Run With the Hunted 7: The Casino Job: Run With the Hunted, #7

Run With the Hunted 7:

The Casino Job

By Jennifer R. Donohue

Table of Contents

Title Page

Run With the Hunted 7: The Casino Job

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Epilogue

For Jim

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

No AI/LLM was used in the creation of this work.

Run with the Hunted © 2024 by Jennifer R. Donohue

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or used in any manner without written permission of the copyright owner except for the use of quotations in a book review.

ebook ISBN: 978-1-945548-33-8

paperback ISBN: 978-1-945548-34-5

Chapter One

When we are discussing a job, it is very rare for one of us to just outright say no; in fact, I’m not certain it has ever happened. There’s all manner of back and forth about feasibility and approach, but when one of us brings a job to the table, we’ve always looked at it as a yes, if perhaps qualified. This time, Bits says no.

I am extremely surprised. I pause mid sentence, having just said casino. Bits is frowning and blinking as though she is very alarmed and had perhaps only been half listening before I said that particular word.

Our new colleagues, Perry and Garnet have only done two very small, very easy jobs with us, and they look at each other uneasily, Perry laughing nervously. They stop when they see me looking.

I take a sip of sparkling water, refocus on Bits. I’m sorry, darling, I hadn’t finished speaking yet. Perhaps you can explain why you are saying no?

We aren’t doing a casino job, she says. Even a year ago, we wouldn’t have. Her eyes dart briefly to Perry and Garnet but for a different reason than I looked at them. She eloquently, to me, means their lack of experience and lack of time with us.

Garnet takes it as entreaty for support, and looks between us. Well why don’t we hear Bristol out? Maybe we could do a casino job? She smiles at me, seeking approval. Garnet is particularly disposed to my way of doing things, taking a social situation in hand and steering it in one’s favor.

If Bits says no... Perry starts dubiously, then shrugs. I don’t know, casino jobs are a big deal, aren’t they?

Yes. They are, Bits says, her eyes still too wide.

"Oh, I see, I’ve simply given the wrong impression! I don’t mean a traditional casino job, darling, we won’t be taking their money. Look at this exhibition! All of these art pieces covered in all of those diamonds. I pull out my phone, gauche in conversation, but I forward the exhibition announcement to Bits. And the casino is right in town." Town being Paris.

I thought we learned our diamonds lesson last time? But her eyes are unfocused, looking at the information. Perry and Garnet exchange a look; they’ve heard about the diamonds job, of course, anybody in our sort of profession has heard scraps and whispers of it. It caused quite the ripple in the ecosystem, even though that was not our intent.

We know how to handle them much better, yes. And can’t you scout them, make sure that they are exactly what meets the eye? There are ever so many articles about the artist. I could put on a much more wheedling tone, but I’m certain Bits won’t notice either way. Such nuance is not Bits’s area of expertise, and it does not sway her. Marquis is the one who told me about the exhibit, and who mentioned they might perhaps know at least one buyer who would like these items intact, thus we would not be handling the diamonds individually.

Bits is quiet for a long time, thinking I presume, or looking up that information. Then she says, What’s the play, then? How do you think we’re going to go into the casino and take what isn’t theirs but is very much covered under their security umbrella?

According to at least one article I’ve read, they place a protective cowl over each piece every night, and then shift them around, to create the illusion that they’ve moved when nobody is watching. Then other staff unveil them in the morning. They’re all endangered or extinct species, so their movement is part of the lesson of the art.

So you think that we’ll insert, posed as the art staff, and instead of shuffling them around...

Shuffle them right off the floor to a waiting vehicle, yes. Perry perks up at that, but doesn’t interrupt. They are very focused on vehicles, every aspect of vehicles. Operating, maintaining, enhancing. But Bits is quiet again, and though I have the unusual impulse to continue explaining myself, and pleading the case for this job, I wait. Bits has her own calculations to make, and is forever ferreting out information even as we speak. Garnet fidgets, looking at me, and picks up her drink instead. We are meeting at my flat, which is only one floor above street level, and the evening traffic outside of the window has already tapered off.

