A/N: I can't believe I hit over 2,000 words on the last chapter! Will try to keep that up in future. Sorry if everything in the last chapter seemed rushed, just wanted to get the show on the road without dragging it out. Gah, I'm in suspense just writing this chapter!
To Kurtis, the three weeks seemed like forever. Not knowing what to do or when the information was due to arrive made him all the more tense.
He had four days left in which to prepare, even going so far as to hire out a suit for the evening, although he decided to go tie-less not liking the restriction around his neck when working. Having all essential weaponry to hand, he finds means and ways to hide them so as to avoid suspicion if he got caught. He also made time to meditate, to strengthen his abilities for if and when he needed them. The day of the exhibit arrives, and it just so happens that his wish to extinguish his anxiety for the information is granted. Slid through the letter box, the large envelope falls to the floor with a thud. He dashes over, picking it up and tearing it open with haste. Looking through it all, it comes as no surprise that he relaxes; this being almost no different to what he was used to doing.
To make himself look somewhat presentable, he showers and but doesn't shave, deciding to leave a very slight layer of stubble adorning his chin and jawline. Putting on his suit and relatively clean boots on, not one to wear suave, sophisticated shoes like everybody else. Before leaving, he takes one last look in the mirror, satisfied that he looked OK, compared to what he usually looked like. At this point in time, if any woman saw him walk past, they would literally be swooning over him. Sitting on his bike he drives off, the location of the display gallery firmly planted in his mind.
Evening arrives, he looks at his watch, happy that he has made for plenty of time to survey the area on arrival. Having driven without a helmet, his hair was dishevelled to its utmost although this doesn't faze him, he can simply ruffle back into a tidier state when he go there. Slowing his bike to a crawl and then switching it off, he pushes it down an alleyway near to an exit. Walking around the pavements to the main entrance, he looks around the gallery for the anonymous caller's property, only to find it isn't on the main floor. Mind made up, he peacefully walks up the stairs along with the other guests, trying his hardest to look as inconspicuous as possible. Having no luck he tries the next floor, finding a small gathering people and a bar. Making his way over, he orders a glass of water, wanting to keep a clear head for the task at hand.
For the past three weeks, the trio at the manor had worked almost tirelessly to dig up any information on this chain they had been asked to reclaim for the mystery caller; only to meet dead ends due to its rarity.
On the morning of the the gathering, she hires out a chauffeur with a car to relieve Winston of any driving duties. Knowing that there were going to be people of respectable titles attending the display, she decides on wearing a rather elegant albeit practical black dress, with heeled shoes that were stable enough to carry her in case she had to become a little more athletic for whatever reason. Taking a handbag with her to conceal all necessary equipment that Zip hands to her, they test out the audio and video equipment first, going from inside the manor, to the gardens outside to find that everything works as it should.
Evening approaches and the hired vehicle pulls up to the manor, the chauffeur getting out to open the door for a smartly dressed woman. Stopping at the door to the large overbearing home of the tomb raider, she looks back at Winston and Zip, giving the long time elderly family friend a hug for luck. Looking at Zip, Lara asks "Zip? Is everything OK?" Noticing the look of concern on her face he replies "Yeah. I'm just a little unsure of the situation. Something seems off to me." Laying a hand on her trusty geek's shoulder, she reminds him that she will deal with everything as it comes. "Don't worry about me. Just make sure that you're about" she says as she taps the bud in her ear which she had been reminded to switch on the moment she arrives at the gathering. To cheer up her friend, she asks "How do I look?" gently spinning around to give them a proper look at her attire. She had decided to leave her hair down to hide the ear bud, despite not being able to see it due to it's size. In her bag, she carried her PDA, a handgun with a detachable silencer to assist in rather sour situations, and a small selection of make-up in case she needed to genuinely freshen up and to also play it safe if she were to be searched. Last but not least, a spare hair band just to keep her mane out of the way and a broach pinned onto her dress to give Zip a visual on where she is.
Leaving the two men standing in the doorway to wave her off, she enters the car as the chauffeur closes the door for her and gets into the drivers seat. It always bewildered Zip as to how much she could fit into her bags. They were small, but Lara could fit almost twice as much as the capacity would allow. Unable to come up with an answer, he shrugs it off, smiling and waving with Winston as Lara was driven off.
The streets were full of people dressed with distinction. Ladies in dresses that almost touched the floor, and men in the finest suits, not a single person looked out of place. Security typically dotted everywhere outside and inside the building on various floors. Upon closer inspection however, some of Bennett's men had been interspersed amongst the large crowd, dressed like the regular security. One of them had already radioed in Kurtis' arrival, they just had Lara to go. Almost as if on cue, a car drove around the corner of the street. Climbing out of the drivers side, the chauffeur opens the back passenger door for Lara to emerge from. As she walks onto the pavement, the chauffeur gets back in and drives off to find a place to park, not knowing that he may not be needed again that evening. At the same time, she walks into the gallery, unaware that one of the security guards had also called in to let Bennett know that she has also arrived. From the other end, Bennett replies "This ought to be rather interesting. These two have no idea that they have been pitted against each other, do they? Keep me updated."
Walking along the main floor of the gallery, she noted familiar faces and names to go with them. So many different findings encased in glass displays attracted her attention. She fiddles with her ear piece, placing her hair back innocently and turns on the small button located on the front of the broach so Winston and Zip can see what is happening. "Testing. Zip can you hear me?" she mutters quietly. "We can hear you fine Lara. Looks pretty fancy there." "It is. So many valuable collections on display, such a shame they aren't back at the manor" she jokes. "So, come across any information you can pass on?" she asks, curious to know the situation on all floors. "It's guarded. There's security on every floor, although they are dotted around so it should make it a tad easier for you." "Key word being 'tad', Zip. Do you still have access to the circuit so I can get the chain?" "Certainly do. Just give the signal and I'll work quickly to get everything shut down. However, this will include the lights. Do you think you can manage in the dark?" "Where there's a will there's a way" she responds positively. "Keep me updated." she says, ending the current conversation to mingle with guests.
Working her way up the floors to the gallery, she takes her time to look at everything adorning the walls and in the glass displays.
Making his way to the bathroom, he checks around to see if anyone else occupies it. Seeing no one else, he closes the door to the cubicle he is standing in and concentrates. Lifting his arms out in front of him, he allows his consciousness to float through the building, going up another floor from where he currently is. Barely breaking a sweat, he can feel that his power was amplified due to the meditation he had done, making his job easier. And there it was, in all its ancient glory in a glass case due to be on show to the public that very evening. This wasn't the only thing he found however, as images of guards roaming around. Dragging his consciousness back to him, he feels less forced back when it had returned than it had done previously. He leaves the cubicle and the bathroom itself to return to the bar and have one last drink, before he goes to get the property of the man who had requested its return.
"5 minutes Lara." Zip chimes in. Excusing herself from a conversation she was having, she crosses the large room to make her way to the ladies bathroom. Seeing two other women reapplying their make up and powdering their noses, Lara walks into one of the cubicles. She waits quietly as the ladies exit the room and exits the stall. Reaching into her handbag she pulls out her gun and silencer, attaching both to one another, finally checking the magazine and pushing it back into the base of the weapon. Putting it back in her bag, she leaves the room. All she had to do was make her way up to the floor Zip mentioned and bide her time.
It was becoming increasingly clear that the evening was going to be extremely interesting as either were completely unaware of the others' presence.