CHAPTER 26
OCTOBER 23RD, 6:00 P.M.
--THE HEIST--
“Damn it. Stupid fucking tie.”
Tommy stood off to the side of the party, fiddling with his tie. His low powered body lacked hand eye coordination as he tried to fix his attire.
“Allow me, my friend,” Frank said to him, taking over.
The party had just begun. A large, three-story space with dim, blue lights and glass ornaments dangling all around. Rich patrons occupied the floor, mingling in packs in the middle or leaning over on the railings on the upper floors, looking down. The back wall of the room was a large, thick windowpane, looking out at the resort plaza behind The Palace, with the falling sun on the horizon. Bars and buffets were set up on both sides, serving guests free of charge, letting alcohol infect their bloodstreams. A massive crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling up high, filled with water, casting ripples all around.
Frank finished fixing Tommy’s tie and returned to surveying the party. Up on the second floor, looking down at them from over a railing was Boone. Laurel leaned on the bar on the other side of the room, waiting for her target. Lastly, Leo strolled aimlessly through the crowd, keeping his head down and avoiding eye contact.
“I look good Frankie?”
“Quite.”
“Thanks buddy,” Tommy replied. “Everyone ok?” he said to the team quietly in his hidden earpiece.
“All looks good from up here,” Boone answered.
“Ditto from my angle,” Laurel added.
“Leo? What about you?” Tommy asked.
“Peachy.”
“Alright,” Tommy said. “Now everyone listen good, because this is the last time I’m going to go over this.”
/
Boone, you’ll be the eyes at first. You’ll be up high watching the side doors. When it’s clear for me and Frank to slip in, you give the signal.
Boone held a drink in his hand, casually sipping to blend in.
“There’s more people here than we expected,” he commented. “How are we feeling about this?”
“Just keep an eye on the staff,” Tommy clarified, his voice buzzing through the earpiece. “Everyone else here is just guests at the party. They’re not going to say anything about us.”
“Perhaps we wait until they become more intoxicated?” Frank suggested.
“I want this done quick,” Tommy said. “The closer to auction time we get, the more The Piece starts to move around.”
As Boone stood inconspicuously against the glass railing, he noticed a staff member enter through a side door nearest Tommy and Frank, dressed in a white-collar shirt with a red vest and bowtie, pushing a cart loaded with towels.
“One coming out,” he whispered, sipping his drink.
“What’s he doing?”
Boone waited to give his response, watching the man closely. A few seconds later, he entered the bathrooms.
“Bathroom,” he said. “He’s got a cart full of towels. Restock, probably.”
“That’s perfect,” Tommy muttered. “Ready, Frank?”
“Let us go.”
/
Frank entered the bathroom; where the bright lighting contrasted the dim, cool aura from the party outside. Marble floors and countertops shined perfectly with red stall doors, matching the color of the staff member’s vest, who paid little mind to Frank as he casually restocked hand towels. Tommy followed in after, walking stiff and loudly. The man turned to look at him before returning to his duties.
Frank approached the man, standing uncomfortably close behind him. Feeling his presence, he looked over his shoulder at him with a confused look on his face.
“Can I help you sir?”
Frank quicky chopped his throat with the side of his hand, causing the staff members knees to buckle as he clutched at his neck. Frank grabbed him from underneath his arms before he fell, holding him up and turning him towards Tommy. The robot reared back and threw his head forward, connecting his metal forehead with the man, knocking him out swiftly.
“Hurry!” Tommy whispered as Frank began to drag the unconscious body into a stall. Luckily, Frank was already dressed similar to the man with a standard black suit and white undershirt. Frank quickly removed his suit jacket, tossing it on the floor as he took the staff members red vest and bowtie, putting it on and assimilating as faculty.
He exited the stall after propping the man up on the toilet seat, where he saw Tommy climbing into the cart of towels.
“How do I look?” he asked.
