Well this will be my first Fillmore fic, so any thought and/or criticism is appreciated.
Standard disclaimer applies.
Act One: Jailbreaks and The Chase
The X Middle School Safety Patrol. These guys were the best of the best. There wasn't a criminal at the school that they could bring down; their most recent arrest was proof of that. But they weren't kidding themselves, the girl in the white holding room was one of the biggest players in X's underworld. Sure she wasn't much to look at by first glance but her appearance was anything but normal at this school. Contrary to the school colors everyone else wore she wore a solid black dress and a pair of Doc Martens that made her pale complexion stand out and simply screamed "Goth" to all those who saw her. The most striking feature about her was her vibrant green eyes that seemed out of place on her pale face. At first glance her eyes gave someone the impression of her innocence but that was clearly contradicted by the smirk that was almost always present on her face since her arrival at X. It was that same smirk that had everyone in the Safety Patrol Headquarters on edge at this very moment. The same smirk that told them that she knew something they didn't.
"Ingrid Third."
The entire force turn toward the voice and saw Jr. Commissioner Vallejo. They all noticed that he looked more relaxed than he had an hour ago when he got the call that they had cornered and caught Third. He held his usual cup of hot chocolate and the open file on Third in his right hand his eyes fixed on Danny O'Farell, Karen Tehama, and Joseph Anza the patrollers who made the arrest.
"Listen up people. You all know how big a deal that perp is. That's why we're not taking any chances. If we nail her then we get him and we can all rest a little easier. We all know that Ingrid Third is the smartest kid in X but she's also got a rap sheet as long as my right arm. She into everything from breaking and entering and stink bombings to computer hacking, her record says she did time in Nepal for a couple of months too. And all of this was on her own. So I don't need to tell you to keep an eye out."
Vallejo finished addressing the squad and proceeded to the hold room to get Ingrid's statement. He silently hoped that everything would just go without a hitch this time.
~~~~~ Interrogation Room ~~~~~
Altogether it was a very plain and boring room Ingrid thought to herself as she waited. The white walls and the text on the north wall saying "THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU'VE DONE" was all clearly set up to play with her mind. It probably would have work too, if she were any less entertained by the patrollers constantly glancing at her through the windows and the one-way mirror. That was the most enjoyable thing about this to her. The Safety Patrol actually thought that they had pulled off some great feat by arresting her. It wasn't like she was trying get to away when they had run away from their latest caper, oh on, that would have ruined all the fun that they had planned. Her eyes moved to the clock on the far wall.
'1:15' she thought to herself as she noticed the door to the holding room being opened.
Vallejo entered the room and paused to look at Ingrid before shutting the blinds. He took the seat directly in front of the girl and waited for her to turn and face him knowing that it wasn't going to happen.
"Hello Vallejo, it has been awhile, hasn't it?" Ingrid said not bothering to turn around.
"Not long enough Third."
"Folsom keeping you busy?"
"Yeah she's been keeping us all busy, but that's thanks to you and your partner."
Ingrid smirked at that statement. It was always nice to hear that their work was being appreciated. Vallejo used the time from the pause in conversation to read Ingrid's facial expression. It was nearly impossible to do considering she rarely showed any emotion except when she was up to something or when she was around her partner. And her smile wasn't doing anything to help him relax. He was brought form his musing when she spoke up again.
"So I heard your up for another term as Jr. Commissioner?"
"That's right. I'm up for re-election in a couple of months."
"That's nice you always were the best at what you do."
"Lets cut the crap Third. You going to give me a statement so I can get you out of my hair or are we going to have to go through this like before." Vallejo said just barely controlling his anger.
Ingrid smiled at this; they had been through this only once before. It had happened when she first arrived at X. It was also the same day that she had set off a massive stink bomb after her public razzing. Vallejo had got her statement then too. So she knew that she was grating Vallejo's nerves and she enjoyed it. 'Just one more push.' She thought.
"How's Malika?" Ingrid asked sweetly.
"Leave her outta this Third. Just give me a damned statement so I can book you and get you out of here." Vallejo snarled.
Ingrid's smile grew.
