* * *
It was the last day of the exhibition and I was quite fortunate to say that I had paved the way for my future. Those jewels that were on display were only there as a conversation piece, but I also had the collection from Jacob becoming quite a growing concern of its own. I had spied the two bodyguards with Grady, but they were like ghosts in the machine.
“I’m just not sure and what kind of deal can you make me on this?” This guy had obvious of wealth and it was oozing out of his pores from the Gucci loafers on his feet all the way up to the custom made tie that probably cost more than my rent in one month. “I’m sure that the price tag can be negotiated. I always like to feel like I’m getting a deal.” He was a man that had the knowledge to navigate in the boardroom. His bald head was gleaming from the light overhead.
“Mr. Booth, I do believe that the price that I’m offering is fair. With that being said, I’m sure that we can come to some kind of reasonable solution that would benefit the both of us. I’m going to write down a number and you’re killing me with even taking it down a dollar.” I had learned from the best and Jacob was a consummate professional when it came to giving the client what they wanted. “I think that you should really take a good look at this and tell me that it’s not worth the money. The woman in your life will be thrilled to have this hanging around their neck.” I was careful not to mention a wife, because you never knew what their intentions were.
I was wearing a black and red dress flowing over my body like it was made just for me. I bent slightly at the waist to give a bird’s eye view of my cleavage and the treasures that was found within. I wore no bra I felt that my sexuality was my best weapon. My sultry voice and seductive tone was also a good way to seal the deal before the ink was dry on the paper.
He moved closer and with his face practically in my bosom, he was panting and staring, but he wasn’t looking at my eyes. I scribbled the number on the paper and let him look at it with a careful eye. “I believe that we have a deal. I don’t suppose that we could finish this transaction right here and right now. I would hate to lose out and I know how this business works.” I had the paper work already done up and all I needed was his signature and a credit card number. He passed me a wad of bills and I counted them under the counter out of the sight of prying eyes.
The museum was abuzz with the electricity of people walking around and perusing those little treasures that they couldn’t get enough of. I spied two men dressed casual in pullover black shirts that really did mold to their skin. I saw the accent of their muscles and the way that their blue windbreakers didn’t exactly hide what god blessed them with.
“I don’t think that you could’ve gotten a better deal anywhere, Mr. Booth.” This was not the first business that I had done in the last two days. I had enough to keep the business afloat for some time and even more importantly a bit left over for something special for myself. I had my eyes on these pair of shoes in the window of one of the higher class boutiques in the area. Being a New York native, I knew that those shoes would not be there long. I’d purposely hidden them in the store. It was just a matter of time before the proprietor found them and put them back on display where they belonged in the window.
I had my back turned when I heard a commotion. I whirled around with my dress following to see that one of those two guys that I had seen in the windbreakers was now getting into a tussle with the security guard. It wasn’t really the security guard, but it was the security that had been left to me by the government. This big guy had wrapped his hand around the man’s neck and I could see the color of his cheeks turning a deep purple from lack of oxygen.
I was the only one that could see what he was doing. They were hidden within an alcove and I think that was by design. “Please don’t do anything to attract more attention to yourself. We don’t want to hurt anybody, but we will if we have to.” I was shaking in my boots and the voice was behind me. “I’m sure you can feel what that is pressed up against your back.” I felt the hard substance of what I could only assume was a gun, but there was also something more. The revealing motion of something up against my ass had me wondering what kind of man could get excited about doing a broad daylight robbery like this.
“Please…don’t kill me. I promise I won’t say anything. I have a wife… I mean I have a husband and a child that I care for deeply.” My words were flustered and I was only trying to instill a bit of sympathy in the man that was holding me hostage.
“Who exactly are you trying to convince? I see no visible ring on your finger and no tan line to say that you took it off during this exhibition. My brother and I need to get out of here quickly. I’m afraid that we’re going to have to take you with us. Don’t be alarmed, because we only want you as leverage in case things go sour in a hurry.” His brother had dragged the unconscious weight of the man behind the counter and out of sight of any one that might be looking.
He had a black bag and from the sound of what was inside, I would gather to say that they had gotten what they had came for. Amazingly, there was still the collection of government jewels sitting there for the taking. It was guarded by an unbreakable case and a security alarm that would pierce the eardrum of anybody that wanted to break in. Whatever they had come for was by far something on a smaller scale than the jewels that the government had given me to show off.
“I don’t want anything to do with either one of you.” I felt like I needed to do something desperate and maybe that’s the reason why I felt a little overwhelmed. I looked around for anybody that could come to the rescue. I was hoping to see a police officer making his rounds and they had been quite prevalent during the exhibition. It was obvious that they didn’t have the manpower to fully cover the whole exhibition floor. They were mostly here as a courtesy to the museum.
