The Spy

Chapter 21

As Isabella and John moved through the dark halls of the collector's estate, they both sensed that something was off. The security guards were nowhere to be seen, and they had encountered no resistance. John turned to Isabella and whispered, "This is too easy. Something's not right."

Isabella nodded in agreement. "I was thinking the same thing. Let's keep moving, but be on high alert."

As they approached the room where the Mona Lisa was supposed to be held, they heard a faint clicking sound. Suddenly, the door to the room swung open, revealing a group of armed men.

Isabella and John quickly retreated, taking cover behind a nearby statue. John pulled out his gun and started firing, while Isabella used her acrobatic skills to dodge incoming bullets.

As they fought their way through the group of attackers, Isabella and John realized that they were outnumbered and outgunned. They quickly retreated, making their way back to the entrance of the estate.

Once outside, they took a few moments to catch their breath. Isabella turned to John and said, "We need a new plan. They know we're after the Mona Lisa, and they're not going to make it easy for us to get it."

John nodded. "I know. We'll have to regroup and come up with a new plan. But first, we need to get out of here before they catch up to us."

Isabella agreed, and they quickly made their way back to their car, making sure to keep an eye out for any pursuit. They knew they had narrowly escaped a dangerous situation and that they would have to be more careful moving forward.

"How hard can it be to finally get this damn painting?" John muttered in frustration.

Isabella shot him a sharp look. "Don't underestimate the people we're dealing with," she warned.

John rubbed his forehead in exasperation. "I know, I know. But we've been chasing this thing for weeks, and now it's just gone."

John sat on the sofa in Isabella's living room,she claimed to have been gifted the house by an old friend his mind racing with different ideas on how they could finally get their hands on the Mona Lisa. Isabella had gone to the kitchen to pour them some wine, and he could hear her humming a tune as she opened the bottle.

He took a sip of the wine as Isabella walked back to the living room and sat next to him on the sofa. He turned to her and asked, "So, what's your plan?"

Isabella took a deep breath and said, "I think we should sell a fake Mona Lisa to the collector. We can use the money to buy the real one from the collector."

John's eyes widened as he considered her plan. "That's a risky move, Isabella. How will we even get a fake Mona Lisa?"

Isabella smiled and said, "I have a friend who can create a convincing fake. We just need to get the painting to him."

John raised an eyebrow, impressed. "You have a friend who can create a convincing fake Mona Lisa?"

Isabella nodded. "He's an artist who specializes in creating replicas of famous paintings. He owes me a favor, so I'm sure he'll help us out."

John nodded slowly, taking another sip of wine. "Okay, I see your point. But what about Max Brown? Won't he be suspicious if we suddenly have the money to buy the real Mona Lisa?"

Isabella leaned in closer to him, her eyes sparkling. "That's where my acting skills come in. I'll convince the collector that I sold a valuable painting that I inherited from my father. He won't suspect a thing."

John grinned, impressed by her cunning plan. "Okay, let's do it. But we need to be careful. We can't let Max catch on."

Isabella nodded. "Agreed. We'll need to act fast and be very careful."

John looked around the living room, taking in his surroundings. He couldn't believe that just a few days ago, he was in Venice, trying to steal the diamond for Max Brown. And now he was in Spain, planning to steal the Mona Lisa with Isabella.

He couldn't help but feel a rush of excitement at the thought of finally getting his hands on the most famous painting in the world. But he also knew that the stakes were high, and one wrong move could land them in serious trouble.

As he looked back at Isabella, he knew he could trust her. They had been through so much together in such a short amount of time, and he couldn't imagine going through this without her.

"Let's do it," he said, raising his glass of wine in a toast.

Isabella smiled and clinked her glass against his. "To the Mona Lisa," she said, her eyes shining with excitement.

"To the Mona Lisa," John echoed, as they both took a sip of their wine.