“Bonita,” Tommy answered. “Now let’s go before he wakes up.” The robot settled into the cart, covering himself completely under the towels as Frank began to push it towards the door.
“You need to lose some weight, my friend,” he remarked as he pushed hard, the wheels squeaking under the weight. Using the cart, he pushed the bathroom door open and reentered the party.
“You’re all clear Frank,” Boone spoke through the earpiece. “Where’s Tommy?”
“Hitching a ride,” he said from underneath the pile.
Frank pushed the cart, sticking close to the wall as he approached the staff door, entering in with his new disguise.
/
For an event with this kind of price tag, there’s bound to be a top buyer who’s already been in talks with the sellers. They’re going to get special treatment, which translates to early viewing of The Piece. That’s where you come in Laurel. You’re going to buy us time. Find the guy and chat him up. Keep him distracted.
Laurel leaned against the edge of one of the bars, waiting to spot her target. She couldn’t help but glance out into the party and look for Leo, who was doing a good job of keeping himself buried and blended in. She on the other hand, did not blend in very well, as she wore a vibrant red, tight, full-length sleeveless dress with sparkling studs lined throughout and an open back. She craned her neck as much as she could without being suspicious, still searching for him, but to no avail. She shook it off, returning her focus to the mission.
“See anything yet Boone?” she asked.
“I’ve been eyeing one for a few minutes now,” he replied. “You’re 2 o clock.” Laurel shifted her gaze to his directions, observing a man, European looking, with slicked back black hair and a thin moustache, dressed in an all-white tuxedo loaded with gold jewelry.
“He’s been chatting with a couple of hosts since he entered,” Boone added. “I’m taking a bet that’s our guy.”
Right on cue, he wrapped up his conversation and headed towards the bar where Laurel waited. He quickly spotted her apart from the other patrons, as her flagrant dress caught his attention, exactly as it was intended for. He approached the other end of the bar, sliding onto a stool while still eyeing Laurel.
“I’ve got his attention,” she said, leaning her head away so he couldn’t see her speaking. “I’m going radio silent, keep me updated.” With that, she started moving to the other side of the bar, leisurely sitting in the stool next to the man just as he finished ordering a drink.
“Lovely dress,” he said with an Italian accent. “I take it you like the attention it brings.”
“Never had a problem with eyes on me,” Laurel replied, doing the best charismatic performance she could muster.
“I can tell,” he said. “Armando,” he introduced himself, holding out his hand.
“La- uh, Tara.”
“Tara?”
“Yeah, Tara.”
“Are you sure?” he said with a playful grin.
“Positive.”
“Mm, apologies for that. Didn’t mean to make you nervous,” he said smugly. Laurel faked a smile as the bartender approached with his order. He took his attention off of her to accept his drink, allowing Laurel to roll her eyes while he wasn’t looking.
“So, Tara. Tell me. You here alone?” Armando asked.
“If I wasn’t, would I really be talking to you?” she asked back.
“Depends on who you are.”
“Who do you think I am?”
“I think,” he paused, taking a sip from his drink. “You’re the type of woman you don’t let get away.”
“Very bold, Armando.”
“The only way I know how to be,” he said. “Ah, where are my manners.” He raised his hand to flag the attention of the bartender. “Another drink for the lady here.”
“I can tell you’re not from around here,” Laurel said.
“Think you can guess where?”
“Hmm, Italy?”
“Smart girl,” he said.
“You’ve been here long?” she asked.
“Since I was a young man,” he started. “Oh, how I yearned to visit again, but I always put it off. Then, the bombs fell,” his voice trailed off as he exhaled. “I don’t even want to see what it looks like now.”
“It’s horrible what happened to your home, to all those countries,” she said, putting a hand on her arm. “You shouldn’t have to go through that.”
“Ah, no matter,” he dismissed her comfort. “Let’s not sully the mood, eh?” he said, lifting his drink again. “What else can you tell about me?”
