Together In Paris

Social Media

Making fake social media accounts were Theo's speciality. (He liked role playing blogs. Not that anyone could know that. Not even Neal) within the week, Kate's new profiles were up and active. Theo hacked the computer coding to make bad posts six months ago appear on Kate's profile. The more history on the page, the more genuine the profile.
He even filled the pictures with bad memes, photos of landmarks from holidays three years back. There was nothing to suggest this wasn't a real account, but there was no picture of the account owner, which would be maddeningly unhelpful.

Especially when the profile picture was changed to two hands. The girl's hand, was wearing an engagement ring. Not just any engagement ring.

Sara's engagement ring.

Theo spread the news of the fake couple's engagement across all of the websites he had created accounts for. Facebook, twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, even g+. He wasn't taking any chances. Nothing else would draw Neal out, and if he sensed a trap, he may never be seen again.
They didn't want to spook him. For his sake.

"Think it will work?" Neal asked.

Theo gave a long exhale as he leaned back in his computer chair to examine his work.

"Only time will tell."

-

It was almost three weeks since Neal had heard from Alex. He was beginning to think she wouldn't get back to him at all. Then, much to his surprise, a text came through his burner phone. He had brought it specifically for Alex, but still he almost cried out in delight to read her name.
It was a photo message, but what was inside wasn't a picture. It was a screenshot.

A Facebook profile of a girl named Kate, excitedly announced her engagement to someone unknown. Attached to her post, was a photograph. Neal recognised the ring instantly. Whoever stole it, hadn't fenced it. They had given it to their girlfriend.
This was no longer a case of stealing it before it got fenced. Getting it back would mean stealing it from an innocent woman with a criminal fiancé. That would break her heart. And if she didn't know what he was like, it might even break the only thing keeping this thief from spiralling deeper into a world of crime.
Neal couldn't have that. He'd been there. In that guy's shoes. If it wasn't for Sara, he would have gone back for more crime. He wasn't willing to seal someone else's free pass out of that world.

He googled the name on the top of the Facebook account, and came across a twitter account for the same girl. There were two tweets sent this week. They read:

"Going to France for a holiday before the wedding next week!"

And

"Notre Dame here we come!"

Neal's eyebrows rose up. He glanced out of the French window that led to the balcony. On the horizon, just close enough to be seen, was Notre Dame Cathedral. His classic charming smile made a comeback.
Neal phoned Alex.

"How would you like to go to a wedding with me?"