The next morning we returned to the store to collect the security tapes from the owner. While we were all there we decided to take another look around the store to further our case. After walking through the store a second time I began to wonder about the access point. We had originally thought that the thief had come in through the back entrance to the store but after another look at the lock I was fairly certain that this was not the thief's entrance. Given how sloppy the rest of the job had been so far it was highly unlikely that the thief was able to pick the lock without causing any scratches to the lock. I would have found it difficult and there was no way that our thief could have managed it.

"Samuel," I called across the store to where he was stood by the display case. "Come and have a look at this will you?"

He walked over to me and upon hearing my concerns took a closer look at the lock.

"You're right. There is no way our thief came in through this door. The jobs been done by an amateur. No way could they have picked a lock without causing scratching." Samuel frowned.

"Well, if they didn't come through here," I started glancing around the store, "What are the possible access points? If you had done it where would you have come in?"

Samuel walked slowly around the store before kneeling behind the counter and gesturing me over. There was a small metal grate on the floor behind the counter – just big enough for a grown man to fit through. We took a closer look at the grate looking at the small scratches around the screws. We had found our thief's access point.

We talked to Michael about the access point under the counter and he then collected the tapes from the store owner to take them back to the office while Samuel and I went out for lunch at the small, family owned Chinese just down the street from my apartment. We had a pleasant discussion of what our future plans were. Samuel was hoping to retire in five or so years' time and move to the New Forest in England as he wanted to spend his retirement fishing and walking in the countryside. I, however, was saving up to buy my cabin out at Montauk. I should hopefully be able to afford it after another year of saving. I was also hoping to help my mum and Paul start up a college fund for their twins – Cassie and Dromeda. It would be another thirteen years before they had any need of the fund but I had no doubt that both of the twins would go to college. They were both more intelligent than the majority of other children their age.

Samuel then mentioned a desire to perhaps see about acquiring Raphael's St George and the Dragon but was concerned he would be unable to achieve this without selling some of his less than legally acquired possessions. While this wouldn't have been such an issue 10 years ago, the black market had changed a lot recently and he no longer had contact with any of his old fences. In addition he was intending to return all of his stolen items to their rightful owners in his will.

This of course, then led onto an in depth discussion of the values of different artists. Samuel had a definite preference for Raphael and Picasso whereas I preferred the works of Monet, Degas and Rembrandt. I had nothing against Raphael or Picasso – they were both highly talented artists – but there was something about the other artists that led to their work resonating more deeply with me. Without a doubt my ultimate favourite piece of art was The Rose Arches – the way the roses were reflected on the water was stunning.

After we had completed our lunch we returned to the office to meet up with Michael who had gone home for lunch with his wife of 15 years, Anna Milligan. No doubt she had reminded him that their anniversary was in three days and he would be stood in his office panicking about what he should get her. Michael loved his wife dearly but had a bad habit of forgetting all and any important dates. Anna was the opposite, she never forgot date; although that could be due to her job not allowing for it. Anna had started up her own company as an events planner a few years ago and as such always needed to remember important dates for her clients.

As I had predicted when we got back to the building, Michael was pacing his office glaring at the ceiling as if it had personally offended him in some way. When he noticed our arrival at the office, he gestured us inside and immediately began to badger us about ideas for anniversary gifts. Samuel had no advice to give and the only thing I could say was to give her something she had asked for when she didn't think he had been listening. The only issue with that was that Michael probably hadn't been listening.

We spent some time discussing the case as we were waiting for the footage to get back from evidence. We came to the decision that Mr Brown was certainly capable of fitting through the grate behind the counter but until we saw the security footage we could not be certain that Mr Brown was our thief. Thankfully, it was just as we were finishing our discussion that Niall from tech brought up the security tape, fresh from evidence.

