Hugo saw his father and Clayton in the large main room, smoking cigars and discussing something quietly. He and Layla went to the table, which had the construction plans of the Habich mansion. From what it looked like, there was a special locked treasure room in the basement. Unfortunately there was places where security cameras and guards could be waiting. Layla scoffed.
"Tontos. Who keeps your treasure in the same house where you sleep?" She mumbled. Hugo nodded, agreeing.
"Yeah, that's foolish. Someone like us could easily slit their throats while they sleep and take everything they have in one night." He said. Layla slowly looked up at him with a surprised and disgusted look on her face. Hugo ignored it as he continued studying the plans.
"Hijo, Layla, you're back!" They both turned to see Abran standing. "I didn't even notice you came in," he chuckled and set his cigar in the ash tray.
"Enjoy your walk?" Clayton asked, still holding his lit cigar. Hugo shrugged.
"Smallish city. Pretty views, though." He started.
"There was a nice clock tower we went to, next to the river." Layla said. Clayton smiled.
"Ah, I know the one you're talking about. I used to visit there with my mother, Evelyn. She liked to stand and look at the river through the clock face. But then she grew too tired and ill to climb the staircase. I offered to carry her, but she doesn't want to cause too much trouble." He gestured toward the staircase with his free hand, showing that Evelyn Atkin was upstairs in her room. "Well, anyways," Clayton took a nice long puff of his cigar, then set it down. "Your cousins should be back soon. I sent Jensen to pick them up."
"Ah, Jensen, I take it his leg is better since that crash several years ago?" Abran asked, straightening his suit jacket.
"He walks with a slight limp now, but yes, much better. He was miserable cooped up in Britain. He and his friend Richard are working something now, but Jensen was more than happy to help with this small retrieval." Clayton coughed a bit, then covered his mouth with a black handkerchief. "Excuse me." He apologised, folding the small cloth back in his pocket.
"What are Richard and Jensen working on?" Hugo asked, curious since he hasn't seen either of them for a long time, and the two of them usually worked interesting cases.
"Some strange treasure hunt. They teamed up with some explorers but got caught off not so long ago, so they're trying to get more clues. That's why Jensen was in Berlin. Richard is still in Paris somewhere." Clayton told him. Hugo felt a spark of excitement.
"A treasure hunt?" He asked.
"No, a board game. Yes, a treasure hunt. You deaf, hermano?" Layla answered sarcastically. Hugo glared at her. Clayton chuckled.
"Sassy little girl, eh? Reminds me of someone who used to work with you, Abran." He looked at Abran pointedly, who seemed to stiffen up.
"Yes, I know who you're talking about." He replied.
"Who?" Layla asked. Clayton sighed.
"Some girl named Chloe," Hugo perked up when he heard the familiar name. "Worked with the Cains for quite some time in the good ol' days before falling in love and running away. Real shame she was killed in Mexico some years ago." Clayton stood up and patted Abran's shoulder. "A good partner, all in all. A bit sassy, but a clever young woman."
"Yes, I completely agree." Abran said a little too stiffly. Hugo narrowed his eyes. He knew that tone of voice, that posture, all too well. It was the please change the subject before I punch something or someone that Marcos, Abran, and Hugo all did. Well, Hugo hoped he didn't. It was a little annoying whenever they did it to him.
"Well, I'll be an even better partner." Layla stated. Abran's posture changed.
"I'm sure you will, hija." He said. Hugo bit his tongue to keep from rolling his eyes.
Jensen Atkin dropped Maribo, Adan, and Ponce off in front of the driveway. When Hugo commented on their waiting uniforms, they glared at him and threw their green velvet vests at him. Layla laughed and shook her head, muttering something about men. Maribo gave Clayton and Abran a respectful nod and started explaining the plans.
"Adan and I overheard that the treasure they stole is to be temporary kept in the treasury, then moved tomorrow morning to somewhere in Munich called 'The Pit.'" Maribo gestured to the room on the blueprints. "We only have a short timeframe to take at least half before they move it." He explained.
"From now to tomorrow morning. That's plenty enough time. Thank you, sobrinos." Abran acknowledged. The three of them sat down at a couch, each taking a cold drink from a young girl who reminded Hugo of his cousin Paz. "Hugo, Layla, you will make your way down to the basement, near the treasury, and try to clear a path for our four trucks to fit down there. And take some explosives with you, since Ciro and Cisco will be setting C-4 in the walls." Abran pointed on the plans. The twins nodded and memorized the best parts to place the explosives. "At exactly 2300, Hugo, set the explosives you have off, leaving the treasury open."
"Wouldn't it be better to uninstall cameras and things, then go in and take our half secretly?" Layla suggested. "They wouldn't even know what hit them."
"I admire your style, hermanita, but we have to use this C-4 sometime." Cisco grinned. Layla smiled back at him.
"Once the treasury is open, Maribo, Adan, Ponce, and I will be waiting with trucks and will take our half then go. Layla, Hugo, and you twins will be picked up somewhere around there. Just remember," Abran looked at each of the four carefully. "2300 is when it goes boom. Get out of the bottom floor before then, alright?"
"¡Sí, señor!" all of them said. Abran nodded.
"Get to it. We only have about three hours to get this done."
YOU ARE READING
Serpent
AdventureA girl with a past in the shadows and a future even darker. A boy with high hopes and way too much faith. And an extremely sassy author. An action packed, witty, and all over the globe adventure that has too many references, puns, and sarcasm for yo...