"Lighten up Vallejo. It isn't my fault that she went down the way she did. The Robins had a good thing going she just got sloppy."
Vallejo glared at Ingrid. Everyone knew about Malika leaving the force for the Red Robins, but only a few choice people knew her relationship with him.
"Kinda like what happened to you today. I mean your partner leaving you high and dry to take the fall. I thought you two were tighter than that. I guess there really is no honor among thieves."
Ingrid's eyes hardened and her smirk fell.
"Fuck. You."
"Thank you Ms. Third it was good talking to you."
Vallejo got up from his seat and left the holding room with a smile on his face for his small victory. He didn't notice Ingrid's smirk return when he finally left the room.
'1:30. Showtime.'
~~~~~ Safety Patrol Office ~~~~~
He had been here for the last fifteen minutes, but he wasn't complaining it was exactly how they planned it. But then again he knew that anyone else would probably throw a fit if they found him. He smirked and looked around the office for a second time. Not much had changed from the first time he had snuck in, Vallejo should really get his locks changed, not that they would stop him. His smile grew when he saw Vallejo address the Safety Patrol about how catching Ingrid was an important step that would lead them toward finally bringing him down. Ha what a joke. He had been dodging these guys since he first showed up at X. Sure they had come close once or twice, but they couldn't touch him.
Cornelius Fillmore propped his shoes onto Jr. Commissioner Vallejo's desk, and relaxed. Not much could happen until Ingrid had done her part. That was the main reason Fillmore liked working with Ingrid, the girl had style. He knew that the moment that he had first laid his eyes on her. His other partners were professionals at what they did but Ingrid's way of pulling off a job was like nothing he had seen in a long time. He glanced at the clock again just as the door behind him opened.
"What the hell!?! How did you get in here?" Vallejo yelled.
Fillmore gave the Junior Commissioner a small chuckle. He really did enjoy giving Vallejo a hard time.
"Trade secret, Vallejo. Besides what is a little breaking and entering between friends?"
"You are no friend of mine, Fillmore." Vallejo snarled before taking his seat.
"Dawg Vallejo. I'm hurt." Fillmore said his smile denying the validity of his statement.
"Listen Fillmore, I really don't have the time or patience to deal with you after what I just went through with your girl, Third. So just get out."
Fillmore stood and began to casually pace the office.
"It's funny you should mention her. You see I was just coming to see how that was going. You get anything out of her other than the usual?"
"Drop it Fillmore, Ingrid got caught end of story. So anything that you got to say on the matter doesn't help her or you out. She's going down with or without you. She'll be lucky if Folsom doesn't expel her ass." Vallejo finished with a smirk.
Fillmore turned on Vallejo and returned his glare. He knew Folsom was starting her crack down on crime at X. Some of the dumber criminals here had already gotten suspended for bad jobs that they had pulled. Parnassus had been the first to go down, never mind the fact the he was the second smartest kid in X. He should have never tried to double-cross Ingrid. So Ingrid saw to it that he took the fall for the stink bombing she pulled when she had first arrived.
"Vallejo, my man. You and I both know you got nothing on Ingrid, besides that, this whole thing will never even reach Folsom. So just give me what's mine and I'll be out your hair for awhile."
"No dice Fillmore. You had your chance to save her you didn't now she goes down for what you both did."
"You really think I couldn't get her out of that if I didn't want to?" Fillmore said with a smirk. "You know what Vallejo forget it. We both know that you got nothing. So I don't have anything to worry about." Fillmore said and made his way to the door. "See ya around."
Vallejo just watched as Fillmore left his office. He knew something was up with Fillmore and Third, but he would worry about that later right now he had other problems to deal with.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?" O'Farell yelled.
Vallejo simply rubbed his temples trying to ward off the headache he knew was coming. It was going to be a long week.
~~~~~ Hallway ~~~~~
Fillmore smirked when he was finally out of Safety Patrol HQ. The reactions he got from the patrollers present were priceless. O'Farell fell over trying to think of how he had gotten into the office with them all there, Tehama just glared at him not really that much of a change, and Azna just gave him a wide berth when he saw him coming. It was good to know that his reputation still held so much weight around X. Fillmore reached into his pocket for his watch. 1:40, twenty minutes to get ready, Fillmore thought snapping the watch shut and proceeding down the hall.
