The Heist

 The schematics were laid out on the table. We took positions on each side and analyzed the castle. "Built in 1623," Nat began, "as a prison for pirates and smugglers, it had largely remained intact and had been planned to open as a museum until-"

"Until pretty boy here decided he wanted a fancy new bachelor pad." Mikhael threw a magazine on the table with the headline: Marcus Grey, son of affluent inventor Chris Grey, buys Shallow Castle as summer home! Full interview inside! Mikhael continued the intel on Grey. Apparently, his mansion in Miami had bored him with the endless hallways and three pools and technological innovations. He wanted something more...rustic. Of course, he did not go completely off the grid. "He's been entrusted to secure his father's latest plans: an AI-operated tank with higher speed and durability than any current military vehicle known." And that was the target.

"Grey is throwing a party to flash his wealth to all the other rich boys and girls," Cassie explained.

"Exactly," I finished, "which will allow me to enter without anyone realizing."

"And I am coming with you." The room went quiet. I motioned for Talia and Mikhael to leave. And then an argument broke out. For every point I made ("You are too inexperienced to handle a job like this") she rebutted with which I could not deny ("I will never be experienced if you keep me locked up here with Talia"). Maybe my little sister was ready.

Mikhael drove us along the long, narrow bridge leading to Shallow Castle. There were several other limos waiting for us to arrive as there was only room for one vehicle.

I wore a black tuxedo with a dark grey vest and a dark red tie. Cas clutched my arm. She wore a rose gold dress and had her hair draped around her shoulders. She looked okay.

At the entrance were metal detectors along with a couple of guards for pat-downs. We passed through the metal detectors. No alarms. Then I was searched. It was nothing. Even if I was hiding something, I could most likely keep it hidden from them, but we could not risk it so I was naked. Someone was not having a pleasant time. Cas was making a fuss as the guard patted her down.

She eventually calmed down. I took a sigh of relief. The buyer had paid half upfront, and I did not enjoy giving back money. She made her way through the checkpoint without getting kicked out, so I supposed she did not handle her first one too horribly. I waited for her next to the drinks table.

We were standing in front of the drink table. We each picked up a glass of champagne and made our way across the dance floor near the stairwell leading to the tower. As if the metal detectors with their white, sleek appearance did not stand out enough, there was a golden chandelier swinging gently above and several modern lights plastered on the ceiling and walls. Narrow spaces of darkness, places of depressing nature, of decrepit prison air, still lingered between illumination.

I took a long swig of champagne as I examined the tower door. A conventional door lock. Conventional may be the wrong word, antique is more like it. "It says here that Grey requested a locksmith in the nearby town to create a copy of an old key," Talia spoke through the earpiece. "Surely he has one, and I'd fair a guess in saying his head of security has one as well. Find Them." I told Cas to wait by the door as I went out into the crowd of partiers. It did not take long to find her. Long blonde hair roped into a ponytail. She wore a dark uniform with an emblem I had never seen before, that of a shark with waves beneath it. The private company Grey hired as security. Grey was wearing a bright white suit with a pink tie. He was walking down the staircase and waving to the partiers.

After returning to Cas, we came up with a plan.

Cas has lighter fingers, I admitted to myself. It was up to her to get the key. The man himself wandered down the stairs and addressed a few of his special guests. She messed her hair a bit and dumped her champagne into a nearby plant. She made her way towards Grey. I stayed by the door. She tapped him on the shoulder; he turned around. She struck a conversation. There was laughter, smiles, a motion of shyly brushing her hair back. Then came a kiss. My face turned red hot. The job was the last thing on my mind, I could only think about bashing Grey's face in. I threw down my empty glass and started towards them. But then Grey took her hand and led her towards me. He reached for his pocket and out came a key, rusted and very much matching the prison's age. Cas winked at me as they walked by and I heard the tower door clink open. Grey did not check to lock it. I made sure to do it for him.

I followed three floors behind them. Too close and he'd hear my steps. We reached the top. Of course, there were two guards posted outside the room. They moved aside for Grey and his female companion. I was trapped. All I could do was hope and wait for Cas's help. Roughly five minutes later we, the guards and myself, heard glass shattering. Then a thud, both came from Grey's room. The guards unholstered their guns; I loosened my tie.

The fight had cost me a bleeding nose, a bruised side, and a momentary flash of death when a guard nearly tossed me over the railing and down the 30 story tower.

I entered the room. The lavish carpet I stepped on matched the newly painted walls and ornate king-sized bed across from the entrance. And next to the bed was Cas, sipping champagne next to an opened safe and an unconscious Marcus Grey. I was proud, but I could not let her see that. I located the opening in the wall Talia had told us about and I gave a thumbs up into the darkness. Seconds later, a zip line shot into the stone wall with the magnetized handles slowly following. "Ladies first," I said, motioning to our escape. I did check to make sure she had what we came for. She did, and she escaped down to Mikhael in the boat. I followed. Contract complete.

W3LCH0