“I can tell that you are very successful.”
“Ah, so that’s why you are talking to me,” Armando chuckled.
“Yes, but not for the reason you’re thinking.”
“What reason is it then?”
“You seem like you’re interested in buying tonight.”
“Mmm, correct again,” he said, sipping his drink. The bartender returned with Laurel’s drink, setting it down next to her. She flashed in a smile before turning back to Armando. “I have my eye on this fabulous artifact.”
“Oh really,” Laurel said, picking up her drink. “Tell me more.”
“You’ve a keen eye for art, Tara?”
“I’d say so,” she said, taking a sip of her drink.
“Well then, allow me to indulge my knowledge, if you’re privy to share yours in return.”
“Deal.”
A familiar sight suddenly caught her attention out of the corner of her eye. A shorter man, thick moustache, and talking the ear off the closest person unfortunate enough to get caught in conversation with him. Edward, the man who invited Leo here in the first place and gave them a tour of The Palace the day before.
Laurel darted her eyes around searching for Leo. He needed to meet up with Edward, but she wasn’t sure he saw him enter, and she couldn’t alert him either with Armando right in front of him.
“Leo, your guy is here. Southwest corner,” Boone’s voice suddenly spoke into her earpiece. Laurel instinctively raised her hand to her ear before quickly playing it off as an itch. He rambled off in front of her, his voice tuned out as she had her focus now on other matters.
Finally, parting his way through the middle of the party, she saw Leo, filling in the next step of the plan.
/
Leo, you’re keeping an eye out for the host. He’s a jumpy guy, and he seems to have taken a liking to you. Best case scenario he brings you round back, and you get an early look at The Piece, which you’ll relay to us. Worst case scenario, you keep him distracted and away from it until we find it ourselves. Less chance for an unintended witness.
“Excuse me,” Leo said, gently patting him on his shoulder. Edward turned around, his face suddenly lighting up when he saw who was there.
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
“Mr. Leo! Oh, my friend I am so glad you are here,” he exclaimed. “I was worried. I didn’t know where you went yesterday.”
“I am so sorry about that,” Leo said, putting his hands up. “We had an emergency. It was, uh… urgent.”
“I totally understand,” he replied. “Say, where is the missus today?”
“She’s back at the hotel.”
“She didn’t come with you?”
“Yeah,” Leo answered awkwardly as he constructed a lie. “She’s with the baby.”
“You didn’t tell me you guys had a little one,” he gasped. “Boy? Girl?”
“It’s a girl. Eight months old.”
“Eight months, oh my,” Edward smiled ear to ear. “You must tell me his name.”
“Uhh… Tara.”
“Tara? How beautiful.” Edward clasped his hands together. “Please give Mrs. Laurel my blessings. Mothers make this world go round.”
“I will, thank you,” Leo said.
“Well, I am very grateful you could make it today,” he said. “Can I get you anything? Something to drink perhaps?”
“I had some drinks already,” Leo said, dismissing the offer.
“I trust they were delicious?”
“Very.”
“Good, good!” Edward said. “I set up this whole event, so I take pride in delivering an excellent experience.”
“You have nailed it, Edward,” Leo said.
“Oh, you’re too kind,” he said, smiling so hard his eyes were squinting. “Now tell me, are you interested in participating in the auction?”
“I am, actually.”
“Wonderful news, my friend,” he said. “I do see, however, you are missing your pin.”
“My pin?” Leo asked.
“All buyers pre-registered and should have been given a special pin at the door.”
Leo looked around where he saw a man with a golden pin in the shape of a diamond hooked onto his suit jacket.
“I didn’t know anything about that,” Leo said.
“No worries, I shall take care of you,” Edward assured. “Follow me.”
Edward began weaving through patrons as Leo tailed close behind him.
“You’ll most definitely be pleased with our selection,” he said, talking over his shoulder as he walked.