~~~~~ Safety Patrol Office ~~~~~
Tehama, O'Farell, Azna, and Vallejo were already suiting up for the escort to the Detention Block. They were taking every possible precaution for this one. It wasn't bad enough that Ingrid Third was the person they were escorting, they had to go passed Randal the Vandal's cell on the way. It wasn't that the kid was really dangerous just he had a way of messing with your head when you stayed around him too long. The patroller that had caught him was the best they had, Wayne. He had been working the Fillmore/Third Case before he left the force and moved. But that was something they just had to deal with.
"Everybody ready?" Vallejo asked.
Tehama, Azna, and O'Farell stood and nodded. Vallejo nodded back and moved toward the room that Ingrid was held in. Ingrid looked up as the door opened and smiled.
"Is it that time already? And I was just getting comfortable." Ingrid said sweetly.
"Lets go Third." Was all Vallejo said.
Ingrid stood and followed Vallejo to her position in the escort. With Tehama and Azna in front of her and O'Farell and Vallejo bringing up the rear. Ingrid smiled when they began the trek to the Detention Block. Everything was right on schedule.
They were halfway to the Detention Block when Fillmore spotted them. They were way too predictable for his tastes, why would they continue to use the same route for every escort they did. Fillmore figured it was something that they would realize after he and Ingrid were done. He smirked and pulled the mask down over his head. Ingrid caught a quick glance of her partner before he ducked into position. Then the lights in the back hallway went out. The Safety Patrol tried to get a quick grasp on the situation.
"SECURE THIRD!" Vallejo yelled trying to take control.
"I GOT HER!" O'Farell and Azna yelled.
The lights came back on a minute later. Vallejo took in the sight before him. The only people in the hallway were him, Azna, O'Farell, and being held by both boys was a very pissed Karen Tehama. At the north end of the hall he saw Ingrid Third with arm around Cornelius Fillmore's waist the other waving at him and the Safety Patrollers.
"Get them and don't let them get off school property!" Vallejo ordered.
Ingrid smiled when she saw the patrollers rush toward them. Her favorite part of this whole set up was about to start. She looked at Fillmore and smiled.
"What took you so long?" she asked.
"Hey I didn't want to rush your fun." He answered.
Ingrid said a quick thanks and kissed him quickly on his cheek just before they broke into a dead run down the adjacent hallway. She laughed out loud when she looked back at her pursuers they faces were firmly set. Fillmore saw the twinkle in her eyes he knew she was enjoying herself, but right now they had to get off school grounds, they could celebrate later.
~~~~~ Detention Block ~~~~~
Randal 'The Vandal' Julian sat here looking at the small television set that had been given to him shortly after his arrest. It was the same Art program that he watched everyday and the only way he would ever get near any thing artistic again. Or that what Principal Folsom had told him at his trial. They just didn't seem to understand why he did what he did, the 'Flava Sava' tag was his way to stay in the art world, forget about it being against the rules. He would be famous one way or another. So he sat here everyday until he was to be released and escorted off the school grounds. His gaze fell back to the TV when something strange happened the volume was replaced with static.
"Just watch the program and pretend that nothing has happened, Mr. Julian." A voice said.
Randal simply nodded. He knew that this type of thing could only be done from the Audio Visual Room, so someone has to have taken a distinct interest in him. He sat and listened to the person who spoke to him.
"Mr. Julian, I have been looking over your past exploits at X and I am very impressed. I have a proposal for you. I will arrange for your release in exchange for you cooperation in acting as a diversion for the Safety Patrol."
Julian was listening intently now, The opportunity to leave his so-called gilded cage was something he was eager to do.
"Look toward the camera in the southwestern corner and nod if you agree to this arrangement."
Randal did so.
"Good then, you will be released and given instruction as to where we can meet to further discuss this matter. Good day Mr. Julian."
The sound on the television returned and Randal Julian sat in the room for the first time smiled at his good fortune.
~~~~~ X Hallway ~~~~~
"Hurry up they're half way to the school's exit." Karen Tehama said with rushed breath.
