Honey. The days when that term of endearment thrilled her were long gone. So was the passion, the adrenaline thrill. These days she hated the man standing next to her, but she feared him even more. She wished for a fairy godmother who would come and whisk her away to someplace safe. The urge to reach up and snatch the skin off his face was so strong, she had to clench her fists at her sides. She’d spoken, so now there was nothing she could do but wait.

She watched out of the corner of her eye as her partner whipped out his cell phone and made a call. She strained to hear his soft voice.

“Yes, it’s a small live animal. The dog weighs about twelve pounds, his name is Stewart. He’s to be taken to the Watergate Apartments, Apartment 1406. The owner’s name is John Mulberry. I’ll be paying cash. Please pick up a dog carrier, and I will pay your messenger when he gets here. I need the animal picked up immediately. Thirty-five minutes will be just fine. Thank you.”

“We’ll be on our way in precisely thirty-seven minutes. That’s assuming the messenger is on time. Do you have our things?”

The woman pointed to the diaper bag with the yellow ducks on it. Within seconds, she had the contents out on the floor and the bag turned inside out. Now the diaper bag was a rich tartan plaid. She adjusted the straps, added an extender, and, voilà, the bag became a backpack. She knew she could change her appearance in less than five minutes. Her partner could do it in three.

She paced as her partner continued to stare out the filthy window.

“Here comes the messenger. Twenty-nine minutes. I do like punctuality.”

The man scooped up the little dog and walked to the door. He had two hundred-dollar bills in his hand when he handed over the dog and waited until he was secure in the canvas carrier. “Take good care of him. His owner loves him very much.”

The messenger scribbled off a receipt and handed it over. The man waited until the messenger was in his Jeep and halfway down the street before closing and locking the door.

The woman peeled off her sweats to reveal shorts and a tank top. Her blond hair was now red and in a pixie cut. She wore wire-rim glasses and dangling earrings. The man was now wearing running shorts and a sleeveless ragged T-shirt. A bandanna was tied around his forehead. The woman tossed him the tartan backpack. She watched as he settled it comfortably on his shoulders. She herself had a small purse looped crossways across her chest.