“I was actually looking at one in particular,” Leo replied. The two of them made it to the side of the party close to the wall.
“Which one would that be?”
“This artifact, the one you showed to me in Chicago last week-“
“Ah, the golden isosceles.”
“The golden isosceles?” Leo said with a dull tone, unsure if that was a joke.
“A beautiful piece. And naturally found if you can believe it,” Edward said. “You have good taste, Mr. Leo. I will make sure to get you that opportunity to take it home.”
/
The one thing left of the script we pulled was the location of The Piece. Frank and I will slip in behind closed doors and get around to the control room. From there, we’ll have eyes on everything, where we’ll find our target and guide Leo in the right direction.
“What do you see Frank?”
“You are talking too loud,” he answered Tommy.
“I need you to tell me where we’re at.”
Frank paused to scan his surroundings. At the moment, they were alone, allowing him time to orient himself. In front of him was a short stretch of hallway painted a dull grey that had another hallway connected to it from the left side. He relayed that information to Tommy.
“Is there a door on the right side in line with the left hallway?” he asked.
“Yes.”
“Their control room is at the end of the left hallway,” Tommy said. “This whole setup is temporary. They’re just using a server room where they hooked up the surveillance. Security isn’t airtight.” Frank began to move again as Tommy finished his sentence.
“Wait, hold on. We still need an access card.”
“How would we obtain that?”
“Off an agent, obviously.”
“I do not like leaving bodies behind.”
“Yeah, me neither,” Tommy agreed. “So long as me and them trade places we should be fine.”
“A man in room service attire and a robot walking around is not conspicuous.”
“We’re beyond conspicuous Frankie, we just need to be fast.”
“How do you suppose we go about this?”
“Wandering in looking like that will raise suspicion so we play into it. There’s a door straight ahead, correct?”
“Yes.”
“That’s the break room,” Tommy explained. “Roll the cart through the door then run in after like it got away from you. Make it seem innocent, make them drop their guard. There’s bound to be more than one. Split them up, then we can take care of them.”
“I am trusting you,” Frank answered.
/
“And so he says to me, ‘Well, everyone knew the Celtics were gonna win, so I’m not giving you the full payout.’”
“What?”
“I know. So I’m like, ‘Why did you bet against them then?’”
“Classic Marty. He’s always been a sore loser.”
“And I knew that too. Should’ve never bet with- “
A cart filled to the brim with towels suddenly barges through the door behind the two agents on break, startling them. They both turn from the lunch table, instinctively reaching for their weapons only to see a harmless pile of towels on wheels. Frank followed in soon after, appearing embarrassed.
“My apologies,” he said. “I lost my grip on it.”
“Sir, you are not supposed to be back here,” an agent commanded.
“I know,” he said. “I was just looking for the bathroom. They usually do not let me go on shift.”
“Shit, really?”
“Yes, but please refrain from the language.”
The agents glanced at each other, unsure if they are to laugh.
“Alright buddy,” one of them said. “It’s right down there.”
“Can you show me to it?”
“Sure, why not. I got nothing better to do I guess,” he answered sarcastically, getting up from his seat.
“Make sure to get your cart out of here,” the other one said just as they turned to go back down the hall.
“Three o clock,” Frank said.
“What?” the agent guiding Frank asked.
“What?” Frank replied, walking down the hallway.
“What’s three o clock?”
“The time?”
“It’s past six.”
“My mistake,” Frank dismissed, continuing towards the bathroom.
The other agent back in the break room stood up from his chair, holding his arms out in protest as the towel cart was still stranded just beyond the doorway.
“What the fuck? Just stick your garbage with us, why don’t you?” he muttered to himself. He went to push the cart out of the break room, only to be met with resistance. He pushed harder, still to no avail as it was much too heavy for him.
