The Ultimate Heist - The Phoenix's Feather

✪ Two | Reunited

Carrie sneaked through a rowdy crowd, to her little hideout whom she shared with five other pupils of Ken's, Ariel Cheng, Lena Quinn, Harris Presley, Jacqueline Smith and Xavier Alexis.

  'I found the stone. It's locked in tempered glass, on the highest floor of her mansion,' Carrie said to them, sharing her recently found information. 'I need someone to catch the beast lurking under the red cover, under the gemstone. I know there's something under there.' She shared the food Xavier had set on the table. Stolen English breakfasts, definitely not one of the best dinners she's had, but better than the worst.

  'I don't know if we can, it could be fatality for us. You know Marilyn despises us, she literally calls us 'The Thieves' Showmen',' Lena reminded them. Ariel looked at her with a stunned look. Lena was always overlooking expensive cases like this, especially when it involved sharing the loot.

  'You're acting so peculiar nowadays, Lena. Carrie already said she was splitting the fortune among us,' Ariel told her, eating a forkful of egg. 'Aren't you glad we're getting the money and she's not hoarding it?'

  'Well—duh. It's just been so wrong now, since Gentleman Slick—Ken, left. He hasn't got much to leave for, and he could've at least brought us on the run. We helped him get some hard-earned cash, don't forget,' Lena said, her face frowning. Lena was Ken's second favourite after Carrie, and she treated it like a gift from God.

  'Don't worry. It's our last heist before we can finally live the dream. We have to cook up a plan—fast. The auction's soon, Sunday. Keith said he's been keeping track of the days since Marilyn's announcement of the auction,' Xavier said, tempting them a lot. Keith was Ken's brother, and kept in touch with the gang. He gave them updates on their latest heist, and was a news reporter for Greenwich.

  'We need a group, for the heist. About three. Part of me is thinking we split into twos, but it'll be a plethora of setbacks, considering our difference of abilities,' Jacqueline said, dusting off her plate. Jacqueline was more or less the brainy one, and adjusted her glasses whenever she made a statement that sounded smart.

  'Lena can take on the hacking, she's got a knack for coding. I used to be in the same computer class with her, she learned faster than a cheetah's running speed,' Ariel said, walking over to what they called the 'kitchen', which was really just a small mini fridge and sink. She finished her food and put the plate into the sink. She saw the embroidery, and schemed up an idea.

  'You ever heard of replication?' She asked the group.

  'Of course, the greatest heists always include replication,' Harris said. 'What are you trying to copy? The stone?'

  'No, definitely not. I could do it, however—that's not the solution right now. We could replicate the next best thing,' Ariel told them.

  'What could be the next best thing after the most wanted diamond in London?' Harris asked.

  'THE marble plate in one of her kitchens, most likely the most extravagant-looking one,' Ariel said, washing her plate till it was dancing under the light.

  'What's so special about a marble plate where you're overdoing the 'the'?'

  'Her signature is on it, in golden ink. One of her prized possessions, she wouldn't dare put it on sale. The ink was very very valuable, she had connections with someone from the US to get it. Some say it was her ex-husband.'