The Two Lives of Aubrianna McClane

Chapter Four

Present Time

One perk of dating a thief that was an heir to billions of dollars and a very large, expensive, company, was that we got to travel nicely. By 'nicely', I mean private plane.

The bedroom on this plane was as familiar to me as the bedroom at my New York apartment (which was by far the closest thing that felt like home). Ben and I store our duffel bags (which have an equal amount of gear and clothing in them) and goes to the main area where he took the pleasure of making it a bachelor pad.

With a surround sound system and a television bigger than my kitchen, we were entertained for the eleven hour flight. Ben fell asleep halfway through the second Mission Impossible, leaving me to my thoughts. His head was in my lap, my fingers mindlessly stroking his hair and forehead occasionally. My eyes glaze over as past memories hit me.

8 Years Prior

Daddy and I were at a carnival. He said we were going to 'people watch'. With my hand in his, we walked around the park staring at rides and watching how others interacted. How some couples were always touching somehow even if it was just a hand on the small of their back, or a slight brushing of the hands or shoulders, but how other couples argued and then kissed as if that made them close.

I point that out to Daddy.

"Some people think that physical closeness is the same as mental closeness baby girl. Don't ever think that. Find a boy who would rather learn how your mind works before he even asks you out. That's the kind of boy who will fall deeply and utterly in love with you."

Nodding, I think about what he said the whole day trying to figure out what it meant. At nine years old, I wasn't quite sure what he really meant. Six years later I would still be struggling with what he said. It wouldn't be until I was 16 and met Ben that I truly understood what he meant.

At a quarter to six that night, the sky darkens and daddy and I start our favorite crowd game: Take and Give. He would point out someone from the crowd and I would steal the most valuable thing they had on them (usually a wallet or piece of jewelry). Next I would bring it to daddy, he'd approve of it, and by then the person would have been lost in the crowd. I had five minutes to return the object without them noticing it was missing.

At a place like a carnival, this was a little harder. Someone might see a game they all of a sudden want to play and go for their wallet. At the mall, it was easier to guess when people would spend money.

That night, Daddy pointed to a teen boy and girl. "What can you tell me about that boy?"

I stare at him for a minute, my head titled slightly to the left and my amber eyes slightly squinted. I drink in the details of his figure. Finally I say, "His watch is a knock off brand. He's trying to impress someone. Not his girlfriend though. Her Walmart purse shows she doesn't care about money all that much. He's standing more on his right leg than his left suggesting some form of injury. Looking at his build, I would guess a sports accident. The most valuable thing on him with probably be his wallet."

"What else?" Daddy probes, trying to get me to see something else. Something different. There was a reason daddy chose him. Why?

My squint intensifies. He reaches for his girlfriends hand and that's when I notice it. "The ring on his right hand. It looks old. It's not rusted or worn though, and the gold color suggests actual gold. A family heirloom. Either way, that's the most valuable thing he owns."

"Atta girl, Aubri. You know the rules."

Without another word from him I'm slipping into the crowd, making my way towards the couple. Whenever someone stares at me, I siddle close to someone old enough to be a parent and act like their child. They never notice, and the person staring looks away.

It takes me seconds to find my way to the couple. I wait for the perfect moment when the boy and girl switch sides, leaving his right hand open. Acting as if I'm running towards a ride, I bump past him and subtly slip the ring off his finger. He doesn't notice the lack of his ring, but yells at me to be careful.

Circling back around, I find daddy and show him the ring. Kneeling down to my level he kisses my forehead. "Once you leave me, I'll start the timer. You have five minutes to return the ring. Whenever you're ready."

Standing up, he ruffles my black hair. As he stands, a piece of paper falls from his flannel breast pocket. Grabbing it from the floor I can't help but glance at it.

I get a second shot of it before daddy is snatching it from my hands, an apologetic smile on his face. "Sorry Aubri, thats work stuff and not for your eyes yet."

I nod, understanding. Daddy had instilled earlier in me that some things were a 'need-to-know' status and if he didn't tell me, I didn't need to know. While frustrating, I accepted it.

In a flash I was back in the crowd.

Less than five minutes later I'm returning to Daddy, the ring securely on the boys hand once again.