“Jesus Christ, I can see how he lost his grip,” he said. He looked down into the pile, moving towels around to find the source of the weight. Suddenly, a black metal hand broke the surface and reached to the right per Frank’s instructions, grabbing hold of the agent’s neck. With a quick and powerful squeeze, Tommy crushed the throat and shattered the bone, causing the agent to suddenly drop to the floor.
Now down the hall, Frank heard a muffled thud back in the breakroom that the agent guiding him seemed to ignore.
“It’s right here,” he said, stopping at the door that Tommy called out earlier. Frank glanced behind him, down the hallway perpendicular to them, where the control room resided.
The agent fumbled with keys in his pocket, where Frank spied the access card on his belt. After a few seconds, the agent unlocked the bathroom door, swinging it open like he was presenting it to him.
“There you go buddy,” he said. Frank stayed silent and merely stared at the man.
“What?” he asked confused. “You don’t need to go anymore or something?”
Frank put his hand on the agent’s shoulder, “I will remember the contributions you gave us.”
“The fuck are you-“
Frank cut him off by shoving him into the doorway and quickly slamming the door, smashing his head into the frame and leaving him motionless on the floor. He quickly grabbed the access card and keys from the agent before sliding his body into the bathroom and locking it from the outside. As he finished, Tommy approached behind him, now with both adversaries dealt with.
“You got it?” Tommy asked. Frank responded by holding up the blank, white, plastic access card they needed to open the door.
“Good. Let’s hurry.”
/
Boone set his drink aside as he leaned against the second-floor railing. Looking down at the party below, there wasn’t much left for him other than to keep an eye on the situation and make sure Laurel is okay, who is the only person he could still see.
“Everyone okay?” Tommy said into his earpiece.
“All good over here,” he answered. “Laurel’s a little busy at the moment but she’s fine,” Boone updated them as she was unable to talk to them in front of her target. She gave Boone a quick glance of acknowledgement before returning to her objective.
“Keep a hand on that trigger Boone,” Tommy reminded him. Boone reached in his suit jacket, feeling for the remote trigger to the PD bubble jammer. “Yank it if I give you the signal.”
“Where are you right now?”
“We’re in the control room. Eyes and ears on the whole place,” Tommy said. “Leo, what’s your status?”
/
“Stuck,” Leo whispered.
“And this other relic I discovered? A magnificent, engraved copper disc with a gemstone in the middle. And get this. It was hidden inside a hole in a tree in the Amazon Rain Forest.”
“That’s amazing, Edward.”
“It truly is, isn’t it?”
“Can I get a pin now?”
“Certainly!” Edward replied, turning to a foldable table topped with a black cloth and various items. They were in a room adjacent to the party; the chorus of conversations could be heard through the walls. The plain brown carpet and off-white walls contrasted the polished tile and blue ambience of the party. Windows peered out to the pool resort outside, set just below the evening sun.
“Now let me see,” Edward browsed the table, which was full of various types of pins, ornate goblets, and other ceremonious items.
“This pin is for top Palace donors, different pin. This one is for faculty…”
Leo shuffled his feet, checking his surroundings as he tried to identify a way to lose his obnoxious host.
“Ah! Here we are,” he said, turning with a golden, diamond pin in between his fingers. “This one is for you, my friend. Allow me.” Edward gently stuck the pin into Leo’s suit jacket, right where his heart is.
“Hold on for a little longer, Leo,” Tommy said in his ear. “We’re looking for The Piece on the cameras.”
“There. Now you are an official auction participant,” Edward said.
“That’s… great,” Leo said, examining the pin.
“Excited?”
“Yeah, of course.”
“Now don’t get too carried away. Don’t want the wife getting on you about the pockets,” he said chuckling.
“Right,” Leo agreed with a fake smile.
“Below you.”
“What?”
“What?”
Leo and Edward shared an awkward look as Leo realized he accidentally spoke out loud.
“Directly below you,” Tommy clarified. “Six floors down.”
“Uhh, what? My phone is ringing,” Leo said, reaching into his pocket. He pulled out his phone, keeping the screen away from Edward to not let him see that there was no call coming in.