Will is occupying himself in the little library that we’ve built. I enjoy the library for the way all of the book spines are pleasing to the eye; he enjoys the library for the pleasure of selecting the books at the old booksellers that we go past on our walks, for taking in knowledge that he otherwise would  not have found, for the escape that novels allow. He does not particularly care to involve himself in our criminal pursuits; indeed, they still seem to pain him. I’ve told him that there is no shame in stealing from rich people, who have earned nothing, but he isn’t able to embrace that philosophy, despite the source of his chosen name. Perhaps one day. He’s still becoming accustomed to this life, to his freedom.

We aren’t doing something like this without Dolly, Bits says finally.

"Without Dolly." In all of our association, Bits of all people has never caught me socially unawares. I ought to have expected this, though. There’s been a Dolly shaped hole in our life these months now, nearly a year, and we simply do not address it. Perry’s eyes widen; if Garnet is a bit of a baby duckling to me, Perry seems to have a near-worshipful regard for Dolly, though it is impossible to tell how they might have heard of Dolly in the first place. Our reputations precede us, always.

If we’re going to do something that even vaguely resembles a casino job, even if it isn’t anything to do with the casino’s own money, I want Dolly to be with us. We need her abilities and experience. So I guess it’s a qualified no.

"It isn’t as though you’re asking for the impossible." I sip my water again, my last memories of Dolly coming to mind as though they’d been eager for the opportunity. Her bundling me into the car away from Will, me swearing I would never forgive her if she did exactly that. Slapping her in the face. And then her saying exactly the right thing to make sure I straightened myself up and returned to the party with my façade intact. That was it. I never even thanked her, once Will showed up at my side again two hours later. His façade is less unshakeable than mine, but I have also never been able to get him to tell me what happened.

She hasn’t been working, Bits says. Bits also never told me what happened.

Perfect, I'll just go to...wherever she is, and whisk her away back to us. I am certain that simply calling her will not be appropriate, it must be in person.

Hong Kong.

Oh, is she there with Butler? Perhaps he can be entreated to join us as well. A range of emotions swiftly crosses Bits's face, so swiftly that I am not prepared to parse or interpret them. I spend so much time not needing to read her flat affect that it did not occur to me that I would have to be prepared to. This is indeed troublesome, or at the very least perplexing.

She shrugs. Probably not.

Hong Kong? Bristol, you're going alone? Garnet asks, trying not to sound too eager, the sweet girl.

I'm afraid that I will, darling, it will be simpler and swifter that way. I could travel professionally, were I to ever give the rest of this up.

Did I hear Hong Kong? Will asks, appearing in the doorway and pausing when he sees us gathered.

Yes, darling, I'm going to take a quick little trip to see Dolly. You won't even notice that I'm gone.

Of course I'll notice, he says, but he's got the shadow of a frown on his face. Did she invite you? Does she know you're coming?

Well, I mean for it to be a surprise, but I'm certain Bits will do what she feels best in that regard. I give myself into her hands. I look from Will to Bits, who has a distinct 'arranging travel plans' look on her face. I'll just be there and back again, no need to accompany me.

If you say so. He seems about to say more, but crosses the room to the liquor cabinet instead. Dolly does put him on edge, the poor dear. Is this to do with the job you're planning?

It is, yes.

He nods, mixing himself a gin and tonic. Anybody else? he asks the room. He knows that if I wanted a drink, I would not have the water.

Yes, thank you, Garnet says. Perry shakes their head, and Bits almost never drinks alcohol and is not part of that equation. He hands Garnet the first drink he mixed, and pours another.

I guess just let me know if you need me, he says, coming and brushing my cheek with a kiss.

Of course I will, darling.

You might want to get packed, Bits says. I can get you on a flight in three hours.

Chapter Two

It is a long flight to Hong Kong, but first class makes it more than bearable. They have a very nice midrange champagne on offer, and when the flight attendant asks the occasion, I tell him that I’m on my way to reconnect with a friend. At the time, he smiles politely, and moves on to the other flyers.

Hours later, though, as we are disembarking