Ch 10
A week later….
"Hey Red, got another caper for you." "Hit me Player." "Venice Italy." "Ooo fancy." "Fancy indeed, but from the looks of it this time it's not a painting VILE is after, it's a book." "Who wrote it?" "Andrea Cesalpino. It's apparently his most famous work. De Plantis libri XVI." "Plants? What would VILE want with plants?" " Says here Cesalpino was a botanist, and this work laid the foundation for morphology and physiology of plants, he also produced the first classification of flowering plants." You think VILE wants to make their own plants?" "Maybe grow a certain kind of plant, i'm not sure."
"Look i know you normally go in solo for this stuff, but it might be a good idea to have a partner this time." "Why is that, is it that dangerous?" "No, but i figured instead of sneaking in, why don't you just blend in?" "I'm not sure I follow." "The book is being put into a local museum, so they are having a big party to celebrate, why not just go as a normal guest? " "That could actually work, i could get close to the book and not have to worry about a break in plan, just an exit strategy." "Exactly, plus bringing a plus one won't attract attention either." "well let's see if Sam can dance."
"So we" Pointing between himself and Carmen. "Are gonna go to a party and steal a book?" "Before VILE can." "Right, well i haven't been fired yet so i guess my job is still intact. Guess i'll need to brush up on my dancing though."
When they arrived at the museum, the gala was already in full swing. Chandeliers were sparkling with the warm lights, and the food smelled great. "Gotta admit you clean up nice Sam." Sam was taken aback at the complement. Even the 26 year old could get a bit flustered now and then. Not that he hadn't heard it before, he just wasn't expecting it. Damn, i'm blushing! Composing himself He leaned in so only Carmen could hear him. "And you look amazingly beautiful in that dress." her cheeks took on a light pink color, but it was gone in a matter of seconds. "Now to mingle." Sam frowned; he hated mingling.
"So can you dance?" he didn't mean to blurt it out, but it sounded that way. "I can, the question is can you?" "Is that a challenge Ms, Santarosa?" she smirked, "Maybe." Sam was about to ask her to dance when someone else beat him to it. "Excuse me, but may I have this dance?" Carmen accepted, sending an apologetic smile Sam's way.
Retreating back into the crowd he took a wine glass off a tray and downed it. "Thanks." he headed for the bathroom.
He was just finishing washing his hands when someone else entered. Glancing in the general direction he had to do a double take. "Burke?" the other man didn't smile. "Well well, if it isn't our number one pain in the ass, hey thanks for getting my friends arrested by the way." Sam rolled his eyes, "Look I'm just trying to be courdual, we don't need to assholes about it." "Marcus was right, you are a goody two shoes. Oh well we aren't here for you anyways." But that means...Carmen! Burke was turning away when Sam grabbed his shoulder. "What do you want with Carmen? She's not a threat to you." Burke shrugged off the grip and turned, "She's in the top 10 most wanted, that and we want payback for Mexico." "Burke, you know this is wrong right?" Burke stopped, "Try and stop me Pierce."
Sam charged and tackled Burke against the wall. Burke retaliated with elbows, one catching Sam in the mouth. Now Burke charged Sam, tackling him into the sink. Reigning down elbows, Sam loosened the hold. But received several gut punches that doubled him over. Burke slammed his head against the sink. Sam was dazed but coherent enough to stand up. He was grabbed roughly by the shirt and tossed to the ground. Thinking fast he lashed out and kicked Burke a few times, driving him back.
Burke charged again, but Sam sidestepped and Burke went crashing through a stall door. Following inside Sam landed a few punches but ate the toilet paper dispenser for his efforts. Catching Burke's hand Sam rammed his knee into the man's gut and carrenend his head off the toilet. Picking him up Sam began to drag Burke out when Burke shoved him off and forced him back, cracking the mirror.
Burke had his hand on Sam's face, pushing down. "Ya know, your scrappy….. kinda makes me wish you were on our side." Sam responded by biting him in the hand. "Arrggh! You son of a bitch!" Burke grabbed Sam by the shirt but Sam fought it off. Both men ended up in a tie up, trying to out muscle the other. They pivoted back and forth before slamming through another stall. Nearly tripping over the toilet, both sides exchanged punches. Sam got the upper hand and forced Burke out of the stall. But Burke countered a kick sending Sam back first into the stall divide. Burke produced a gun and they wrestled for control.
"Player have you seen Sam?" "According to the tracker he's still in the bathroom." "Hmm, must have eaten some raw food maybe?"
Sam had just slammed Burke against the wall and was trying to get wrist control. But Burke was blocking, throwing Sam around crashing into the sink. Hands still on his wrist , Sam slammed the arm into the sink, once , twice, three times until the gun clattered on the floor. Receiving a punch to the face, Sam backed up and thrust kicked Burke to the floor. The impact sent him slamming into the towel dispenser. Both combatants eyed the gun, neither willing to try for it. Burke reacted first, trying to reach for the gun. Sam turned and yanked on the despenser, tearing it almost off. Burke had his fingertips on the gun when Sam wrenched the despenser free, closing the distance just as Burke clasped his hand around the weapon. With one swing Sam brought the despenser down on Burke's head, the gun limply hitting the floor. Breathing heavily Sam drug the body into a stall. Straightening his tie he washed his hands and left.
"There you are, i was- what happened to your face?" questioned Carmen. Sam licked his goatee, tasting blood. He sighed, "FBI is here and they want you captured, so if your gonna steal this thing we best do it now."