Inspired by the actual Whitworth Gallery theft of '03. I've done my best to stick to the facts but, obviously, I don't actually know what happened that night so my work is definitely a work of fiction.
I also don't own Leverage.
Please enjoy and review.
On Saturday, April 26th of 2003, three paintings, a Van Gogh, a Picasso and a Gaugin were stolen from the Whitworth Gallery, Manchester, England, evading every single security guard, camera and alarm. The Paintings were promptly found, thanks to a mysterious tip, in a nearby public toilet, along side a note which read "The intention was not to steal, only to highlight the woeful security."
What if it had been the Leverage Crew responsible for such a heist?
"How can we help you Miss Margold," Nate said, sipping a cup of coffee. With some whiskey.
"I heard someone planning something," she said timidly.
"Planning what Miss Margold?" Nate asked.
"I work as an air hostess and there were some men on the flight we took from London to Boston," she paused and let out a breath of air; she was clearly shaken and scared. "They're going to rob a gallery Mr Ford," she said bluntly. "You can't let that happen, what if someone gets hurt?"
"Why haven't you contacted with the police?"
"These men, they know I know what they're planning to do. They threatened me," she said, her voice braking. "And I'm sure they have men watching me. I can't go to the police, they'll kill me."
"Then why tell anyone at all?"
The woman was taken aback.
"Because Mr Ford, it's wrong. And besides, if these men threatened to kill me for overhearing their plan what makes you think they won't kill anyone who gets in the way?"
Nate was convinced.
"When and where is this meant to go down?"
"The Whitworth Gallery," she said smiling, realising he was taking the case. " April 27th. This means you'll help?"
"We'll see what we can do," Nate said, smiling to himself as a plan grew in his mind.
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"This is a very straightforward plan," Hardison said, slightly confused.
"Why? Is that a problem?" the mastermind queried.
"Well, it's just that," Sophie began. "Normally there's a lot of flair and trickery but this, well, this is just plain and simple; it's very unlike you."
"It doesn't need to be fancy and cunning. It just has to work. Everybody okay with that?" he asked, though it was more of a rhetorical question.
"As long as I get to steal some paintings yeah!" Parker said enthusiastically.
"Good," the mastermind stated. "Now, Parker, tell me about the security in the Gallery."
"Nothing exceptional and far from impenetrable," the thief began. "The artwork in there is high end; worth a lot. It's not a bad find."
"How much prep do we need?" Eliot asked.
"In and out maybe 9 or 10 minutes. Prep wise maybe four days?" she suggested.
"The job's going down on the 27th so we have to steal it before then," Nate stated.
"That's in three days," Sophie stated. "It's a twenty hour flight to London!"
"We'd better get moving then."
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"I robbed the Whitworth Gallery once you know?" Parker stated, watching through Sophie's button cam as she surveyed the Gallery for it's security.
"What haven't you robbed Parker?" Eliot asked as he clocked the security guards on the camera feed, courtesy of Hardison. The thief paused for a moment, pondering the question.
"I still haven't done the Museum of Modern Art in New York," she finally declared.
"Pfft," Hardison scoffed. "Even I've done that one."
"Can we keep the scoring to a minimum please?" Nate ordered over the intercomms.
"Why?" Parker queried. "It's a simple plan remember?"
"Simple plan Parker means limited back up options," the mastermind reminded.
"So what did you steal Parker?" Hardison asked, ignorring the request of Nate.
"When this all goes to hell, don't blame me," Nate muttered, some playfulness in his voice.
"Some painting by some poet," she said.
"The Ancient of Days by William Blake?" Sophie queried.
"Yeah."
"But I saw that there just a few months ago!"
"You saw a fake," Parker said proudly.
"That doesn't seem your MO?" Nate asked, against his better judgment as he joined in the conversation.
" A forger friend of mine wanted to see how good his work was so I switched it out for him. Apparently it was better than he thought," the thief replied.
"Attention; the museum will be closing in ten minutes. Please make your way to the nearest exit. Thankyou." A voice declared over the museum's speakers, resonating through the earbuds.
"All right team," Nate declared. "Let's go rob a museum."
To Be Continued