Ingrid And Fillmore had already lead them half way around the school making them all look like total idiots. They had trapped O'Farell and Azna in one of the many banners representing the school's clubs. She had almost gotten caught in that too, but she had luckily dove to try and trip up Fillmore or Third. It was a gamble, but at least Tehama had avoided the trap. She looked up and saw that they were quickly losing ground to Ingrid and Fillmore; she grabbed her radio and called Vallejo.
"Vallejo is that block up yet? I already lost Azna and O'Farell back in the second hall around room 102."
"Tehama stay on Fillmore and Third. The block is up and waiting for them just lead them into it." Vallejo ordered.
"I copy but you had better send someone to check O'Farell and Azna. Tehama out."
They were almost there, maybe another 20 yards until they were home free. Then they saw it. Vallejo stood in front of the school doors with a roadblock set up with ten other patrollers waiting for them. Fillmore looked around the hallway quickly and spotted their ticket out of the school. He grabbed Ingrid and jumped both of them on to the near by AV cart. Their combined weigh caused the desired effect for Fillmore. The cart shot forward straight at the roadblock. Vallejo saw this and made the split second decision between having everyone hold their ground or get everyone out of harms way. With the cart coming fast it wasn't really much of a choice.
"EVERYONE MOVE!!!"
The patrollers didn't hesitate. They all dove for cover a second before the cart burst through the roadblock and sent Ingrid and Fillmore flying into the grass lawn. Vallejo made it to his feet just in time to see the pair take off down the street on a scooter and bike, with each waving to him as they rode away.
"Alright people let's clean this up and get back to headquarters." Vallejo said in a tired voice.
Just before they all turned to leave a near by student ran out of the boy's restroom yelling at the top of his lungs.
"OH MAN! OH MAN! IT WAS HORRIBLE I TELL YOU!! HORRIBLE!!!"
"Someone calm him down so I can get a statement." Azna said.
Tehama came up next to him and called Vallejo as she looked into the restroom. Vallejo stepped through the door and his eyes widen at the scene. Across the room, from the stalls to the mirrors above the sinks, was the words FLAVA SAVA.
"Folsom's not going to like this."
~~~~~ Ingrid's House ~~~~~
They laughed all the way to her house. Their plan couldn't have gone any better. That was the whole set up from the start, Ingrid had developed a liking to the idea of barely escaping arrest at X and Fillmore was a master at setting up and escaping any kind of situation. So she loved the air of excitement that he brought into her life.
"That was some quick thinking at the door this afternoon, Fillmore." Ingrid said a she opened the front door.
"It wasn't much. I just used what was there." Fillmore shrugged off the compliment as he followed Ingrid inside.
They both said their hellos to Ingrid's father as they passed the kitchen. They made their way to Ingrid's room, which was also the place that they planned all of their jobs. They set the bags down and moved to the table in the center of the room. Laying there was the exact blueprint of X Middle School and everything that could be found on the property. They leaned over the blueprint and looked at one section that was highlighted. It was the storage barn behind the Home Economics Room. Fillmore pointed to that spot on the blueprint.
"Okay Ingrid. This is Jimmy Nevada's casino. Its has got two entrances and both are guarded by two guys at all times. The southeast wall has the safe where he keeps his stash of smoits. Word on the street is that he keeps at least close to 6-8 hundred thousand worth in that safe. It should be an easy job for us to pull, all we need to do is get the combination and lift the smoits after Nevada closes up shop. We'll check it out at lunch Thursday."
"I got that but how do we get the combo, it's not like he'll just give it to us." Ingrid said.
Fillmore gave her a knowing smile and pointed to his right temple. Ingrid smirked and nodded again.
"Oh yeah my photographic memory."
They continued to make their plans when they heard a knock at the door and saw Ingrid's older sister, Arial, come through the door holding a couple of drinks for them. Arial for the most part was a older version of Ingrid just with glasses.
"Here you two I brought you some drinks."
"Thanks." They replied.
Arial took a quick glance at the blueprint on the table and shook her head. These two would never learn.
"Fillmore I will never understand why you can't just take Ingrid out on a normal date."
