outside the room.
Hiding inside didn’t make sense because I had no way of knowing what the layout would be or if that could possibly be an option.
A remote controller could work. I jotted down some possible scenarios with that.
Coming up through the secret room would only work if the tunnels weren’t damaged. That would be an ideal option, except for the time constraint. I only had one chance at this and if I came upon an underground obstacle, that would be the end of this job. I was willing to risk that on exit, but not on entry with the timeslot I had to work with.
Seducing the guards might have been an option, but that too held no guarantees.
I considered a slight of hand swap for a fake ring. That seemed like the safest option. It was always hard to go off a picture to ensure proper sizing and all, but I worked up the plans to try.
I wasn’t comfortable with this job, but I was determined. I hated going in cold, but I’d make the most of it and prayed I could find the secret escape route in the room and that it wasn’t boarded up or anything. I was banking on that one factor.
As quickly as possible, I dressed in a suit and tie and chose a latex face I hadn’t worn in a while. My ticket for the evening was left in a locker at the train station. I knew there were cameras in the area, so just to cover my ass I never went to retrieve things in the same cover I’d be using for the evening.
There was nothing suspicious or questionable during pickup, but I never knew when I was being watched. With the ticket in hand, I headed back to the apartment, taking a longer than necessary route and changing directions multiple times. If someone was following me, I wasn’t making it easy on them.
I always recognized that if someone absolutely wanted to track me or find me, they could, but I wouldn’t make it a cake walk for them.
My thoughts immediately went back to Grant and pain shot throughout my chest. I rubbed it unconsciously. Would he try to find me? A part of me was hoping so, but I couldn’t count on it. I had left him. That had been my decision. I couldn’t just go back and expect everything to right itself. I had to live with my choices and pray I didn’t regret them in the long term.
Back at the house, I felt like a robot as I walked through the motions of preparing for the evening. It was a rare occasion for me to be going in as a woman. I chose a little black dress that I knew would distract any male from paying attention to my face, but wouldn’t draw enough attention to thwart the heist. It was a fine line I was working with.
I took a look in the mirror, satisfied with the results. One last deep breath, and I grabbed my bag and left. I had a lot to prove both to myself and to the Force. I needed the night to go flawlessly.
*****
Getting in the door was easy. I mingled and took the champagne offered. I hadn’t eaten all day and was getting a little lightheaded quickly. The trays of hors d’oeuvres floating around were a joke for a wolf shifter. That tiny food was nothing but a tease, but I at least took a few to put something in my empty stomach and slowed my drinking before it interfered with the mission ahead.
When the doors opened to the auction item display room, I was one of the first in. My eyes searched out the ring quickly, but I paid special attention to several items on the opposite side of the room. I couldn’t draw any attention to the ring.
“Oh, look at this piece,” I said regarding a beautiful emerald and diamond bracelet that had to be worth twice as much as that stupid ring. I was honestly tempted to take it for myself, but I knew that was the alcohol talking. I never took more than the job required. Even as a thief, I had my work ethics and stealing for personal desire was a no-no for me.
I oohed and aahed over several pieces. When I did finally come to the ring, I wrinkled my nose and declared it the ugliest piece in the room. Others around me agreed.
Unfortunately, there were too many