Three:
She had arranged to meet April at a little coffee shop down the road from her work. Her work, not April's. Olivia liked the fact that the world in which she occupied was so contained, so small. She lived on the same street as the museum. Her apartment was in fact so close that she could walk to work which was something she really enjoyed doing, it was a chance to clear her head before entering the dark and cluttered world that would be her home for the next 10 hours. The work at the museum could be intensive, but it was also so rewarding. She loved history - whether this be in books or in artifacts - Olivia knew that this role was more 'her' and didn't really know why she had attempted journalism in the first place.
After telling her boss she'd be out for an hour Olivia clomped her way down the steps and onto the street. Madison Avenue always looked beautiful at this time of year. She was prepared for the cold, a light woolen coat hid her suit from view whilst her boots gave her legs some comfort. She felt good today and only hoped that April wouldn't turn all journalist on her and ask far too many probing questions. It had been such a surprise to see her at the museum that day, Channel 6 tackled some huge stories and the new exhibit seemed to pale in comparison. To Olivia the relic was wonderful, beautiful, a mystery waiting to be solved. She appreciated it but knew that not everyone would agree.
Arriving at the coffee shop she ordered a cappucino and sat herself down by the window. Her wrist watch told her that she was right on time. The drink appeared in front of her courtesy of the waitress along with the usual question of: 'anything else?'. This always bugged her.
"No thanks" She offered a smile which was not reciprocated, the waitress simply nodded and left.
After sliding off her coat she allowed herself to look around. There were four other people in the coffee shop and each of them was paired with another: two middle aged looking men and two ladies, both with greying hair. One of the two men who sat one table up from her moved his eyes away from his companion and stared; she immediately felt self conscious and looked down at her drink.
"Hey Olivia, so sorry I'm a little late" April had breezed in behind her; that had been the reason the man had stared. Dressed in dark blue jeans, black knee high boots, black sweater and yellow jacket April looked more worthy of a stare "I've ordered a green tea" she announced as she pulled out the chair opposite and sat down "Never liked it but then over time it grew on me" Leonardo had been the one who'd led her into that.
"Healthy" muttered Olivia as she hugged her not-so-healthy drink and the green tea was placed on the table.
"Great to see you!" began the reporter cheerfully "When I saw your picture on the museum web-site I couldn't quite believe it"
"I've not changed" Olivia gave her a small smile "Not like you Miss Celebrity"
"Oh I'm no celebrity believe you me. They once offered me the anchor position but I turned it down, I prefer to be out there - in on the action - not chained to a desk, even if it is a news-desk!" She raised her cup to her mouth and blew on it "You had any feedback since the event? It had good coverage didn't it?"
"Yes it did. My boss wanted me to be on the Channel 3 special but there was no way. I don't know how you do all this 'in front of the camera' delivery; I definitely would not have made a good reporter" Olivia took a mouthful of her drink, wiping the froth from her mouth as she returned the cup to the saucer.
"Rubbish. You did so great and looked so confident; I was thinking you'd missed your calling" April smiled warmly.
"Thanks but I think you're being too kind. I spent so long going through what I had to say I felt I was rehearsing for a part in a sitcom or something, I was so nervous" She took another mouthful of cappuccino.
"So how were you on your wedding day?" April picked up her left hand to examine her rings "They're lovely" she murmured "Tell me more"
Shifting in her seat Olivia didn't know what to say, she didn't like talking about herself. April, however, insisted on getting every single detail about who this man was; where he had come from and how long they had known each other. This was all because Olivia had not dated all the time they had known each other and she always spouted on about how much she didn't need a man to feel complete.
James had come quite out of left field. She hadn't been looking and then there he was. He was an archaeologist and he traveled all over the world - she was an assistant curator who traveled no where. He was confident and intellectual and after knowing each other for a year and a half, he'd proposed and she'd found herself saying yes. They'd had a small ceremony with a handful of family and friends - namely his family and his friends. Their first year anniversary was coming up next month.
"So what about you?" Olivia wanted the attention away from her as soon as possible "Anyone special in your life?"
April looked coy all of a sudden: "There's a guy I'm seeing, he's NYPD"
"How to feel safe in Manhattan" laughed Olivia "Bag yourself a cop". Now was the time to turn the questions around: "So, where did you meet him?"
April realised that this answer would need a little 'tweaking'. She couldn't exactly tell her that they'd met whilst she, April, was being chased by the Foot Clan and he'd saved her ass with a hockey stick. And one or two pucks.
In the end she told her that they'd met through a news story. Sometimes simpler was better.