"I plan to Arial, this Friday in fact." Fillmore smirked at the look Arial had given him for his comment.
"Seriously I'm taking her to the dance next week."
They both heard Ingrid's quick inhalation at this new subject.
"News to you too I take it little sister?" Arial questioned.
"Ummm Yeah."
"Well I leave you two alone now." Arial said and took her leave.
Ingrid stared at Fillmore for a moment then smiled at him.
"You were serious weren't you?"
"When it comes to you, as a heart attack." Fillmore said.
"Great now I'll need a dress." Ingrid said and then they went back to planning their casino job.
~~~~~~ The Next Day- Folsom's Office ~~~~~~
Vallejo stood in front of the large oak desk and waited for the woman sitting behind it to speak. Principal Folsom was dressed in her usual blue skirt suit with her arms crossed in front of her as she stared at the report on her desk. Next to her stood Vice Principal Raycliff, dressed in his usual black suit and tie. Folsom shut the file before her with a frustrated sigh, then looked at Vallejo.
"Vallejo let me see if I understand this correctly. First you loose Ingrid Third in the back hallway due to a temporary blackout, then you allow her partner ,Cornelius Fillmore, to cause hundreds of dollars worth of damage to my school. And on top of that you allowed Randal Julian, to escape. WHERE EXACTLY WERE YOU WHEN THIS WAS ALL HAPPENING!?!"
Vallejo to his credit didn't flinch when Folsom yelled. She was always like that so he just let it go. He stepped up to the desk and began to try and explain the situation.
"Principal Folsom, you got look at it from my perspective. The force has taken a big blow since Wayne moved down south, and we simply can't be everywhere at once. But that wasn't the bad part, Tehama finished her sweep of Julian's cell. Who ever broke him out of there knew what they were doing. Tehama checked the tapes before the escape too, Julian looked at the camera on the southwest wall."
"And what does that have to do with what has been going on here as of late, Jr. Commissioner?" Folsom said as she raised eyebrow.
"We got a tape this morning form some guy calling himself Sting Ray. He claims that he is responsible for Julian's escape as well the other major crimes that have gone down at X. At first it we thought it was Fillmore and Third messing with us again. Then he told us about his last major heist. You remember the week that the final exams, chalk shipments, and train convention accident went down. They were all setup by him. Beside this type of stuff isn't Fillmore or Thirds style. That's not saying that they couldn't this stuff off either."
"Okay then Vallejo. I want all of your available Safety Patrol Officers moved to the Sting Ray case." Folsom said as she retook her seat.
"You don't seem to understand. We don't have the manpower to do this job. It's taking everything we got to stop the little crooks in X." Vallejo said.
"Then find some way to fix the problem Vallejo or I'm sure Safety Patrol HQ will make a great Staff Yoga Studio." Folsom said then turned her back to Vallejo.
Vallejo sighed. He knew the topic wasn't up for any more discussion. Might as well go tell the force.
~~~~~ Safety Patrol HQ ~~~~~
"Hey Chief I got the info you wanted on the Julian's escape. The camera that he looked at before his escape was controlled by remote from the AV room." Tehama said as Vallejo entered the office.
"Good work Tehama. Send some one down to check out the AV club."
"Already covered that O'Farell and Azna checked them out. No one was in the room before or after Julian got sprung."
"Great another dead end. Keep on it and keep me informed." Vallejo said and went into his office to think.
He sank into his seat and stared down into his cup of hot chocolate. He and the force were in a bad way he knew that, especially after Third's little escape yesterday. Who was he kidding he needed a miracle and fast.
~~~~~ The Nevada Club ~~~~~
Considering the size of the room they were in Ingrid and Fillmore had to give Nevada credit for the set up of his operation. He had managed to step up a decent casino complete with tables and every type of illegal gambling you could want. He wasn't a slouch on his security either, two bouncers were placed at both entrances and three stood next to the safe. Nevada was living pretty comfortable with his business. Nevada himself was just an ordinary looking gangster, black suit and fake accent, the whole nine yards. Not that impressive of a physique, guy probably got lucky and had more brains than brawn. The bouncer that was always around him proved that.
