Chapter 6
The plan was simple.
“It’s too simple,” Nick’s voice was ripe with worry.
“How can something be too simple?” Ethan shot back.
“It won’t work!”
“Yes it will!” the two of them continued to argue for a few minutes.
“Enough! Now this is happening and if I have to get Fletcher to do it I will. Who do you trust more, Fletcher or yourself?” Ethan said and Nick finally agreed. The plan consisted of a few simple steps. One, Ethan walks into the jeweler’s and asks to see the item he wants. Two, when Ethan texts him, Nick throws a rock through the front window of the store. The store was one of those that has big front glass windows that displayed the fanciest items. Three, Nick runs away and goes back to the apartment. Four, in the chaos that will soon arise, Ethan pockets the jewelry and steps through the window pretending to inspect the scene. Five, as the cops pull up even more commotion will happen and Ethan will slip away.
Nick sighed, “Fine, but let’s get this over with. I can’t believe I’m risking this for your stupid girlfriend,” he muttered the last part.
“She is not stupid, and she’s not my girlfriend,” ‘Not yet’ he thought.
“If she isn’t your girlfriend why are you stealing expensive jewelry for her?”
“Touché… Let’s go,” The two of them slipped out onto the fire escape and climbed down. The fire escape was connected to the window in the studio where they train and the front door is connected to the kitchen but you have to go through the living room to get to the kitchen, so the studio was the best way to get out without having to answer too many questions from the team. Ethan was already uneasy about telling Nick, he didn’t need the whole team to know that he was pinning for a cop. Dawson would disprove for sure and Sam might think that they should smack some sense into him; she is all about not fraternizing with the enemy, or with someone on the team, or with anyone really. Moriah would second the smacking and Reid wouldn’t bandage him afterwards, she would leave the first aid kit though. Fletcher would ask if she was hot and Nick would end up defusing the whole situation. In the end, smacking or not, there would be tension and Ethan didn’t want that.
The two of them made their way down to the street and walked the few blocks to the jeweler’s. Ethan strutted into the small store with confidence. He made sure not to seem suspicious. The store was only the size of two bedrooms but it was still packed with display cases and shelves displaying all sorts of dazzling gems. One could not look around without the light glinting off of one sparkly surface or another. It was easy to get distracted just gawking at the different metals and gemstones. Ethan started to browse. He weaved his way through the small crowd of people that occupied the cramped space. He was trying to move fast but he also wanted to take his time to find the right thing for her. When a worker was finally free he asked to see a pair of earrings that would match the necklace he had gotten her. When he was satisfied with the earrings he sent a text to Nick and then waited. Moments later a rock smashed through the front window and Nick dashed off. So far the plan was working. Inside the store was utter chaos. A few people had screamed and one person still was. A worker went into the back room to probably call the cops. The other workers were trying to calm everyone down. A few people had gathered around the smashed window while a few others had dropped their potential purchases and ran out of the store. Ethan pushed through the crowd and made his way to the window. He bent down and pretended to inspect the rock that flew through the window. A few minutes later the cops arrived and had people start filling out of the store. The workers were now apologizing to the scared and grumpy customers. Ethan climbed out through the window, which was now just a big hole in the wall, in order to bypass the security. Ethan kept his head down and when no one was attending to him he slipped away down the alleyway, little did he know that he could have given the earrings to her right then and there.
