
“Now what?” Carl asked. “Our mug shots are probably all over the fucking TV and Internet. Every motel clerk in the Northeast will be looking for us.”
“I think you overestimate the staff at the type of establishment we tend to frequent.” In the orange neon glow of the dashboard light, Dennis’s face split in a creepy smile. “I have an idea. Focus on the plan. No more deviations. Everything’ll be all right.”
Unease rumbled in Carl’s gut. That’s exactly what he’d said about the robbery.
C HAPTER T WO
Sean turned the SUV into the private drive. He took his wife’s hand, intertwined their fingers, and kissed her knuckles. “It’s nice to get away. You’re sure you don’t mind that this is a working trip?”
At the end of a tree-lined drive, the newly renovated luxury resort and spa, The Hideaway, sat on a wooded slope. Fifteen miles from its nearest neighbor, the small inn was exclusive, luxurious, and isolated. Cedar and glass, the structure blended into the Adirondacks as if it had grown there. Snow coated the trees that flanked the driveway. Behind the building, a frozen private lake sprawled. Moonlight glittered white on the ice. On the opposite side, a few thousand acres of state forest covered the mountainside.
“It is.” Amanda smiled wide. “I don’t mind at all. I’m going to curl up in front of the fire and read all weekend. Too bad the spa isn’t open yet.”
“Don’t worry. I won’t be leaving you alone all weekend.” He glanced sideways. Every inch of his wife was more beautiful than when they had married ten years ago. “Testing the system is a half-day job at best. Plus, Glenn said his new chefs wanted to use
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