The OC in this fic is based heavily on the abilities of theatrical pickpocket/sleight of hand artist Apollo Robbins. I strongly recommend that readers watch several videos of his steals (which I will link in chapters throughout the fic as they become relevant) to have a better comprehension or mental image of the pickpocketing sections of plot in this fic, as some perspectives will be written from the viewpoint of the victim who is not able to visually/physically follow what is going on and so may lack otherwise supportive description.

The following are bit . ly links to the videos of Apollo Robbins:

Stealing under the guise of a disappearing coin trick: /1Bnykcr

Planting a pen inside a stolen wallet while pickpocketing 3 people: /1wvh2cR

Before you think steals of this level might be unrealistic - Apollo's most celebrated theft is having pickpocketed confidential documents, ID badges and the keys to the motorcade from Secret Service agents who were protecting former US president Jimmy Carter by simply striking up a conversation with them as distraction, no trickery involved. It's pretty amazing what he can accomplish by managing another person's attention without them realising it.

Thanks to Sherry aka austinlanghams on tumblr for beta reading!

"This trick is more about the timing. Did you see it go?"

Percival's head swivels to look to his left shoulder, but the silver coin he had come to expect was not present.

"You other shoulder-"

A corresponding neck tilt-

"No, perhaps your inside jacket pocket on the right?"

The agent's right hand rose self consciously to pat the fabric of his double-breasted suit, cut so closely it should have been impossible to breach.

"Ah, perhaps it's in your left trouser pocket – no, no, don't put your hand inside your pocket, that's a different trick- here, do allow me just to check the outside"

The diminutive female scrapes her fingernail against the outside fabric of the pocket -a clear resistance of something metallic hidden there-

"Here we go sir- I believe this is something of yours?"

She produces his fountain pen – pulled, it seems, from his trouser pocket and he stares in bewilderment. He was sure it had been in his inside jacket pocket a minute ago.

"That's strange sir – do you usually carry about an empty pen? I think it needs a refill, don't you?"

The nib and cartridge, which only he knew to contain a deadly poison shortly needed to turn someone's day badly wrong, was gone.

"Just check that you've got your wallet still – in your lower jacket pocket on the left, wasn't it? Perhaps you'd like to take it out, make sure nothing's missing?"

Percival feels for the reassuring square corners of leather against fabric, finding it still present, and extracts the bifold from the interior of the jacket. Swinging it open, a ubiquitous bulge is present within the inner card fold, and though his expression doesn't betray his thoughts he can hardly believe his eyes as he frees the fountain pen cartridge from the wallet.

"How helpful that you keep an extra in your wallet sir- now you can be sure that you've got a pen handy."

Percival stares dumbfounded at the female magician, veiled mischief dancing behind her startling silver eyes. A hand is offered and he slips into his practiced gentlemanly manner, grasping it to give a firm, polite shake. If he had suspicions, he wasn't showing any signs of it.

"Very interesting work you did there, Ms – pardon me, I don't think I managed to catch your name."

"Gillian Teller. Pleasure to have had your company this evening Mr Davies."

"Rather interesting character, wasn't she? You do realise though, that you've just been distracted for a good five minutes there, and that's five minutes too long."

Merlin's stoic tone assaulted his ear, a twinge of annoyance clearly evident.

"I need you back on surveillance, now. Llewllyn's just arrived, left corner by the champagne bar with his business partner – who you'll want to remember, is an innocent party in the proceedings we're dealing with. Get them someplace private, there's an empty lounge beyond the door by the DJ console. Oh- and take him out without witnesses this time, please."

Percival suppressed a huff and strode towards the bar, screwing the pen cartridge back into its casing. Merlin was wound up, and rightly so- Percival never realised how he had managed to remain distracted for quite as long as he did. But he definitely wouldn't let Merlin have the satisfaction of knowing he was right.

Robyn winced, holding her left eyelid open, grasping carefully with the tips of her fingers to extract the thin membrane obscuring the brown of her pupils. An arduous process, but one had to go to such lengths in order to avoid recognition elsewhere. Tricky business it was since cocktail receptions usually involved the same circle of high flyers.

She manages to eventually liberate herself from the pallor of heavy foundation and the multitude of pins securing the wig cap to her head that made up "Gillian", desperately anticipating the slump into the plushness of the duvet. The rumpled clothes she'd shed haphazardly across the hotel bed though, reminds her that she should probably take inventory of the day's finds. From within numerous pockets of her three-piece suit she unearths a multitude of watches, bracelets, several wallets and a couple of extravagantly plated lighters.

Out of the pile to be fenced, one watch catches Robyn's eye – a stunningly designed rose gold number with an alligator skin strap. She smiles as she examines the face and tries it on her wrist.

Kingsman by Bremont. Gotta remember that, might make a nice gift for the folks back on the strip.

Percival frowned at his wrist, most disconcertingly watch-free. Right on cue, Llewllyn, who had been getting paler over the course of the last five seconds following a discreet tweaking of the pen clip in Percival's pocket, lost hold of his half-filled champagne flute and slumped over, unmoving.

His business partner though, was lacking the planned amnesia-inducing stun pellet in his neck.

Shit, now there's a witness.

TBC because one can only write so much while at work.

Reviews and comments very much appreciated, thank you for reading!

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