Duo pulled Felicia back as they approached the back entryway of the warehouse where a man stood casually by an open door, boredly smoking a cigarette. Felicia grunted sourly as Duo gently pressed her up against the stone wall.
"Place seems to be guarded," Duo said pointedly. "Kind of weird for a warehouse, don't ya' think?"
Felicia's features seemed to screw themselves up in a knot. "He could just be on a break, but I think you're right."
"Why would a warehouse have a guard, even if there are diamonds in it? What kind of diamonds are these anyway? Where did they come from?" Trapping her between himself and the wall, he was serious about the question and she sensed it.
Felicia twisted her head, seeming reluctant to speak. He glared at her. "You have pretty eyes," she said with a grin, smiling in his face, her teeth flashing. He kicked her in the shin lightly and she muffled a yelp. "Okay, okay!" she laughed where she should have been scared. "Mercy!" He snorted. Strange, strange girl. "I'm such a push-over," she sighed. Lifting her head, she stared him right in the eyes. "There's one really large diamond, okay? One diamond mixed up with some plain old crystals that kind of look diamondish because of the cut. The man who wants them is named Teleb. I know it's not a very scary name, but he's dangerous. As for the warehouse being guarded, I think the scout you chased away must have spread the word that I'm 'prowling about.' Teleb's probably in there right now, searching for those crystals. His hirelings are probably all over the place. It's really, really dangerous for you to come with me, and I think you should just forget it and go." She skirmed against the wall, glaring at him now.
Duo straightened and tossed his braid over his shoulder. Abandon her at a time like this? "No way!" he exclaimed.
She chewed her lip and gave him an impish look. "Please?"
"No," he repeated.
"Well, let's at least stop wasting time," she said in a huff. "I can't let Teleb have those crystals."
Why did she say crystals rather than the diamond? Trying to keep his mind off it, maybe. What did her employer have to do with any of this? He would have to watch her, and that meant coming along whether she liked it or not. "Don't you worry, little missy!" he said with a proud grin. "The God of Death is on your side now and there ain't nothin' that's going to stop us from finding those jewels before this Teleb guy does."
Felicia laughed with wicked delight and took his arm. "Sounds fine by me. Let's go!"
She began to walk out into the open, but Duo grabbed her about the waist and pulled her back. "What are you doing? You can't just walk right in with a guard standing there! He'll raise the alarm."
She blinked. "Oh, right. What do you suggest?"
Totally spastic. Duo grinned. "Well, this God of Death also used to be a thief. If anybody can get away with stealing some jewels before a real thief takes 'em, it's me. However, we're going to have to do it real stealthy-like." Felicia cocked her head to one side like a bird. Duo smiled down at her. "Don't worry. You wait here; I'll take care of our watchdog."
Felicia shrugged and settled back against the wall, ankles crossed and fingers tapping against the stone.
Fingering the trigger on his gun, Duo ducked low and peered around the edge of the building. The watchman was leaning against the wall with his eyes closed, his cigarette dangling loosely from his mouth. Not a very good watch dog. Well, never look a gift horse in the mouth, or so the saying went. This was going to be easy! He wouldn't even have to scale the walls or anything. Seeing his chance, Duo moved, slipping around the corner to the shadows of the building, staying close to the ground and the wall. He moved quickly but quietly, the movement of his shoes barely even seeming to touch the ground. He was one with the shadows, a thief in the night, Shinigami, the God of Death.
The watchman never saw him coming. Holding his gun by the barrel, Duo slid up beside him and swung the heavy handle of his gun sharply upward. The watchman's eyes flew open as the motion of shadows behind his closed eyelids caught his attention, but it was too late. The handle of the gun collided swiftly with his temple and he collapsed in a neat heap, blissfully unconscious.
"Sorry, man," Duo said as he flipped his gun about and shoved it back in his coat. "You picked the wrong job on the wrong day. That's gonna leave mark." He calmly adjusted his braid.
Suddenly, he was whirled about as Felicia grabbed his elbow and dragged him stumbling inside. "No time to waste," she said cheerily. "You can preen your feathers later."
"What?" he objected indignantly. "I wasn't preening!"
"Whatever. Come on."
The warehouse was cold gray stone and stacked boxes and wooden crates like every other warehouse he had ever seen. Felicia moved at a back-breaking pace, not running, but striding quickly without wasting a single inch her short height could lend her. She seemed preoccupied, so they did not talk. Duo didn't like busting in like this without any idea of the layout of the place. He was almost completely dependent on her knowledge. Normally, flying by the seat of his pants didn't bother him because somebody else was usually around to keep him on a straight course, but Felicia seemed more disorganized than himself. Now he knew what she meant by their teaming up being a recipe for disaster.
Felicia paused several times as they wove their way between boxes and moving equipment. She would stop and become very still, like a deer sensing the atmosphere, looking about her as if searching for something. After a moment, she would head in a deliberate direction. After awhile, Duo wondered what clues she was following.
"Do you know where you're going?" Duo asked after the second display of this peculiar behavior.
"We need to go up," she said simply. "Teleb is on the top floor."
"How do you know?"
"I just do," she said glibly, her brow crinkling. "But I can't find the stairs."
Duo had noticed them upon walking in. "Back a little ways on the right."
"Why didn't you say so before?" Felicia demanded.
"You didn't say you were looking for stairs before!"