“This is important,” he said to Edward.
“Hopefully importantly good.”
“No, I mean like, I need to take this.”
Edward stared at him blankly.
“Privately.”
“Oh! Yes, of course. I’ll leave you to it,” he said, starting towards the door to return to the party. “I’ll be enjoying the party. Do come join me when you are able,” he said with a warm smile before opening the door. The room filled with noise until the door closed behind Edward, returning to muffled echoes as Leo was now alone.
“Tommy?”
“You got that Leo?”
“Directly below me, six floors down.”
“Just a regular private suite converted into a saferoom. Minimal security. They’re hiding it in plain sight.”
“Is the window open?”
“To what? The room? It’s not open but it’s just glass.”
“I’ll be there.”
Leo quickly moved to the windows, sliding one up, inviting the warm air in. He slipped through the open frame, twisting his body, gripping onto the stone sill. Dangling on the edge, high above the outdoor resort. He stretched his legs out, planting his toes on the top of the stone frame around the window of the lower floor. He stabilized himself on it, shimmying horizontally until he was in jumping range of a black, metal railing outside a lower window to grab onto.
With a leap, he jumped to the railing, snagging onto the top. The force of his impact caused a corner of the railing to rip off from the building, making Leo swing violently as he clung on. His body crashed into the wall, the side of his head taking the brunt of it, smashing his hidden earpiece.
“Shit!” Leo exclaimed, trying to grab the earpiece as it slipped out. His fingers were just late, as he watched it fall through the air down into the bushes below, officially disconnecting him from the rest of the team.
Grunting in anger to himself, he begrudgingly continued his descent to his target room.
/
“Something’s not right about this Frank.”
“I agree.”
Tommy and Frank stood anxiously in the dark control room, crammed into a small, narrow space in between a set of computers and servers. They monitored several screens, broadcasting different camera feeds throughout the event. Tommy homed in on the feed right outside the room where The Piece was hidden. Just two men standing by the door. He checked the feed by the bar in the party with a clear view of Laurel and her target. Something seemed off about that too.
“This felt like it was too easy,” he commented.
“You think we were set up?” Frank asked.
“I’m not sure yet,” he said, stressed. “I don’t want to be impulsive.”
“It is wise to trust your gut.”
“What does your gut tell you?”
“That something is definitely wrong.”
Tommy scanned over the camera feeds once again, trying to put evidence on his suspicions.
“Everyone give me an update now. What’s happening out there?”
/
“And with some help from my father, I was able to get the family business going again.”
Laurel brought her glass to her lips, barely sipping any of the drink before setting it down on the bar top. She shuffled in her seat, nervousness growing as she sensed tensity in Tommy’s voice.
“That’s great,” she said. “I’m really happy for you.”
“Thank you, darling,” Armando said. “It grants me a sense of purpose, knowing I can continue my family’s business, their legacy. After I saw the catastrophe that struck my country, I had too. It was the only was to take the picture of my grandfather’s shop, burned to the ground, out of my head.”
Laurel furrowed her eyebrows at his anecdote. “This is back home? In Italy?”
“Yes,” he confirmed. “A shame. I remember digging through the rubble, seeing if there was something, anything, I can save.”
“I thought you said you had never been to Italy since the war?”
Armando’s face froze for a moment, before returning to a casual reverence. “Ah yes, I did. Forgive me, I misspoke earlier. It’s not something I like to think about.”
“Right…” Laurel said, looking up at the second floor to spot Boone, but his attention was erratic, searching the floor of the party. It only made her more uncomfortable.
“Something feels off here. Leo, where are you?” Tommy said in her ear. No answer.
“Leo?”
/
“Tommy, what’s happening?” Boone said.
“I don’t know, something’s not right.”
Boone swiveled his head, scanning his surroundings for any potential threats. He reached into his suit and grabbed the remote jammer switch, only to see the indicator light was off.
