Page 53 of Secret Spark

Ethel slid a glance in Perry’s direction. He was their weak link. Trick knew how to push his buttons because Perry loved nothing more than art. The older, the better.

Stepping in front of him, Joan said, “We don’t need more paintings, and they’re too hard to sell quietly. This is where we draw the line.”

Footsteps clomped from the hidden side entrance. “Are you sure about that?” Melvin said.

Jesus.His lavender Trick ensemble had gotten an upgrade to add more faux muscles. And a flowing cape. And did he somehow look taller? Lifts in his boots, maybe?

Everything was a lie with him.

His henches scurried over like obedient puppies. “Looking good, Trick,” Irving said. He grabbed both sides of the cape and fluffed it out.

“We’re ready for tonight’s plan, Trick,” Ethel said.

“Excellent.” Mel turned to the others, elbowing his cape so it flapped slightly. “What’s this about not wanting to check out a sweet score of eighteenth-century Flemish masters?”

Perry whimpered softly.

“We don’t steal from museums,” Joan said.

Melvin scoffed. “When did you grow a moral code?”

“A rich private collector is one thing. I’m not taking anything from a museum. That art’s for everyone.”

“You know most of it is on loan from some private collection. I’ve had enough of your holier-than-thou attitude.”

“Then stop trying to rope us into doing your dirty work.” Joan looked to her brother to back her up. “We said no more, and we meant it.”

Mark crossed his arms to mirror her. “We’re out,Melvin,” he said.

“It’sTrick, damn it,” Mel whined.

“It should beAsshat,” Joan said. “Just because you didn’t want to hear what I had to say doesn’t mean the conversation didn’t happen.”

“Joanie…”

“Don’tJoanieme. I shouldn’t even be here. This pulled me away from something very important for something I don’t want to do.”

Melvin held his hands up like he was trying to calm the situation. One of them got tangled in his new cape and he had to wrestle it free. “Let’s go over the plan before you make any rash decisions.”

Joan rolled her eyes at Mark and sighed deeply. He did the same.

“How about we sit?” Mel said.

“How about I give you a new hole to pee out of?” Joan swirled her hand and brought a roaring flame to shoot upward.

Ethel clapped a bolt of lightning at her. Perry blew them both out with a rush of air. “Knock it off,” he half-heartedly warned.

Melvin cleared his throat loudly. “Hide will go in and scout the area. Once we have eyes on the score, I’ll key in to the movers and tell them we’re authorized to take everything. Breeze and Volt will help me load the truck. Spark and Ice, you run defense outside in case there’s trouble. Can’t have you damaging the paintings, and plus?—”

“Ethel could damage the paintings,” Mark pointed out.

“I focus my energy,” Ethel monotoned. “You two spray yours everywhere.”

Mark wound up with a dirty retort, so Joan interrupted with, “Hard no. I’m done with this conversation.”

Perry shuffled his boots, obviously torn about what to do. The Flemish masters were among his favorites—he already had three oil landscapes in his condo. Getting his hands on them was an evergreen itch he had to scratch.

“Perry,” Joan gritted between her teeth.