Racer X was too tired and nervous to even contemplate giving him the finger.

By the time the brothers got on their feet, Eddie was already heading into one of the corner offices. As he watched Eddie enter the office Racer X stepped back.

“What about the alarms?” he said.

“The guy who arranged the heist had them turned off,” said Harrison.

Racer X nodded, growing less sure that any of this was a good idea. He didn’t say anything to his brother, but what made him really nervous wasn’t blowing the safe.

It was how they were supposed to get Eddie back up the elevator shaft.

Coop and the others made it to the ninth floor at ten twenty-five.

“This is the part of the job I hate,” whispered Morty. “The waiting.”

“I’ll give you seventy-five thousand reasons why it’s a good idea,” said Coop.

Morty shrugged. “When you put it that way . . .”

While they waited, Tintin took out a Snickers bar and bit into it. The others stared.

“I have a low-blood-sugar thing,” he said.

“Did you bring enough for the whole class?” said Sally.

Tintitn pulled more bars from his pants pocket. He handed one to Sally and one to Morty. When he offered one to Coop he just shook his head.

“I’m watching my figure,” Coop said.

Sally bit into her bar. “You could use a few more pounds on you, Coop. No woman is going to jump your bones when she thinks she’s going to crack your ribs.”

“I’ll take that under advisement,” he said. “I don’t want candy. I want a cigarette.”

“That would be nice,” said Morty through a mouthful of Snickers. “What time is it?”

“Two minutes after the last time you asked.”

“I wonder how much longer we have to wait.”

“Finish your candy. I don’t think it will be long.”

At ten thirty Lloyd came out of the side entrance by the loading dock. When he saw the van, he waved at it frantically, which made him look like a particularly inept seagull trying to get off the beach before high tide. Steve and the others got out of the van and went around to the door, where Lloyd ushered them inside. Steve and Jorge were first out of the van, eager to get to work. The others unfolded themselves slowly and crawled out of the van, just happy that they could breathe again.

“Everyone is at dinner. Come with me and, please, please, please, be quiet,” said Lloyd.

Steve patted him on the back. “We appreciate everything you’re doing. Now take a deep breath and let’s go.”

Lloyd did as he was told. It didn’t make him feel better. In fact, it made him feel light-headed. He swayed for a step as he led the others through the dock to the stairs. When they reached the elevators Lloyd looked at the overhead numbers.