They didn't discuss it further. Felicia merely flashed him a disarming smile and ran in the direction he had indicated. Muttering to himself about the power of girlish smiles, Duo followed. Duo opened the heavy metal door for his partner and she flitted inside, waving for him to follow. They ran up several flights together, bypassing three floors before Felicia careened to the side and pushed with both hands on the collapse bar of the door to fourth floor, making a dreadful racket.
"Whoa!" Duo said, pulling her back, letting the door close on them both. "You should check first! What are you going to do if there are enemies out there?"
Felicia took a deep breath, looking annoyed, and said nothing. She stepped back and waved him forward impatiently. Nodding, Duo applied slight pressure to the door and peered through the crack. Nothing. The hall was empty. Damn lucky, but Felicia did not look at all surprised. Absolutely reckless. He opened the door further and waved Felicia through, shutting it softly behind them.
Without speaking, Felicia waved to the left and he followed close behind her, hand on his gun just in case. He still hadn't seen that scout guy he ran off earlier, not to mention this dangerous Teleb guy. Why was it so quiet? Where was everybody? He asked as much in as loud a whisper as he dared.
"There's a company meeting on the second floor," Felicia replied in a hushed voice. "The only people upstairs are the owner's wife, Teleb, his hirelings and us."
"Teleb's got this pretty planned out. How'd he know this diamond-carrying woman would be alone at this hour?"
"He's got great intel," Felicia whispered hurriedly after a moment's hesitation. Duo's suspicion grew. "He's got this place clocked down to fifteen minute windows. He probably even knows we are here, though if we are lucky, he doesn't know who I... I mean we, are."
Duo did not reply. Now that he thought about it, it seemed weird that Felicia and her friend Cor had trekked half-way across the world just to interfere with the plans of one terrorist. And now this diamond. Why would the wife of a warehouse manager possess a very large diamond and some crystals? Why would she carry them around with her? Why did Felicia's employer know about it and why did he care enough to send a young girl on an "errand" to stop it? She couldn't be any older than himself, sixteen, maybe seventeen, though her stature made her look even younger.
"I know you've got questions," Felicia said, slowing suddenly. "And I don't know if you'll ever get sufficient answers, but you've got to trust me."
Duo frowned at her, stopping. "I'm repaying the favor you did us at the memorial party. I trust you." But he wasn't really too sure he should.
Felicia studied him for a moment and something seemed to pass through her eyes, a sort of unhappiness or dissatisfaction. But she nodded. "Okay."
A loud boom resounded through the hall, like something exploding. Duo jumped. Felicia started, turning her head and sucking air in through her teeth. "Oh no. He's found her. Hurry!"
She grabbed his hand and pulled him into a run. Duo swore as he pulled his gun out from his jacket and released the safety. Voices came to them clearly from further down the hall.
"I see you have something I could use," a smooth male voice said gravely. "Surrender them and I will not trouble you."
Felicia stopped and pulled Duo against the wall.
"Who are you?" a woman's voice cried in fear. "Please stop! They are in my dresser's top drawer! Under some business papers!"
"How did you come across them?" the man's voice said again.
A little whimper came from the woman. "I... I'm sorry. I found them out in the wilderness during a hiking trip. I swear it! I did not steal them! I did not know they were yours. You can have them back. Just please don't...Ah!!"
Duo snarled and made to move forward. This jerk would pay for hurting a civilian woman for some jewels she found! One bullet would do it.
Felicia pulled him back with a strength that surprised him. He even bounced a little, stunned. She was not looking at him. Her face looked like something in a Picasso painting, her features twisted in torment. The sound of boots could be heard down the hall.
"Bring her," Teleb's voice (he supposed it to be Teleb) said sharply.
"Yes sir."
Duo grunted. The second was the voice of the man her had chased away earlier! Two bullets. He made to move again, but again Felicia restrained him. When he looked at her, she just shook her head mutely. After several moments, the sound of boots died away.
"Follow me," Felicia whispered, and moved out. Totally confused, Duo followed. Why had she hesitated? He could have taken both those guys by surprise easily! They rounded the corner and walked down another hallway, heading toward the back. Felicia stopped before a door on the right. Voices could be heard inside, muffled somewhat, but deep enough to be noticeably male.
Duo hefted his gun. Felicia gestured for him to take the lead, her face blank and cold as a state. She even looked a little pale. Unusual. Where did all her brightness and cheer go? Perhaps it was just the intensity of the situation. He nodded and put one hand on the door handle. This would have been easier in the hall, but...
"I'm sorry, Duo" Felicia said quietly from behind him.
The door swung open before he touched it and a pair of hands reached out to seize him. Duo turned to Felicia, but she was gone. She had taken off before the door even opened.
"Well well," a voice chuckled. Duo recognized it as belonging
to the man he had chased away from Felicia. "Here's the prowler Teleb
said was nosing about. We've met before, but I'm afraid you've missed
him.
Good of you to fall into his trap, though."
Hey, for those of you who are used to me getting chapters up with a
day... sorry. I went away for a week and FF.net shut down.
And now that's I'm back, it has shut down again! I will try to get
the rest of this fic up tomorrow (two more chapters) because I have to
leave again for another week. If that doesn't work out, you can read
the UPDATED version of THIS FIC ONLY at my site (address below).
The other fics by me need to be updated still. I suggest you wait
for those. Oh yeah, please review!!! ^_^