“The switch is dead!” he whispered urgently.
“What?”
“The remote jammer switch, it’s disconnected. The light is off.”
“Are you sure?” Tommy asked.
Boone held his breath as he squeezed the trigger: nothing.
“Nothing,” he said, squeezing the trigger over and over. “I’m hitting it and its not working.”
“Get over to the jammer now,” Tommy commanded. “You’re going to have to manually detonate it.”
“I’m going,” he stated, turning his heels and racing for the exit.
“Leo? Where the hell are you?”
/
“He’s not answering,” Tommy said, flipping through camera feeds rapidly.
“Slow down,” Frank said, “We cannot see what is happening when you switch feeds that fast.”
“We need to find Leo. He’s probably hanging on the side of the building.”
Tommy focused on the monitor in front of him as he tripled check through every camera available to them. Frank on the other hand, focused on a camera feed on a different monitor. Two agents standing guard in front of the door to The Piece. But after closer examination, Frank noticed they were talking with each other.
“Tommy,” he said, hitting his shoulder with the back of his hand. “Look here.”
The robot looked up, now making the same realization Frank had.
“Can we hear what they’re saying?” he asked.
Tommy grabbed hold of the mouse on the desk, navigating it to that screen and hitting a key. Audio suddenly cut in, revealing their conversation.
“When are we expecting them?”
“We already have visual confirmation they entered the party a little bit ago. One of them is going to come through here eventually.”
“What about the team on their jammer?”
“Already taken care of.”
“Good. If Rayshe found out we didn’t tell him we had an operation going and we fucked it up-“
“Rayshe would have fucked it up if we did tell him. He would’ve jumped at the first word that they were here and spooked them. The trick is to lure them in, make them feel like they’re in control first, then strike. Once we have them in our sights, we’ll engage, then, we inform the president.”
“I think you’re right about that.”
“I’m telling you, I’m getting a promotion after this. You watch.”
“Leo! Where are you?” Tommy yelled into the comms. “Don’t go after The Piece! It’s a setup! Laurel, get up and get out of there now!”
He backed away from the surveillance station, putting his hands behind his head, interlocking his fingers.
“We need to get out of here now,” Frank insisted.
“I know I know,” Tommy said. “Just let me think for a second.”
“Here.”
Tommy looked over. Frank stood by the a key hook rack on the wall, with one labeled ‘ARMORED ESCORT’.
“Grab it and let’s go! C’mon,” he said as they grabbed the keys and hurried out the door.
/
Laurel’s blood when cold as she heard Tommy yelling frantically in her ear. Armando stared daggers into her as she stuttered uncomfortably.
“I-I need to go,” she said.
“Is everything okay?” he asked.
“Yeah, I’m okay. I just, I need to go,” she said, quickly getting out of her seat.
“If you insist,” he said suspiciously. “I hope to see you again, Laurel.”
Her jaw wired shut. She brushed by him, darting for the exit.
“Tommy what the fuck is going on?” she said, looking over her shoulder as she walked. Armando stared back at her coldly. She pushed people aside and weaved her way through the party as she made for the exit. “I was set up. He knows who-“ She was abruptly cut off as a long arm reached around her face, burying her mouth in the inside of a suit jacket elbow. Another came up from beside her, wrapping over her shoulder. She was fully restrained as she was lifted off the ground and carried away, disguised in the clutter of the party and her screams silenced into her captors arm.
/
Leo placed his hand flat against the window pane, pushing it up. He hoisted himself up, swinging his leg over and into the room, the rest of him following suit. A generic looking room, with tan colored carpet and furniture, with a brown coffee table in between two couches. On the table, in a glass cube, was The Piece, glowing and emitting power.
Leo approached the display slowly, studying it carefully to watch for alarms. Just as his finger touched the glass, the door burst open, two agents in black suits rushed in, pointing handguns at him.
“Freeze!”