The Silver Serpent - A Heist Novel

The Quickest Way To a Man's Heart is Through His Fair Isle Sweater Vest

Chase and I walk into the store and glance around, but Donald is nowhere in sight. We start wandering down the aisles, and I nick a few items here and there before I catch a glimpse of Donald's signature Fair Isle sweater-vest. I nudge Chase and nod my head in Donald's direction. He acknowledges my recognition and starts moving towards the retired thief. I pick up a charger lying on display and slip it in my pocket while following Agent Chase down the aisle. He taps me on the shoulder and makes a sweeping motion with his hand, which I take to mean: circle around Donald and block his exit. I do so with a nod and come up behind him quietly. Chase approaches him from the front and pulls out his badge. Oh no.

"Donald Camry? You're under arrest for larceny, conspiracy, and aggravated assault. If you come with me-" Chase advances towards Donald. In a flash, Camry takes off at a sprint in the opposite direction. Luckily, I was prepared for this and started running as soon as Camry did and managed to tackle him to the ground. He goes to hit me in the face and knocks off my hat. He freezes for a moment as he recognizes my appearance.

"Il Serpente D'Argento," He whispers, awe and fear echoing in his voice.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Camry, but you shouldn't have shot me." I pin him down. He shakes out of his trance and goes for my head again. This time, his fist hits its mark, and my watering eyes temporarily blind me. My nose feels like it's being trampled by elephants where he punched it, and he takes advantage of my pain to turn the situation around on me. I grab his sweater vest in both my hands and give him a severe look.

"I will rip it."

"You wouldn't dare!" He gasps, reaching for my hands. I start to pull, and he releases me with his hands up in surrender. I stop pulling but keep my hands ready. He stands up, and I quickly let go of the sweater vest and pull his leg out from under him so that he's flat on the floor.

"Again, I'm really sorry, Donald," I whisper before delivering a substantial blow to his jaw. He's unconscious within seconds. Agent Chase runs up to us, sees Donald knocked out, me on top of him, and gives me a look like: really?

"Listen, he wasn't gonna go quietly, so I just..." I make a motion like an uppercut to myself, and Chase shakes his head.

"What?" I ask innocently. He sighs and hoists Donald up and over his shoulder, then looks back at me.

"Put them back," He orders, nodding at my jacket pockets. I open my mouth to argue, but Chase puts his hand up to stop me. With a huff I pull out a couple of candy bars and a bag of pretzels.

"All of them." He cocks his head to the left. I take a long breath and continue to pull knick-knacks out of my pockets and place them on nearby shelves. Chase shifts Camry on his shoulder with a grimace and gives me a final, stern look. I clench my jaw and make a sarcastic smile before pulling out a charger, a bracelet, a pair of earrings, and a candle.

"Happy?" I ask, looking up at him in irritation. He looks me up and down before turning around and beginning to walk out of the store. I pull another necklace out of my sweatshirt pocket and chuckle before shoving it back in.

"How did you know that I took all that?" I jog to catch up with him.

"I didn't." He glances back at me with a smug look on his face.

"I was gonna put it all back," I lie, striding behind him, desperately trying to keep up.

"I believe you. I mean, it's not like you're a thief or anything." He opens the door to the Cadillac and tosses Camry inside. I stop in my tracks and take a sharp inhale-that smug bastard. I give a fake laugh and hop up into the SUV beside Jessica.

"Did you catch him?" Chase cranes his neck to look back at Agent Stone.

"Um, I-" Her tone is riddled with confusion as she looks between the unconscious man on the floor, me, and Agent Chase.