CHAPTER FORTY ONE – THE FAKE HEIST

As they rounded the corner onto the main plaza, Jasmine felt a fleeting sense of relief to see the darkened gallery looming ahead, still and undisturbed. A quick scan failed to reveal any signs of Elena, who was hopefully slinking around one of the side service entrances. Approaching within fifty yards, Jasmine positioned herself in clear view of the main entrance, standing out in the open as if awaiting an accomplice. Her phone remained gripped tightly in one hand as she murmured under her breath. "I'm here. Open it up, we're on the clock." Less than a minute later, the faint buzz of the security alarm greeted her ears from within as Elena evidently disarmed the system. Jasmine felt her heart lodge itself in her throat, panic clawing at her chest like icy tendrils. This was really happening... A series of faint clicks reached her straining senses as the front doors were unlatched and swung open a few tantalizing inches. Here eyes immediately fastened on the narrow gap, breath catc