Page 36 of Nicoletta
“This is where it gets interesting. You don’t get in as yourselves,” I say. “You get in as staff.”
“What kinda staff?” Blood asks.
“Catering.”
More silence.
“As I said, I’ve chaired this event and been involved in pulling together all different aspects of a gala this size together, and one of them is hiring the caterers. We’ve used the same one for the past four years. Security rotates the actual workers every event, but the agency they use is the same, and I’ve developed a relationship with the owner.” I make eye contact with each of them, enjoying the power of my exclusive knowledge.
“If I ask him to hire some of my friends for the event, it shouldn’t be a problem. He always needs extra help, and that way, you’ll fit right in, and the regular staff won’t expect to know you. The caterers are automatically vetted and will give you the ID clearance you’ll need.”
“I suppose we’ll have to wear some dumb uniform.” Diesel pulls a face.
“No one questions people who look like they belong,” I add. “Most service staff go unnoticed by the patrons.”
“At least you won’t be tied into a tux that’ll probably feel like a straightjacket,” Bolt throws back at him.
“True,” I agree, but Bolt doesn’t make eye contact. “And about the tux, I spoke to Marisol yesterday, and she knows a shop right here in Tijuana that has designer tuxedos.”
“Of course she does.” Smoke rolls his eyes. “When it comes to clothing, men’s or women’s, my old lady is an expert.”
I turn my gaze to Bolt. “We’ll head over there later today.”
“Can’t wait.” Bolt frowns, and it’s the only emotion I’ve gotten out of him since whatever that was we did last night.
I focus back on the map of the country club. “The kitchen is in the center of all three ballrooms, but only the main ballroom, the one we’ll be in, has a stage equipped with a podium and a screen that descends from the ceiling.”
They hang on my every word, and although it’s empowering,it’s also daunting. “The stage backs up to the pantry area of the kitchen, which will give you full access to the visual setup, along with an easy in and out. With all the people hustling around the kitchen, I don’t think it will be too difficult to disappear for the amount of time it takes to replace our flash drive with whatever they have.”
I shift the layout around, turning it toward them. “There’s a control room behind the ballroom. Not obvious. Staff access only.”
Bolt pushes off the wall slightly. “And getting somethingelseup there?”
I exhale. “That’s the tricky part.”
Smoke’s eyes narrow. “Locked down?”
“No one expects a problem there. The real security is out front—keeping the wrong people out, not watching the people already inside.” I point to a small area behind the stage. “They run everything through a central system,” I explain. “Presentations, slides, videos—it all feeds onto that screen. Sometimes multiple screens depending on the size of the affair.”
“That’s what we need,” Smoke says. “That’s where it hits.”
“Once something is up there . . .” I cock my head.
“You make it sound easy.” Blood’s skepticism flavors his words.
“Not easy, but definitely doable.”
“She’s right.” Manny looks up from his laptop. “As long as I’m able to locate the switcher, which should be in that room, it’s just a matter of replacing their media with ours. I assume they use a GoStream Deck, which supports USB 2.0, but a standard flash drive, like the one we have, can also be used with a USB-C to USB-A adapter for loading media.”
We all stare at Manny like he’s just spoken a foreign language, but he’s already refocused on his laptop.
Smoke nods to Manny. “Obviously, that’s gonna be your job.”
Manny looks up again. “You guys just make sure no one interferes.”
Silence settles. This is the point of no return. I can see them all mentally doing the timeline.
Knowing nothing about the outlaw biker world, it amazes me how focused and on-point they are—one-minded and loyal to each other. It’s obvious this isn’t their first synchronized mission, and their attention to detail is comforting.