“You don’t have any other choice. You can either come with this, or we can kill you very quietly. You’re the only one that has seen our face and not even that security guard was able to accomplish that feat. We can’t have you describing us to a sketch artist. When we are sure that we are safe, then we will gladly let you go.” The one behind me was being courteous and nice. The one in front was menacing and showing that he was willing to do what it took whether it be killing or otherwise.
“My brother tends to use flowery words. Just help us leave quietly and that is all that we will ask of you. Be nice to us and will be nice to you.” I had a glance over my shoulder and the shaved head and the kind eyes didn’t really go together. I saw the makings of a tattoo on his neck and that told me that prison time was part of his past.
“I don’t really condone violence, but there is always a time and place to use force when necessary.” The one behind me had a nice melodic voice. It was almost angel like.
“What exactly are you doing with these two hunks over here?” The security was lying at my feet and Jessica a buxom young blonde had decided to interfere where her nose didn’t belong. “You shouldn’t be hiding men like them. If it was up to me, I would have them both displayed in my bedroom. They would be that little toy that I could call upon when the need arises. Are you going to introduce me, or do I have to guess what their names are?” The one behind me nudged me with the gun making it very clear that I had to get rid of her posthaste.
“I would like you to meet Erin and William Erickson.” The last name made her eyes go wide. She cocked her head to the side like she was trying to place them from somewhere. “These are the infamous Erickson brothers.” I’d known for quite some time that the Erickson brothers were recluse and they barely ever allowed anybody to see them in the light of day. The harsh lighting around here was making it possible to make her believe what I was saying.
“No shit. I suppose it shouldn’t be all that surprising that they would come out for something like this. Did you already hammer out a deal or do I have a chance to get in on this?” She was always using her sexual charms to steal away clients from myself and Jacob. Jessica came from a long nine of jewelers and she was not about to let anybody encroach on her territory. “I think I should at least have a chance to show off some of my stuff. Give me a few minutes to gather some of the finer items in my collection and I’ll be right back.” She was anxious to make a sale and I could see the dollar signs literally dancing in her eyes.
“That should keep her busy for a few minutes. It won’t be long, until she’s back and I suggest that you get out of here while the getting is good.” I thought that I had done my part, but they didn’t see it that way.
“That was pretty quick thinking and it might be an advantage to have you around.” I didn’t want to go with them, but I felt like I was in an untenable situation. “Like I said before, we’re not usually one for violence, but I sometimes can’t speak for my brother. I do think that it would be better that you cooperate. Let these unsuspecting people go on with their lives not knowing what’s going on. You have to know that we will fight back if cornered. Do you really want to have their deaths on your conscience? How are you supposed to live with something like that when you could’ve done something about it?” He was obviously the one that was more a wordsmith, but there was something strangely enticing about all of this.
“Follow me and try not to do anything that’s going to get any one of us killed. I have too much to live for.” He had the gun pretty much concealed behind me. We made our way down the maintenance hallway to an exit leading to the back of the building. It was a good thing that the janitor was not around and I don’t think that they would have taken kindly to anybody getting in their way. “I’m not going to try and tell you what to do, but having a hostage is only going to make more problems than it’s worth.”
“She’s really not saying anything that we don’t already know, Cody.” I had more knowledge than I did before. The other brother had slipped. Cody was obviously the shy and quiet type with this strength in reserve. He was a gentleman, but if pushed came to shove, he would push back with the best of them.
“Nobody asked your opinion. I’m the one with the street smarts. Have you forgotten who took the rap for you when you got in over your head yet again? There would’ve been no way for you to survive long enough in prison to get out relatively unscathed. Your temper would have gotten the best of you. By the way, how many times do I have to tell you not to call me by name?” Cody was the voice of reason and we walked around to the other side of the building, until we came to a nondescript white car at the corner of the lot.
It was an old model cutlass and had a roomy backseat that I had become intimately acquainted with when I was in high school. It brought back some very poignant and quite powerful memories. My first time was awkward with a kid that was all hands and no technique.
I slid in with Cody pressed up beside me with the gun digging into my ribs. The other brother was the getaway driver.
“I’m sorry about this, but I really can’t have you seeing where we’re going.” I was about to turn in his direction, but I felt a clubbing blow to my neck. Everything went black and I think that I had a semblance of falling face first into his lap. There was the presence of something against my mouth, but I didn’t have a chance to fully absorb that it was his stiff staff.