“Up to you. I just need enough peace and quiet to get some goods out of the place. It’s a town house in Turtle Bay.”

“That the place with the common garden out back?”

“Right.”

“I did two places there, couple years ago, before I went inside.”

“You got caught?”

“Not for Turtle Bay. A bitch snitched me out for another job. I got three to five, but then that early-release thing came along. When do you need this?”

“Soon, next day or two.”

“Can I do it at night? I like working when the people are out.”

“Suit yourself.” Curly handed him a piece of paper with the address and his cell number. “Don’t get caught with this on you—memorize it.”

Irv looked at the paper for a little while, then handed it back. “Got it. I’ll need the grand.”

Curly produced the wad of bills from a pocket. “Don’t be too long.”

“Maybe I’ll take a look tonight.”

“Call me.” Curly went back to his lifts.

—

THEY HAD JUST come home from a neighborhood restaurant when Curly’s cell rang.

“Who’s that?” Maria asked.

“Friend of mine. Be real quiet.” He picked up the phone. “Yeah?”

“It’s me. I had a look.”

“And?”

“There’s the two systems, like you said. They’ve also got the Israeli door locks.”

“The hell they do—I went in there twice, and I can’t pick an Israeli lock.”

“I can. Did, in fact. I can get you in and shut down the systems, but here’s my thing—I want twenty-five grand, and I get the hell out of there as soon as you’re in.”

“How long am I good for?”

“Maybe half an hour, more like twenty minutes, to be safe. The system’s monitored by radio. When it goes down they’ll try to fix it first, then they’ll call the cops. I reckon you’ll have twenty minutes before you’re rumbled. Do you know exactly what you want and where it is?”

“Pretty much.”

“Then it shouldn’t be a problem, should it? Oh, and I want fifteen grand up front, the rest when your fence pays. Forty-eight hours to wrap it up?”

“That can be done. Let me talk to my partner.”

“I’ll call you back in half an hour. I’ll need an answer then.” Irv hung up.

Maria was staring at him. “Israeli locks? What’s that about?”

“Let me tell you about Irv,” Curly said, and he brought her up to date, pretty much.

“And he’s going to want fifteen grand up front?”

“That’s right. Have you got it?”

“Maybe.”

“Don’t fuck around with me, Maria. Are you in or out?”

“I get half of the take, after paying Irv, and I don’t go anywhere near the house.”

“That works for me.”

“When do you want to do it?”

“Maybe tomorrow.”