Maximus (Guardian Security Shadow World #15)

Chapter 18

CHAPTER 18

M erlin walked down the vault hall and gazed at the works of art secured behind the system he’d just circumvented. In his hand was an oversized briefcase made to hold the canvases hidden in the frames in the storage room.

He’d received all the information Maximus had sent him and the tidbits Con had given him. Maximus somehow had his cell phone number. Only two other people in the world had that number. He didn’t ask the Shadow how he’d gotten it. Respect. Merlin chuckled when he opened the storage room door. A sticky note was on the first frame. “Push indention on back of frames. Wear these gloves.”

“Well, that makes it boring.” He put the case down and opened it. There were thirteen slots for the rolled canvases. He changed his gloves from the anti-static ones he wore to those left for him.

He could have rushed the job, but there was no hurry. The security system to get into the vault was complex, true. Still, it was easily defeated, especially because the camera system and bugging devices were defeated outside and inside the office.

The compartments hidden in the frames were brilliant. He’d put that idea in his bag of tricks. One by one, he carefully moved the rolled canvases to the specific slot made for them in his case. The case would hold a change of clothes and other items, hiding the four-inch interior that ran the length of the case and shielding the canvases from airport security and environmental concerns.

If the paintings were, in fact, stolen, he was happy to steal them back. He was a thief with a conscience—a modern-day Robin Hood. He chuckled as he closed a frame and replaced it on the easel, moving to the next. He wouldn’t be caught dead in tights and those damn pointy shoes, but he was damn good at giving back to those who’d been screwed.

His phone vibrated, and he frowned, stopping what he was doing to look at the damn thing. He sat beside his case and answered, “Maximus, these frames are ingenious.”

“They are. Any problems?”

He let out a snort in response. “As if.”

“How did you dupe the fingerprint?”

“You and your lady had dinner tonight. When you left, the water glass may have disappeared off the table. She’s beautiful, by the way.” There was silence at the end of the line. “You didn’t see me, did you? You were a bit occupied.”

“Medium height, I’d say five feet ten or eleven inches tall, dark hair, glasses, wearing a blue henley with a sweater, black slacks, Hermes belt, and I believe your shoes were handmade. Italian.”

“You’re good. Not Italian. I had them made in London.”

“By an Italian artisan,” Maximus replied.

Merlin chuckled. “Possibly. I didn’t inquire. To what do I owe this lovely chat? Would you like a referral to my shoemaker?”

“Thank you, no. I’m more of a tennis shoe and t-shirt person.”

Merlin laughed. “Not tonight. That was a Tom Ford suit, or I’m purple with pink dots.”

Maximus laughed. “It was. Will you need anything special at the airports to get that case through security?”

“No, we’ve shielded it. Why? Do you have a magic wand?”

“More like a magic keyboard. The Russian equivalent of the TSA doesn’t have redundancy or firewall protections, so manipulating it is child’s play.”

“Ah, so you’re a computer whiz, too?”

“I dabble.”

“Is that how you got my number? The two people who have it wouldn’t give it out.”

Maximus chuckled. “Possibly. You have my number if you need assistance.”

“Why wouldn’t I call Con, Jewell, or Brando?” They were his normal points of contact for assistance.

“I’m faster and in your time zone.” That statement was not bravado, which reinforced his belief the man was more than a computer whiz—he was dangerously good. No one should have been able to get his number. It didn’t exist, according to Archangel.

“Appreciate the offer, but I’m good.” Merlin glanced at the frame on the floor. “You said there was a canvas that needed to lay flat?”

“The canvas rolled back on itself, so instead of damaging it, we put it back in the frame. The one to your right. You shouldn’t be sitting down on the job, by the way.”

Merlin jerked and searched the room. “Well, hello, Maximus.” He stood and walked over to the small camera in the corner of the room. “Are you going to tell me how you’re getting a signal out or how we’re talking when this vault should shield everything?”

There was a chuckle on the other end. “And this is why you should call me when you need assistance.”

Merlin nodded. “Does Archangel know you’re offering your services?”

“He will. Call if you’re backed into a corner.”

“I will. Thanks.”

“You take care of those paintings, or Elena will have both our heads on a platter.”

Merlin laughed. “I’d like to meet her someday.”

“Hands off, my newly minted friend.” The connection ended with that comment.

Merlin barked a laugh and got to work after taking the camera down and putting it in his pocket. He’d take it apart later and figure out what Maximus knew that he didn’t. Electronics fascinated him.