HAPPY 2013! I tried really, really, REALLY, tired to get this up before New Years, I swear I did, but I just couldn't get it done. It's long and complicated and pretty good. So, I hope you can enjoy my hard work!

My reviewers sweetly-secret, Loveydovey3000, a person, and An Avid Reader Forever are so dang fantastic. Lots of love to my readers as well.

Alex's POV:

The Gem Show had opened its doors earlier this afternoon and I was rather jealous that Bex, Charlie, and that dog got to run Part One of the Op. Armed with a picture of Tom, they left the apartment around five in the afternoon. I really, really, wanted to wrap my hands around that slime ball Tom Harris' neck and squeeze until all the information I needed popped out of his mouth then I would squeeze just a little more until his slimy little eye balls-

"Hello? Earth to Alex?" Cammie was waving her hand in front of my nose, effectively wiping all murderous visions involving Tom Harris.

"What?"

"I said, 'Do you want food?' It's close to six and I literally can't remember the last time I had real food," Cam repeated slowly (like she was talking to a very slowwww child).

"Sure, food sounds good."

She muttered at both Zach and I before scuttling over to the phone. Take out I assume, "I hope you like Italian, because right now one of Benedetto's Fettuccine Alfredo sounds like heaven."

"I actually-"

The words died on my lips at the fierce look that passed over Cammie's face. It made my murderous daydreaming look like butterflies and rainbows, "-love Italian?" I finished lamely.

Zach snickered until the 'Look of Instantaneous Death' was made in his general direction. Then he got quiet, real fast. It made me feel slightly better that I wasn't the only one afraid of Cammie.

Unsurprisingly, Cammie didn't ask us what we wanted to eat. After finishing her fluent Italian (or at least what I thought was Italian) conversation with 'Tonio,' she stalked off towards one of the bedrooms for a shower and a change of clothes with one final instruction:

"Pay the guy when he comes."

I waited until the door closed (slammed) behind Cammie before making any comment, "She does tend to get a little nasty when she's hungry."

Zach laughed, "You can say that again."

There was a slightly uncomfortable silence before I attempted to start a conversation (not an easy feat with Zach Goode. He makes me look talkative. Heck, he would make a mute look talkative.)

"What happened to the arm?" I asked, motioning to long, new-looking scar.

Zach shrugged, "An Aruban drug lord who didn't appreciate my good looks or how I shut down his operation," he paused, thoughtfully, "he was a lot like Cammie when she's sleep deprived."

We laughed some more and I wondered exactly how truthful he was being. Zach had always been the enigma type, but I didn't push any further. Honestly, I didn't care so much.

Just then there was an obnoxiously loud knock at the door and the sound of some guy hollering (isn't that an American term?) like he was standing on a street corner rather than in a high class hotel.

"I'll get that," Zach said, rolling his eyes and heading for the door.

Cammie materialized behind me (after the world's fastest shower) with wet hair and clean clothes, "Aruban drug lord, my derrière."

How she heard that was anyone's guess.

It was close to midnight by the time Charlie, Sophie and Bex returned from the Gem Show. Continuing with their ruse as Miltonburg Security, Charlie and Sophie had the perfect opportunity to circulate and watch the people while looking for Tom. Bex had dressed up for this part of the assignment; she was one of the swanky partygoers.

"We found him," Charlie said with a grin as an irritable looking Bex kicked off her ridiculously high heels.

"You both owe me, big time," Bex said, pointing right at Cammie and I.

"Why?" Cammie dared to ask.

"I have been harassed by more inebriated old billionaires than I care to remember just to find this psychopath Tom Harris, who by the way is one of the stupidest jewel thieves I've ever had the pleasure of following. A five year old could figure out what he was going to steal. Or try to steal as the case may be. I'm pretty sure even the real security guards could figure out he was casing the joint."

When Bex was mad, her accent got a lot sharper…and honestly, I'd never heard her rant before. It was actually rather impressive.

Cammie, who had changed into a black tank top, jacket, jeans, and high heels (who wears high heels on a kidnaping?!) began to pull her hair up into to a high ponytail, "So, what room is he in?"

