An Attic filled with Birds [Completed]

16. Let me introduce to you: Bailey

Bailey
Your Highness,

Next time you send someone to bribe me, give them more confidence. This one ran off rather quickly after I told him to do so.

You want me to drop out of politics? Only now? After more than two hundred years? If you do not mind me asking, what was the last straw that broke your precious back? I am not sure what made you change your mind.

I am curious, old friend. What have you been up to? Any updates on the raids? The barrier front? Or lack there of? Last time I checked there were none. Of course, I do not know what you do in secret. Maybe you have connections I do not know about.

Feel free to talk to me about those. Perhaps I could use it someday. Talking about things I could use, what do you think about my new campaign? Creative, is it not? I really thought outside the box this time. I did something I have not done before. I am sure you noticed. It might even be the reason I was honored by a visitor this afternoon.

The timing was a little annoying, I must add. I was in the middle of an important meeting. They were kind enough and had patience. Just letting you know, in the morning works better for me.

You have changed. You never used to send people to my home for things like this. You never used to send people to bribe me. What happened to talking it out? I would be more than delighted to sit down with you.

How about a dinner? On a roof under the stars. Just you and me. Perhaps a candle or two. A bottle of wine. We would just be talking all evening. Forgetting the time, only to be reminded of our responsibilities when we see the sun come up.

We would look each other in the eyes. We are thinking the same thing, but do not dare to say it. A modern day Romeo and Juliette. No one needs to know about us. No one.

Too intimate? I never took you for a romance kind of guy anyway. I can not imagine your wife is happy with it. She is the type to enjoy those things.

How about you send me a letter back? An easy, not so intimate start. Or email me, if you don not have the patience for our postal service. I thought it would make matters a bit more polite. Or elitist. I do not care, you decide.

But in all seriousness, how is everything? Your health? Your children, Felix and Florence? I believe there aren't any more. Your marriage? Your connections are still strong I presume? I am genuinely jealous of that last one. I got over the one before that relatively fast.

I have connections. Do not get me wrong, darling. And they can get me a lot of helpful things. The thing is, yours are pretty nice too, are they not? I would not mind borrowing them. But you do not have to give them to me. I will find a way on my own to achieve the things I want to achieve.

In fact, I have already started.

I can not wait to see how many men you will send once you find out. I will be waiting for you, though. I would not mind greeting you at my doorstep. Be honest, you miss me a little. I know you do. No need to be ashamed. It is only natural. And the wife? Does she miss me as well?

You know what, do not ask her. I do not want you to feel bad about yourself. You are lovely. No matter what others say. Or my campaign. Do tell me what you think of it.

You're move.

Yours truly,

E. Bailey

❖

Bailey
I put my pen down and reread the letter. After correcting 'you're move' to 'your move' I am done. I look at it once more, and decide to copy the whole thing on a new piece of paper. I don't want him to make fun of me for clearly having made a spelling error.

I copy the letter without any additional errors. I fold the paper in the middle, and put it in an envelope. I tidy my desk, and leave the room to go downstairs.

I walk into my dining room. Luckily, the men I invited over are still here.

'My apologies for the interruption, gentlemen,' I say. 'It was urgent.'

'It's fine,' one of them says.

'We have the whole day anyway,' another adds.

'That's good to hear. Where were we?'

'On the raid tonight.'

'Right, thank you. The raid.'

I walk behind the filled chairs at the table. Before I sit down at my own chair, I hand the letter to a butler.

'Priority,' I say.

He nods and leaves the room as I sit down.

'So,' I say. 'Was everything clear in the letters you received?'

'It was, sir.'

'So you all know what to do?'

'Yes, we do.'

'We did have a question, though.'

'Go ahead.'

'What will you do to protect us?'

I look at the man with a confused face.

'What do you mean?' I ask.

'What if we get caught? And our identities are out there for the police?'

'That won't happen, trust me.'

'It would eventually lead to you as well.'

'Probably. But it won't happen.'

'How are you so sure?'

'I would have been serving three life sentences in prison for treason.'

That made them quiet.

'I know what I'm doing,' I continue. 'You don't need to know everything. Just do your part of the job, and I'll do mine.'

The men nod.

'Do you have all the equipment and clothing you need for tonight?'

'We do, sir.'

'Great. How is going with the nerves?'

Some of them exchange glance with each other, others look down.

'Well?' I push.

'It's quite something,' one says.

He sits on the other side of the table from me. I lean in to hear him better.

'Go on,' I encourage.

'Raiding the National Treasure Museum is not something any of us have ever done. And to bust in and fight against time...'

'I understand.'

'But we're willing to do it. It's why we're here in the first place.'

'Of course.'

'Perhaps you could go over the contents of the letter and the plan again? To make sure we all completely understand?'

'Of course I can do that. Is everyone interested in that?'

Around the table people nod.

'I will do that then. However, does anyone want some more coffee or tea before we begin?'