Fillmore nodded to Ingrid and took his place at one the card table in the corner while Ingrid positioned herself at the table that gave her the best view of the safe's combination lock. The plan was simple. Fillmore would make the highest amount of smoits he could to get Nevada's attention, then he would get Nevada into a high stakes game. Her job was to simply wait it out until Fillmore had made enough to make Nevada open the safe to pay up then she would get the combo and they leave to prepare for the next night. Ingrid looked toward the table in the corner as another guy stood and left.
Fillmore fixed his white tuxedo jacket as he pulled his winnings thus far in to his pile and stacked them neatly in front of him. Some of these guys really didn't know when to quit, he had already doubled the two thousand smoits he had brought in with him. If this kept up he would be out of here before he attracted Nevada's attention. He cast a quick glance at Ingrid, he had to admit she looked good in her red dress. He nodded when she pointed to Nevada as he approached the table.
"That is quite the amount you have accumulated Mr…..?" Nevada began as he took the seat across from Fillmore.
"This is just pocket money to a guy like me, and it's Fillmore."
"I see you don't think the competition is up to your caliber? Then perhaps you wouldn't mind playing me in a couple of hands." Nevada challenged in his accent.
"Sure. You play Black Jack?" Fillmore asked and placed 250 smoits on the table as an opening bet.
Nevada matched his bet and dealt. Fillmore looked down at his cards, the face up card was a two and the face down was an ten. Nevada had a jack showing. Fillmore signaled for a card and received a king, he pushed 250 smoits to Nevada and place another 250 as his next bet. The result was the same for this and the next hand leaving Fillmore losses at 750 smoits. Nevada smiled at the results.
"It seems that your good luck has left you my friend. What do you say to one last game with everything on the line and double or nothing?"
"Are you sure? That's a whole lot of smoits to just play around with." Fillmore pretended to be nervous.
"You said your self that this amount was just change for men like us." Nevada prodded while shuffling the cards.
"Why not."
"Excellent."
The cards were dealt once again with Nevada showing a two face up this time. Fillmore smiled at his face up card, the king of spades and his face down card was even better, the queen of spades. Fillmore promptly doubled down both his cards and asked for a hit. Nevada looked at his face down card and saw a ten, he had 12 he had to bank on a 9 or less to win this game. He pulled and saw an 8, and he released the breath he had been holding. Jimmy Nevada turned both his final cards over after seeing if Fillmore wanted any other cards.
"Twenty that will very hard to beat my friend."
Fillmore nodded his head in agreement, then turned over the first of his face down cards, the ace of spades. Nevada gasps at the sight of the ace he had lost the 4000 smoits they had bet thanks to the double or nothing, but could still break even if his other face down card was a 9 or less. The final card was turned and Nevada could believe it. The ace if hearts sat there on top of the queen of spades. He had just lost 16000 smoits in four hands of Black Jack.
"Aww snap, now ain't that a pretty sight." Fillmore said.
"Indeed it is, you will of course allow me to win my smoits back Mr. Fillmore?" Nevada asked.
"I think I'll call it quits, but I seem to be missing about 8000 more smoits."
"Of course but I'll have to get the rest of the smoits from the safe. Jut one moment."
Nevada made his way to his safe and Ingrid actively began watching the combination lock. The safe was opened a minute later and the smoits were then given to Fillmore who rose and made his way toward her.
"Going my way?" he asked.
"You seem nice enough." Ingrid answered then took the arm Fillmore had offered her.
Once they were outside and halfway to their vehicles Ingrid nodded to Fillmore and they rode off to prepare the heist for tomorrow night.
~~~~~ X Audio Visual Room ~~~~~
Randal Julian had been waiting here as he was instructed to do by his mysterious benefactor. But no one had shown up after his arrival and he was getting impatience. He knew the Safety Patrol would be on to him sooner rather than later, after his most recent work. He needed to hurry this meeting up so he could start his next tag. Randal sighed and sat back in the chair he had occupied for the last ten minutes. A blinking red light caught his attention. He pressed the button next to light and saw the screen in front him come to life. A black figure to appeared and replaced the previously blank screen.