"Nine thirty-five," Charlie replied, letting that dog off it's leash (scary), "But you'd better hurry. It looks like he was going to try and grab the diamond before the fresh batch of security comes on at two."

"Diamond?" Zach asked as he adjusted the collar of his button down shirt (black also).

"The Hope Diamond," Bex replied, "it's here on loan from the Smithsonian."

"Wow, I'm impressed. Who knew a slug like Tom would have that much guts. Isn't that thing worth several million dollars?" I muttered, feeling out of place as the only one not dressed head to toe in black. As a matter of fact, I was dressed totally normally.

Cammie laughed, "Only if your definition of 'several million dollars' is like three hundred and fifty million dollars."

"Three hundred and fifty million dollars?" I asked, astounded, "That's like two hundred and fifteen million pounds!"

"Actually, it's 215,338,200 £ to be exact," Bex supplied helpfully.

"And he's going to try and steal that?!"

"It's a very stupid idea," Charlie supplied (which actually sounded like 'a vedy stoopid ideeea'), "It would be impossible to sell, if you could get past all the extra security as it is." ('It vood be impoossible to sell…').

"I knew he couldn't pull something like that off…is he working alone?"

Charlie shook her head, "Nah, there are a three other dudes in the room with him. But they don't come across as very smart. But they have been easily taken care of."

"Do I want to know how?" I muttered mostly to myself as I prepared to follow Cammie and Zach from the hotel suite.

Charlie has bionic hearing. As I brushed past her, she grinned devilishly, "No, you really don't want to know."

I hadn't spent enough time with Charlie to actually form a judgment on her, but the tone of her voice and her actions sent me a more…ominous vibe. There was just something I didn't trust about that girl.

"-Bex told me that that they call her Char because it's short for Charlotte and Lie because she lies like a wet rug," Cammie said as we rode down the thirty plus floors to where Tom's room was.

I'd mentioned me feelings on Charlie to Cam and Zach and her reply didn't really suit me, "Then why did Bex draft her to help us?"

"She's the best in the business," Zach supplied as the elevator slowed.

That wasn't very reassuring, but there was no time to ponder, "Places everyone!" Cammie said softly. She and Zach headed down the long hallway, maneuvering into positions in the shadows near Tom's room. I stayed in the alcove near the elevators and pulled out my cell phone.

Dialing the front desk of the hotel, I asked to be connected to Tom's room and waited while the phone rang. On the third ring, a breathless male voice picked up, "Yeah?"

"Can I talk to Tom please?" I asked in my best American accent.

"Yeah."

Tom's 'friends' are so educated sounding, "Yeah, Tom here."

"Hello Tom, how are you enjoying the States?" I asked, letting my accent slip back into place.

"Alex?!" He sounded a little shocked.

"Yes, and the Gem Show is spectacular, don't you think?"

"Haha, what- what are you talking about?" Tom asked, now sounding nervous.

I let some anger slip into my voice, "Don't even bother trying to lie to me, Tom. I know where you are and what you're up to."

Nervous laughter, "Don't try and bluff me out, Rider."

"Does room nine-thirty-five of the Miltonburg in Times Square sound familiar?"

There was a long silence before Tom spoke again, "What do you want? I know you don't have the necklace."

"I want to talk to you. Alone."

There was another pause, "Where?"

"Right now in the lobby."

The sound of a muffled conversation reached my ears, "Alright, I'll be right down."

"Alone, Tom. Alone."

"Yeah, yeah, I heard," The phone was slammed down. I grinned and gave the 'all go' signal to Cammie and Zach.

I observed as the moved like two shadows, watching as Tom exited his room and headed towards me at the elevators. I slunk back, losing sight of Tom, Cammie, and Zach. There was a squeaky and the sound of a short scuffle, then the elevator door dinged open.

"Rider!" Zach hissed.

I darted from my hiding space and into the elevator as the doors as the silently swished closed. I grinned down at the unconscious and hogtied figure of Tom Harris on the carpeted floor.

Part One: Complete.

So, I just came up with a freaking amazing…thing…for this story, and may I just say that I am a freaking genius?

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Love,

Striker