The first thing Bernard did was check the cameras. He hadn’t wanted to do it in front of Timothy because, quite frankly, he was embarrassed that a few pensioners were making a fool of him. Even if their main target wasn’t Carlos, but Ted.
As they had already mentally prepared for, all the cameras installed in Carlos’s home had gone dark.
“Well?” Noud asked cautiously, although his partner’s expression said it all.
“He obviously took them all out.”
Bernard shut the laptop and pushed it away from him.
“I don’t give a damn about any of this.”
“Want a smoothie?” Noud asked, already opening the freezer door.
“No,” Bernard grumbled.
“I’ll add some champagne.”
“In that case, yes.”
Noud tensed his facial muscles to keep from smiling.
“And Ted?”
“I can’t even bring myself to check right now.”
“”Why? Are you afraid Carlos might mess with the cameras at Ted’s place too?”
Bernard shrugged. His whole body radiated defeat as he sank deeper into the soft, velvet-covered chair.
“I’m not worried about that. I just don’t feel like it right now. Besides, we made a serious mistake if Carlos could just go through the box under Ted’s bed without a problem. Not to mention the fact that he got in and out of the house so easily.”
“It’s impossible to cover the whole place with cameras without having blind spots.”
“Sure, that’s clear.” Bernard gave a weary nod. “What bothers me is that Carlos wandered around that damned house without even knowing where the cameras were, and yet he doesn’t show up on a single recording. Even though he messed up the door too.”
Noud slid the ice-cold fruit smoothie, loosened with champagne, in front of him.
“I think he knows Ted’s our target.”
“I think he just suspects that Ted is someone’s target. He has no idea it’s us.”
“What makes you so sure?” Noud asked.
“Because he thinks we’re just petty thieves,” Bernard said, his voice carrying more offense than annoyance.
“And that’s what’s really eating you, huh?” Noud grinned.
“It’s eating you too.”
“No, it’s not. Carlos doesn’t get to me. Sure, it’s annoying that he keeps getting involved in everything, but if we wanted to, we could easily take him out.”
“What the hell are you talking about?!” Bernard barked.
Noud instantly realized how badly that had sounded.
“That’s not what I meant, and you know it.”
“See? Even our last operation wasn’t enough,” Bernard growled bitterly.
“That’s exactly why we’re in this situation now,” Noud said in a know-it-all tone. “That’s what pissed off the old man so much that now he wants to be the superhero who takes down all the enemies.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of too.”
“What if we sent him on a little trip?”
Bernard narrowed his eyes at his partner.
“You seriously think that’s the solution?”
Noud didn’t answer. He just nodded.
Bernard picked up the glass and slowly finished his drink. He carefully placed it back on the glass tabletop. Wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, he looked straight at Noud.
“I’m in.”