Drinks finished and another few minutes of chat Olivia checked her watch and announced that her lunch break was over and she'd have to get back. Her stomach was wishing she had now had that 'anything else' which the waitress had asked her about.
The pair stood outside faced with one of those awkward moments: Olivia waited: it's been great to see you...
"It's been great seeing you" April dished out a hug "Perhaps we'll meet up again sometime"
"Great seeing you too" She glanced at the museum "Well, I have to go..they really clock watch there"
"I can imagine. Take care okay" April hugged her again and then walked off in the opposite direction. Olivia watched her go and felt sure that both men inside the coffee shop were watching her too.
She was only a few minutes late back but her boss let her know that he was not a happy man. This afternoon they were moving the relic to another part of the museum and she needed to be present at the move and keep an eye on security. The last reporter had vacated the building and the doors to the main room were temporarily locked down as the move took place.
The Spear was touched only with white cotton gloves and as it was transferred from the case to the box Olivia wasn't allowed to touch it. That role was reserved for just one person and that happened to be Head Curator Doctor Lionel Grant. She could only watch as the Spear was moved from one place to another and then breathe a sigh of relief once it was over and she could return to her usual duties.
It would be five hours before she found herself back in that room. An alarm was sounding and she wanted to check that the security guard had got it covered. The museum had closed to members of the public and the building was now being consumed by an ever growing cloak of darkness.
"Purple Dragons down below" Donatello stood in front of the others on the edge of the rooftop, his visor was lowered, the goggles over his eyes focused on the activity that was unfolding right in front of them. The Purple Dragons were doing some out of hours work at a storage warehouse. Two of the gang were stationed outside as other gang members bought forward the boxes to be loaded into a waiting truck.
"Looks like they're looting. Alright guys. Lets go" After Leonardo gave the order he was the first to land, closely followed by the others. The Dragons had hit this warehouse seven months ago. As a result, Donatello installed a camera to keep look out. The surveillance was a useful tool and allowed them to focus on more than one area at any one time. It linked right back to the lair and to a visual tracker on Donatello. That way he was able to navigate and keep a watch at the same time.
"Well, well, well..." began Raphael as he readied his sai "What do we have here?"
The two Dragons by the van froze and then put down their boxes.
"Hey Spike, heads up!" spat the taller one pulling out a knife and switching out the blade "Those goddamn freaks are here"
"Now that's not very nice. You really should have better manners" growled Raphael.
The remaining Dragons emerged from the warehouse without boxes. Instead they were carrying weapons and one gripped a long iron bar.
"Perhaps we should knock some manners into them" suggested Leonardo "Looks like they're up for it"
"Woop! Woop!" Michelangelo swung his nun-chuks, sending the taller Dragon crashing into the one behind "Two down, more to go!"
"Thanks for the info Mikes" hissed Raphael sarcastically as he leg swept another Dragon "Like I can't see it for myself"
Leonardo used his katana to smash down on the iron bar which was in the grasp of the larger Dragon, the clash of metal on metal was a sound he would never tire of and it was made all the more sweeter when it hit the floor. Without a weapon the Dragon glanced at Leo nervously before racing off into the darkness followed by the others.
Leo slid his katanas into the leather holds across his shell: "Well, that was easy"
"It was far too easy" added Donatello as he eyed the boxes "I can't believe they would abandon all this. What was the point in starting it in the first place?"
"They're pathetic losers, what does it matter?" Raphael grabbed two boxes "We leavin' this lot for the cops?"
"Not out here. That would be asking for trouble" Leonardo looked in the back of the van "Considering they were here half an hour before us they didn't exactly shift much"
Michelangelo shook a box "Don't sound like there's much in here either"
Donatello lowered his visor and adjusted his goggles to focus in on an box so he could see inside "There isn't" he announced simply "It's just full of paper and what looks like bits of plastic packaging"
Raphael dropped his boxes "What? You mean we saved rubbish?"
"Looks that way" Donatello opened one of boxes at his brother's feet revealing pieces of polystyrene, plastic and crumped paper "And there you go. It looks like it had been used to hold something but whatever that something well, it has long gone"
"Way to point out the obvious Donnie" Raphael kicked the box, scattering it's contents across the concrete.
"So why were they moving worthless boxes?" asked Michelangelo as he fingered some bubble plastic to make it pop.
"Either they didn't know and someone was playing a prank on them or..." Donatello paused.
"Or what?" Leonardo crossed his arms, face firm; as soon as he had asked the question, he already knew the answer.
"They were doing it on purpose"
A distraction. And they'd fallen for it hook, line and sinker.