Confidentially Revealed

PART 3

-Hale-

The bored billionaire roamed his home city in complete peace. That is, it was the only place Kat had ever heard him say “We’re home”, out of all of the mansions and estates he owned in almost every country. The small girl beside him seemed a little less than excited to be out in the fresh air of winter in New York. But of course, That’s only before they spot friends.

“Okay! All I’m saying is, if Gabrielle had double checked on the zebra before we went in, the Bagshaws wouldn’t have had to take out the lion tamer.” The girl with the shorter frame and pixie-cut black hair said as she clung to the handsome young man.

“A zebra is not something to argue over, Kat.”

“No, but a Vermeer certainly is, Hale.”

The boy looked down at the girl he was proud to call his own. Although people didn’t understand why a boy with such charisma and money would be with such an average girl like her, they would never know how good a thief she happened to be.

“So, why can’t we go back to Uncle Eddie?” He asks, casually placing his coat over the shivering girl.

“Annual Family Heist planning. Apparently, we aren’t allowed to know anything until after Belize,” she responded, admiring her family of legendary thieves.

I mean, did you honestly think the real Mona Lisa was still being kept in Italy? Or that, after a difficult two weeks, the Cleopatra Emerald and the Antony Emerald were not replaced? Of course, the kind of con men W. W. Hale the Fifth and Katarina Bishop had become, were only the kind that stole, to give back to a rightful owner. That doesn’t mean the rest of her family had chosen to join their ‘doing the right thing’ group.

“Why can’t we stay at your house?” The girl’s blue eyes looked up to find his.

“My dad came home yesterday. He hasn’t really gotten over...”

“Hazel’s will going to you?”

“Yeah.” Almost nothing could tip Hale over other than his only close relative, his grandmother. She passed away about a month ago. Kat, trying to lighten things up said, “We could go stay in Venice for a while? I remember you asking yesterday if dinner sounded good there.”

Hale’s smile turned up from one side. “I’m in the mood for something else. How does Hong Kong sound?”

“Busy.”

“Busy is good,” he remarks.

“Busy is good,” she repeats, “Crowds, are not.”

Kat looked up at the dark skies, knowing the sun was still somewhere behind the threatening clouds. Hale tried again, “I believe there’s still a Raphael in Rome with my name on it.”

“That’s more like it,” Kat let her toothy smile widen over her pink cheeks.

“Perfect. I’ll call Marcus and–” Hale stopped short. “Marcus is on his only vacation for these next two weeks,” his groan must have meant he realized his long-time butler, and only other friend, would not be there at his every wish and command.

“And no Marcus, means no jet.” He concluded. Kat let out a laugh and teased him, “Hale? The Hale? No jet? Two weeks?”

“It can be done,” he argued.

The young couple walked down the narrowing sidewalk and found themselves in front of a gorgeous, gold encrusted building, standing with its glass doors open and people rushing in. At the very top, the only words it read were: HALE.

They walked into the ominous space, littered with baggage and bell-boys. But as a Hale walked through the doors, people began to stare openly. The youngest Hale of the sort. Looking much older for only being seventeen. And as they stood at the counter, the woman behind it couldn’t help but notice the amount of ease with which he handed over a credit card for a presidential suite. Kat felt eyes on her from everywhere. She felt much too little. Not in the height sense, because she was accustomed to being short and small. But because she didn’t have the kind of richness and expense and just overall extravengentness to be with someone like Hale. Everywhere she went, she was reminded of just that.

“We have one suite left, sir.”

Hale gave her a grin, “Perfect. Swipe the card.”

But something seemed to happen in the moment two cards were swiped at the same time. The couple next to them seems to have noticed as well.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Hale. There is only one room. Give me one moment while I try to sort this out.”

The woman finally dropped her gaze from him and walked over to her co-worker. And all too familiar, he heard a purring voice, full of annoyance, boredom, and desire.

“Fancy seeing you two here.” Macey Mchenry’s daunting smile was much too tempting. Kat took in the inadequate length of a dress she was wearing, along with shoes much too high to feel proper balance.

“Macey,” Hale opened his arms up. As the tall and beautiful girl walked over to give him a hug (Which in Kat’s opinion was entirely too close), she’s left staring at another boy. Who stood with his hands in his pockets and his head hung to the side, taking the figures before him in. Macey found herself back at his side. And though she was playing the perfect part, Kat knew there was a certain unease about the two not touching or standing too close. “Is this your boyfriend?” Hale asked with a slight smirk, trying to ease away from Macey. Hale now found himself happily taken, and however stunning Macey McHenry appeared to be, he did not find himself rushing to be another admirer. Even though Macey was about to lie, there was no controlling the boy beside her, as if by instinct, saying, “No.”

“Oh. Well, it’s a pleasure to meet you,” Hale extended his hand. “Zach.” He shook it uncomfortably. Hale turned to Kat, remembering she was still there, saying, “Macey, you know Kat. And, Zach, this is Kat.” Neither of the groups were quite sure why they told the truth. Why they didn’t change their names just in case. So maybe that’s why Zach dared to ask, “So how do you know each other?”

“Auctioning event,” all three said at the same time. “Would it by any chance involve an Aunt Abby and a Calloway necklace?” Zach asks. “And a personal business card handed from Abby to Kat for our school.” Macey made eye contact with Zach, catching the slight change in understanding that they were not normal teenagers either.

Macey nodded and asked Hale, “So, not to be rude or anything, but we have three more people waiting in the car, and I’m pretty sure you own a few more houses in New York, or could just jet off for the weekend...” Macey let her voice drag on. Hale smirked and inquires, “Do you not enjoy my company, Ms. McHenry?”

“At the moment? Quite frankly, no.” She cocked her hip and stared straight into Hale’s gorgeous blue eyes. Macey allowed herself to drool over his blonde cut, and his tall, broad shoulders. Hale returned her stare, noticing completely on accident, the knife around her upper thigh. Taking a closer look at the boy next to her, he saw he was also decently armed. “Put short, I’m stuck in New York for the next two weeks and both our homes happen to be occupied at the moment.” Hale and Macey gave each other a glare that could only dominate territory.

“Why are you here, Macey?”

“School extra credit,” Zach responds in a blink. But Hale ignored Zach, still having his eyes locked on the intriguing girl beside him. “Macey, why are you really here?”

“Cammie.” Zach pretended to be indifferent, but somewhere inside he was angry at Macey for exposing so much. Somewhere in the back of Kat’s mind lay a memory of Macey mentioning a girl who liked to be in vents by that name. Hale recalled a scary story of terrorists and and being chased. Something seemed to click then between Hale and Macey. All she says is, “I need to keep Cammie safe.” And the way she said it made a shiver run down Hale’s back.