Disturbances

There are a handful of universal constants in this world. Chief among them are the tax man, death, and paperwork. While we constantly strive to limit our problems with that trio, ultimately, you cannot escape their grasp. After having my mind blown with some recent training, the stack of paperwork that I’ve had to focus on has skyrocketed. Ultimately, it will be worth the hassle, but at the moment it’s been a time sink that’s captured the vast majority of my free time.

Despite the ever-expanding collection of education, I’ve knuckled down to focus on the stories for my patrons. When I sat down to start drafting, I thumbed through the previous installments of Jessica’s life. Halfway through, I found what I was searching for, so I grabbed the character and searched for a way to bring him into her latest heist. While I toiled for the general shape of the tale, a fun memory flared to life. For those that have seen White Collar, you should remember the episode where Neil committed his crime while another thief was working and received the bulk of the attention. With that inspiration, my mind slid the competitor into Jessica’s latest job.

After disabling all the cameras in a museum, Jessica saunters through the empty halls where she stumbles onto someone from her past…

Disturbances

As a fleeting shadow glided through the empty hallways, a flickering pinprick of glittering gold cut through the darkness. When the ethereal visage stopped, Jessica emerged from the darkest swath of shadows and sauntered toward a glass case containing an eclectic collection of precious stones. While a golden rod flew about the woman’s fingers, she circled the display. After completing a few circuits of the displayed wealth, a sly smile tugged half her mouth while she tapped a cylinder against the protective barrier. “It’s a shame that I have other responsibilities staking their claim on me at the moment.”

“Who are you?”

The lithe woman pressed her fingertips to the mask, clutching her face as she turned to greet the mysterious stranger. “I’m afraid the rewards for tonight belong to me. Please leave so you do not embarrass yourself.”

A growl tore through the displays while the other thief’s fingers tightened into a dense fist. “I don’t care who you are, just step away from my haul.”

“Harrison, were you the one who disabled the cameras?”

The crook’s lips quivered as he marched to the displayed gemstones. “It’s good to know that my reputation is growing.”

“I won’t argue that its weight is expanding,” Jessica said with an exaggerated shrug. “Unfortunately for you, girth is no replacement for competence.”

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