The story of Payday

Chapter 25: August Lindenhurst at your service

It had been two weeks since Alaska and Bain had done nothing. The crew was becoming angered and eventually, he gave in.

"Ok ok fine. I've been looking into it and Locke has a lot of money invested into the Garnet group" Bain told them.

"The guys we hit five years ago?" Dallas questioned.

"Yeah. If we hit them again that should screw over Locke's financials"

"That's a good first step" 

"Before we hit them however we need someone," Bain said.

"You're joking, right? It is idiotic to bring in someone new at a time like this?" Dallas pointed out.

"Yeah I know but we need him. I think he can help us figure out what is going on here" Bain explained.

"Ok fine. Who is it"

"August Lindenhurst. He's an art thief from Long Island. He should be showing up in a few days"

Those few days passed and he showed up. He was older in his fifties with gray hair and an olive suit on. 

"Well, you just reek of upper class," Hoxton said looking him up and down.

"And you don't Mr. Hoxworth?" August replied.

"How come none of us have heard of you?" Dallas asked.

"Simple. I'm a ghost. I go in, get what I'm after then I leave without a trail of bodies" 

"You do realize we kill hundreds of people each job right?"

"Yes. I find it quite distasteful but I find myself aligned with your goal"

"What would that be?" 

August chuckled.

"When I steal art I don't do it for profit. I keep it and appreciate it. You've forgotten your original purpose haven't you?"

"What does that mean?" Hox asked.

"When you and Bain founded this gang you were freedom fighters. Now you're not much more than average criminals. I was recruited for a specific purpose and I plan to fulfill said purpose. Now if you'll stop accosting me I see a bar and I'm going to get some whisky"

August's words left the gang speechless. As he was at the bar taking a big sip of whisky he had one last thing to say.

"By the way, call me Duke"

It was a few days later when Duke's skills would be tested. The gang was going to hit the Garnet Group again on Nathan Garnet's birthday. He was celebrating in the office which meant low civilian presence. He entered the same way Dallas did all those years ago using a window washing platform and then cutting a hole in the glass.

"Ok first thing you need to do is get to Mr. Garnet's office and to his computer" Bain instructed.

Duke did so expertly dodging the oddly low number of guards and plugging in a thumb drive allowing Bain access to the computer. Bain chuckled.

"Guess what the vault code is?"

"123" Duke laughed.

"Even better 666" 

Duke let out a quiet chuckle 

"Ah, so we're robbing Samael. Now I'm a little nervous" Duke laughed.

Bain joined him.

"Ok so what now?"

"You need to find Ralph Garnet. I'm in the security feed and it looks like he's on the roof having a smoke you can wait for him in the west stairwell"

Duke did so and when the young entrepreneur came down the stairs his eye instantly widened at the sight of Duke.

"Not again," He said.

"Again I'm afraid," Duke said as he pointed his gun at him and approached.

Ralph was already on the ground so Duke pulled out a zip tie and bound his hands. Duke reached into his pocket and pulled out the keycard. Once he had it he put it in his suit pocket and pulled out a flask and took a sip.

"Want some?"

"What is it?"

"Whisky"

"Umm sure"

Duke crouched down and put it up to Ralph's mouth and poured some in.

"Holy fuck that's strong"

Duke laughed.

"Yes, I suppose so. Well, I should be going. See you in five years" He joked.

Duke left the stairwell and made his way to the vault. He put in the keycard and punched in "6 6 6" Once he was in, he used a glass cutter to take out the diamonds and put them into bags. Once he was done he brought all the bags to a zip line one of Bain's insiders set up and started sending the bags to an adjacent building before following suit. Duke had cleaned out over ten million dollars worth of diamonds which plummeted Garnets stock prices and by Proxy Locke's.