Niall fast forwarded the tape to the time of the theft and we could see a figure in the shadows behind the counter. Clearly our assumptions of the access point were correct. The figure moved through the store to stand in front of the display case. His back was to the camera but we could tell that it was likely he was around 5 foot 10 inches – the same sort of height as Mr Dermont Brown. Luck must have been on our side as he turned giving us a side view of his face.

From this it was clear to see that our thief was somewhat overweight and was beginning to bald. My suspicions that this may be Mr Brown were all but confirmed when a pack of cigars fell out of his pocket. The same brand that Mr Brown had been smoking in his apartment.

"Well, from the tape it seems to be likely that Mr Brown is our thief. However, we have nothing but circumstantial evidence to go on. We're going to need something else to make an arrest." Michael said, grimacing.

"If I were him," I started slowly, "I would try and get rid of the necklace quickly. Our visit would have scared him. He knows that we suspect him and that it is only a matter of time before we get a warrant to search his property. He wont want the item in his home any onger than necessary."

"What are you suggesting, Percy?" Samuel questioned.

"I think we should set up surveillance. If he's going to sell the jewels he's going to need to take them out of his apartment to his fence. We have enough evidence to search his person, then we can arrest him for possession of stolen property."

"Let's do it. We'll send Zoe and Dean to take the first watch while we go get some dinner before taking over the surveillance ourselves. Hopefully we'll have nabbed the guy before morning." Michael decided.

We met back up two hours later to take over the surveillance from Zoe and Dean. So far Mr Brown had yet to leave his apartment complex but Zoe noted that he had made numerous calls on a prepaid cell phone. We settled down in the car for a long evening of watching – something that would have been horrible even if Michael had not bought out his pickled egg sandwiches. Half an hour later however, there was movement from inside Mr Brown's apartment.

He made his way out of the building and to his car carrying a brown leather briefcase. Unfornunately we couldn't tell whether he had the necklace on him or not and until we were certain we could not risk the search. Mr Brown drove twice around the neighbourhood before leaving and heading towards the park. Clearly, Mr Brown was concerned about being followed and logically he therefore had something to hide.

Our chance came when he arrived at the park. He walked over to a yound man in a black hoodie before taking the jewels out of the case briefly. It was then that we made our move. We got the necklace and arrested Mr Brown but the fence ran off into the crowds. Undoubtedly the fence had chosen the location; there was no way Mr Brown was intelligent enough to take advantage of the crowds.

We wrapped up the case just in time for me to run back to my apartment, pick up the painting and meet up with Lexi on the other side of the park from where we had arrested Mr Brown.

"Your cover never fails to amuse me," Lexi started grinning, "I saw the arrest you made earlier. What did you get him on."

"We arrested him on possession of stolen property but there should be enough evidence to have him tried on jewel theft as well." I answered, giving her a quick hug.

Lexi had been mine and Chris's fence since we started out and there was no one else in the business that we trusted more. She was honest, reliable and never tried to screw us over. Not to mention she was a forth gen of Hermes.

"Well, I've done some asking around with regards to your piece and I think I may have a buyer. I'll have to have a look at the piece but you are currently looking at $7 million with a one million commission for my hard work." Lexi stated giving me a long look.

I handed her the bag with the painting inside and she swiftly took a look inside the bag.

"Everything seems to be in order. So, I'll wire the money into the Swiss account and take the painting to it's new owner. On another note, you working tomorrow?"

"No, I've got the day off. Chris and I are meeting to discuss a new business idea and then I am visit mom, Paul and the twins in the afternoon. Might take the twins down to the park give mom and Paul a bit of time alone." I answered with a fond smile on my face. It was rare that I got enough free time to spend with my family. Although it had been even longer since I had seen my father. I had only seen Poseidon once after the end of the titan war although Chris had told me that Clarisse had heard from her brother that a new daughter of Poseidon had arrived at Camp last summer. Last summer had seen a large increase in the number of demigods at Camp – apparently it was put down to post-war partying.

AN: Hope you all enjoy! The next update is on the 18th. :)