It Happened One Heist

The Theater

Maggie pulled up her motorcycle in the alley behind the theater with Monty seated behind her once again.

He stepped off the still-purring bike and Maggie shut off the ignition. He was dressed to the nines in a clean, sharp tuxedo with proper shoes and gloves to cover his simian features. He removed his helmet and lamented that he'd have to re-tidy his hair in the men's room later.

Maggie kicked the bike stand into place and removed her own helmet to quickly check her makeup in the rearview mirror. Still looked good.

Monty, however, scowled at the black catsuit she was sporting. She may have looked presentable from the neck-up but that was hardly proper evening wear.

Maggie glanced at him, sensing his disapproving look.

She unzipped her catsuit and Monty flinched, half-expecting her to be nude underneath. In reality she was wearing a black-tie tux of her own, fitted to her shapely physique.

She smirked at him. He really expected her to go commando on this mission?

She smoothed out her tailcoat and raised her eyebrows as if asking him if the attire was to his liking.

Monty only replied by adjusting her tie and smoothing out her lapel; his own way of saying she looked very dashing.

"So what show are we seeing tonight?" Maggie asked.

Monty guided her through the alley out in front of the theater, where well-dressed patrons were gathering at the doors in casual chatter. The marquis read, Kiss Me, Kate.

Maggie nodded approvingly.

"Yes, it's good to know the dowager has taste in musicals," Monty remarked as he adjusted his white gloves.

"I'll say," Maggie agreed. "It could've actually been 'Taming of the Shrew'."

"Wouldn't want to be reminded of yourself?" Monty teased.

"Shut up, Kate," Maggie laughed.

As they waited in line Maggie glanced at Monty. She had let him borrow some of her foundation to cover up the dark circles around his eyes. For someone who had fallen into such a mad obsession over the past few years he cleaned up nicely.

She had to admit, even with a few lines of age across his face, he looked just as handsome as he did when they first met.

He noticed her staring and she turned her head.

Stay focused, girl.

***

After fixing their helmet hair in the restrooms they met out in the lobby once again. They kept along the edges of the crowd so as not to look conspicuous in the security footage.

"So you brought it?" Monty quietly asked.

Maggie answered by reaching into her pocket and pulling out the decoy gourd. She lightly shook it and the tiny stones rattled inside.

"Since the old lady only carries that thing for luck, the rocks I found for this looked lucky enough to me!" said Maggie.

"Those had better not be my rocks."

"Don't worry. I picked them out from the greenhouse." She paused. "Wait, your rocks?"

Monty flushed. He had said too much.

"You have a rock collection?" Maggie guessed.

"Only from when I was in primary school!" Monty defended. "It's not so uncommon!"

"Oh, that's just adorable!"

Monty slinked away with Maggie at his heels. They needed to find their seats soon.

The crowd murmured around them as the two thieves sat down and waited for the show to begin.

Maggie skimmed through the program. "I don't think I've gone to a show like this since my parents got divorced."

Monty turned his head quizzically. "Is that so?"

"Yeah. I was so busy with work..." She tossed him a knowing smirk. "... and Jeremy was far too cheap to treat me to something like this."

"Do not forget we're here on business, not pleasure."

"I know, I know. I just missed this is all."

Monty was silent for a moment. "What was the last show you went to?"

"I was only about ten years old...? Maybe eleven. Mama took me to see Sweeney Todd."

Monty's eyes widened. A musical about revenge, class struggle and cannibalism. Hardly appropriate for a child.

Maggie chuckled. "Yeah, my Mama was a twisted little cruller. I think she and Dad got in a fight over it. The show didn't scare me, at least no more than any old fairy tale about witches eating children, you know? Although for a few days it did make me consider going vegetarian."

Monty laughed. "Yes, that's a fair reaction to that play."

"Yeah..." Maggie's gaze lowered. "Mama loved Sondheim... I miss her every time I listen to Into the Woods..."

Monty saw her eyes shine with tears.

He put his hand on hers. "Your mother had excellent taste," he assured her in a hushed tone.

Maggie turned to him and smiled. A smile that said, "I think she would've really liked you, too."

The chimes rang for the audience to settle down. The show was about to begin.

As much as Monty wanted to just sit back and enjoy the magnificent overture, he couldn't. He looked around the auditorium, and finally he spotted the Dowager Della high in her balcony seat, unaccompanied by any friends or party.

Maggie nudged him. "So, did Grandma make it?"

Mildly annoyed, he pointed to where the old woman was sitting with her opera glasses in hand. He understood that Maggie was there in case there was trouble, but he was certain he could pull it off on his own.

Monty waited until the second song into the production before getting the operation underway.

"I have to go," he whispered to Maggie, like he suddenly got an emergency call. "It shouldn't take a minute."

"Oh, of course, honey," Maggie replied, partially to tease him but also to make it convincing. "You go right ahead."

He got up from his seat, politely apologizing to the other patrons as he edged his way towards the aisle. He slinked towards the exit and smirked knowingly as Lois Lane up on stage sang her third refrain of "Why Can't You Behave?"

Once more he rushed to the men's room.

The plan was really quite simple. In the guise of an usher he would switch out the fake gourd for the real one, switch costumes once more, and hopefully return to his seat with their crime left undetected. If all went well, he and Maggie could finish the show.

He quickly changed into his disguise and left the men's room. He had to move carefully so as not to arouse suspicion. He made his way up the stairs to the balcony seating, politely nodding to the other staff members to make it convincing.

He found the Dowager Della's box and discreetly pulled the curtain aside. The old woman was too blissfully focused on the play to even notice him.

Thank you, Cole Porter.

Monty quietly reached for the decoy gourd in his pocket.

"Good to see you again, Ninja Boy..." a proud voice greeted through a smug grin.

Monty glanced to the side. He knew that voice.

Dressed in his own usher's uniform was a short, blonde-haired man with a thin face and a mustache.

Night Terror had found them.