"Good Day Mr. Julian. You may speak me through the microphone to your right. How are you enjoying your freedom?"
"I'm enjoying it just fine Mr. Sting Ray. But let us get this meeting under way shall we?" Randal said.
"As you wish Mr. Julian. The proposal I made is a very simple one. I would like you to act as a diversion to the Safety Patrol, while my people and I pull off some jobs. For your services we will provide you with the supplies you need to make your 'art'."
"I'll need something more than just the supplies Sting Ray. I'll need some insurance that you won't give me up to the Safety Patrol and that they won't be on my tail when you have pulled your jobs."
"Fine then, what do you require?" Sting Ray asked.
Randal 'The Vandal' Julian smiled at the screen.
~~~~~ The Nevada Club- Friday Afternoon ~~~~~
Jimmy Nevada had done a good amount of work today. He had almost made back what he had lost the day before. It still amazed him that someone could be that lucky, no one had ever pulled two aces in a game of Black Jack at his casino, but that didn't matter anymore. He looked at the clock it was time to close up shop for the night. Nevada put his acquired smoits into the safe then locked up the Home Economics Store Room.
Fillmore and Ingrid watched him leave through the skylight on the roof of the storage building. Both were dressed in black to cut down on the possibility of being seen. The plan was simple after Nevada lock up the casino then Fillmore would lower Ingrid to the safe from the skylight. She would open the safe and put as many smoits as she could in to the duffle bag. It was a simple job, in and out in ten minutes tops. Fillmore nodded when he saw Nevada move out of his field of seat. He checked the rope tied to Ingrid's waist.
Ingrid gave him a quick smile before jumping down through the now open skylight. Ingrid felt the rope go tight just before she hit the casino floor. She wasn't worried about being caught by any one; Fillmore would keep an eye out for anyone. She set the bag down before and started in on the combination lock. Her eyes closed briefly as she recalled the numbers Nevada used on the lock, 2-28-29. Ingrid smiled when the lock on the safe clicked open. She immediately started stuffing the bag with as many smoits as possible.
Fillmore checked his watch again, 7 minutes had passed but they were on schedule. Ingrid had already got the safe open and was getting all the smoits she could. Then a problem showed up in the form of Jimmy Nevada, they hadn't planned on him coming back to the casino before they were finished. Fillmore thought about a quick way out.
"Ingrid close the safe and hang on I'm pulling you out!"
"But why, I'm almost done down here?" Ingrid asked slightly confused.
"Nevada's on his way back. HOLD ON!!!" Fillmore said and pulled the rope back.
Ingrid just barely managed to close the safe and grab the bag before she felt herself being pulled toward the roof. She closed her eyes and waited to collide with the skylight but instead felt herself stop mere inches from impact with the roof.
"Ingrid stay still. I got you." Fillmore said.
Jimmy Nevada came back into his casino and took a quick glance around the area. Nothing was out of place. He had almost gone home when he realized that he had forgotten to add the smoits he had been given by that dancer he had put into debt early this month. Nevada went over to the safe and put the combination in without a second glance. His eyes went wide at what lay before him. The safe was clearly missing the majority of the smoits he had put there before he left. Nevada began to frantically scan the casino for any clue as to how he had been robbed blinded in such a short time. Nothing was even remotely out of place.
"How the hell could this have possibly happened?" Nevada cursed.
Ingrid did her best to stay quiet as she watched Nevada search the room like a man possessed. His final curse had almost done her in, but she had contained her laughter until Nevada had left the storage room. Ingrid continued to laugh as Fillmore finally helped her on to the roof.
"You enjoy yourself?" Fillmore asked her as she watched her laugh.
Ingrid nodded and handed him the duffle bag. She had enjoyed this job even if it wasn't like the others they pulled. Ingrid had started to think it was too easy and boring while she was breaking in to the safe, but when Nevada had showed up it provided the entertainment she had wanted. She looked toward Fillmore as he jumped down from the roof; he looked up and motioned for her to follow. She landed next to him and they made their way to the bikes they had left at the edge of the schoolyard. Ingrid smiled before they rode off, her eyes were full of mirth when she turned to Fillmore.
"So is the dance going to be this much fun too?"