“Yeah, but Barrington has two systems—one for the motion detectors and the door and window sensors, the other for the cameras.”

“The cameras are no good unless somebody’s watching, right?”

“Yeah, I hadn’t thought of that. They record when nobody’s watching, though.”

“We don’t care if they record, if they can’t identify us. In fact, they’ve already identified you, so it doesn’t matter if they make you again.”

“It matters when they show the tapes at my trial.”

“Well,” she said, “there is that.”

45

CURLY PUT TOGETHER his gym clothes in a bag.

“Going somewhere?” Sofia/Maria asked, looking up from the Times crossword.

“To the Y,” Curly replied.

“What for?”

“Work out, do some weights, have a swim.”

“You do that a lot?”

“A couple times a week—more, if I’m bored.”

“You bored?”

He laughed. “Around you? Never!”

“Good answer. Is there some other reason you go to the Y? Besides working out?”

“Sometimes I see some of the guys from the joint.”

“You got somebody in mind?”

“Maybe.”

“Whozzat?”

“I’ll tell you later, maybe.”

“Getting all secret on me, huh?”

“You don’t need to know everything.”

“That’s where you’re wrong—everything is exactly what I need to know.”

“Well, you’re just going to have to sit on it, aren’t you? Get your nails done or something.”

She examined her nails. “That’s not the worst idea you’ve ever had. There’s a nail salon down the block.”

“I’ll be back late this afternoon.” He let himself out.

At the Y, Curly rented a locker, changed, and went to the weight room. He had been there half an hour when the guy came in. They exchanged a glance but didn’t speak at first. Finally, when they were both satisfied they could talk without being overheard, they sat on a bench together.

“How’s it going, Irv?” Curly asked.

“Could be worse,” Irv replied.

“Could you use a gig?”

Irv shook his head. “I don’t want to go back to prison,” he said.

“All I need is for you to give a place the once-over, tell me how to deal with the security. You don’t have to go in.”

Irv shook his head. “I don’t know.”

“There’s ten grand in it for you.”

“Yeah? Up front?”

“I have to collect from the fence before I can pay you. I can give you a grand up front, though, if that’ll help.”

“That’ll help. Tell me about the place.”

“There’s two systems—a regular alarm system, then a later, camera installation. I need to make them both go out for half an hour, and maybe you can tell me how to do that.”

“And I don’t have to go inside?”