It Started With a Heist

Chapter 12

JAKE

"Are you sure you don't want me there with you?" Luke said, a few creases between his eyebrows. "I could pose as your bodyguard or something."

I smiled as I put on the fake Rolex, securely adjusting it on my wrist. "I'll be fine. Plus, I've got my lucky charm right here."

The watch had a GPS tracker and voice transmitter inside of it; it was a lifeline connecting me to my team in case things went south.

Luke sighed. "Alright, just promise me you'll be cautious. Declan might be a pipsqueak, but don't forget he works for Vitale now."

Over the past few months, we've dedicated ourselves to studying every aspect of Declan's criminal activities, staking him out, and working tirelessly to gather evidence. Recently, a breakthrough emerged when we received credible intel indicating he was involved in the smuggling of stolen Egyptian artifacts into the country.

I knew we needed to strike fast to be able to catch Declan red-handed. And finally, we hatched a plan.

I would assume the role of a wealthy art collector with a keen interest in acquiring valuable antiquities. Through our network of street informants, word spread like wildfire that I was actively seeking to purchase these illicit artifacts.

We knew Declan was a money-grubber, always seeking opportunities to expand his ill-gotten wealth. And like clockwork, it didn't take long before he took the bait. He reached out to one of my informants, eager to get in touch with the wealthy collector expressing interest in his merchandise.

With careful precision, I provided my contact information, and soon, the phone rang, and it was Declan himself, reaching out to set up the meeting.

As the moment of truth drew nearer, the anticipation heightened. We knew this meeting could be the turning point in the entire Met's case. Declan was the chain connecting the buyer and the thieves, and bringing him in might ultimately lead to the downfall of everyone else involved. And for this reason, I was determined to ensure nothing would go wrong tonight.

Giving Luke's shoulder a reassuring squeeze, I said, "You know I can handle Declan in my sleep. Besides, you guys will be just one activation phrase away."

A smile finally tugged at his lips. "Damn right, we will."

I flashed him another confident smile as I put on my suit jacket. Adjusting my tailored suit and glancing at my reflection in the window, I looked every bit the part of a wealthy art collector. Charles Kingsley, the spoiled heir of a wealthy family, was, indeed, ready to play his role in the game.

As I double-checked everything for the last time, I caught a glimpse of my boss, Michael Ashford, standing by the stairs, his eyes fixed on the scene unfolding before him. The rest of the team was busy preparing, putting on their bulletproof vests, and ensuring every detail was spot on for what lay ahead.

His gaze locked onto mine, and he gave me a slight nod, his expression firm yet composed. There was a shared understanding between us, unspoken words that conveyed the gravity of the situation.

It was crystal clear to everyone that if Declan managed to slip through our fingers, all the progress we had made in the case would go down the drain.

Nodding back at him, I held his gaze for a few more seconds before making my way to the elevator. I stepped in, and the last thing I saw before the door closed was Luke gathering the rest of the team. They would follow closely behind me by a few blocks so we wouldn't risk blowing up our cover.

The drive to the warehouse took about 20 minutes. I parked in front of the specified location and took a few minutes to study my surroundings and tell my team about all the possible entrances and exits I noticed.