Okay I somehow managed to find time to write this yesterday evening.
Corrected it and played with it this morning a bit so I think I can put
this up. Where the time came from I haven't a clue. Nice fairies that
control time maybe tacked an extra hour or two to the day? I hope you like
it.
*-*-*-*-*
Dylan pulled up in front of the agency. After she left Rutherford's she went to the park, just to sit and think and while she was there she lost track of time. What she wanted to do was to find Anthony and listen to his side of the story, she decided. She was ready for that now but she supposed it would have to wait a little bit longer. Arriving a little after four she parked Alex's car and went inside. Following the sound of the angels' happy voices she found them in costume room of the basement in the evening wear section.
"Hey guys," said Dylan as she came in the room, "What's up?"
"Not too much. Just looking for something to wear tonight," said Natalie as she flipped through the rack of gowns in her size. "What about this one?" she asked holding a pale blue dress up in front of her. "Or maybe this one?" She held up a sparkly dress in pale green covered in transparent sequins.
"That one" said Dylan pointing to the second. "I guess you're getting ready for the exhibition gala tonight?"
"How did you know about that?" ask Natalie. "We only found out about it about a few hours ago."
Alex turned from the rack containing dresses in her size and said, "Yeah Kate is good about waiting to the last minute apparently."
"I found out from my date," said Dylan pulling out a dark blue dress and handing it to Alex. "Try that one."
"Your date?" said both of the other angels in synch. Taking the dress Dylan handed her Alex stepped into the dressing room.
"Yeah my date. Apparently that is part of the deal to get Rutherford to help us. I have to go to the gala with him." Natalie didn't know what to say. Alex on the other hand wasn't quite so tongue tied. Poking her head out from behind the curtain she said, "You couldn't have seriously told him yes."
Dylan glared at her with the look she picked up from Anthony. She loved the angels but sometimes she felt as though they treated her like she wasn't the brightest bulb in the lamp. "It's not a real date. I am accompanying him and exchange he gives me his leads on who stole the eggs."
"We might not need him. Alex got a partial from the back of one of the photos," said Natalie.
"Really? That is great do we have a match?" Dylan asked looking for a pair of shoes that would go with the dress Rutherford had given her to wear.
"Did you get one?" Natalie asked Alex. "She wouldn't say anything until you got here." Dylan and Natalie looked at Alex waiting. The Asian angel stepped out of the dressing room and took a deep breath. "Dylan I think you need to sit down."
"Why? Who did it belong to? My father?" Dylan braced herself for the news.
"No, not Mr. Getty," said Alex. She hated breaking bad news when it had to do with her friends and especially when it had to do with Dylan. Even more so now since Dylan had had a pretty hard time the past couple weeks and as much as she wanted to gloat over who it was she knew that Dylan still loved him. Heck she had even started to like the silent ex-assassin although she would be damned to admit it. "Dylan, the print belongs to Anthony. I'm sorry."
Dylan stood there silently. She didn't know what to think or say but Natalie spoke. "It might be his print but when did he have time to go to Sacramento?"
"He didn't have to go to Sacramento himself," said Dylan softly. "With his connections he could have given the photos to whomever and made the arrangements from here to have the eggs stolen." Alex's information made her doubt everything she decided in the park. She still wanted to give him a chance, she wanted to be with him but now she wanted to make sure that he wasn't involved in this before committing herself, again to a relationship with him.
Natalie looked at her friend. She couldn't believe the conclusions that Dylan was jumping to. It was possible that as Alex was saying that Kate and Anthony were in on it together and there was a third person that they needed to locate but Natalie had a feeling about Kate and Anthony that said they were innocent. "Dylan, ask him, give him a chance."
"Why should she?" asked Alex. "She has already caught him with our client making out on the couch."
"They weren't making out," said Natalie but Alex continued not paying attention.
"And Kate claims that she didn't take the eggs herself when she had the perfect opportunity to take them in the customs office. Maybe the pictures were taken so the mysterious third person would know who to give them to when the time was right."
"Hypothetical third person," corrected Natalie. "We don't even know for sure who the first person is. It might not be Kate and I don't think its Anthony."
"Why might it not be Kate?" asked Alex. "Because she is our client? Have you forgotten how many times we have been suckered by clients? Have you forgotten Knox and Woods...and let's not forget Carter. He was a US marshal for goodness sake. As for the Creepy Thin Man- I guess I don't have to say why his involvement doesn't take a big stretch of imagination."
As Alex finished she threw up her hands and stormed off wearing the blue gown and Natalie stormed off the other way, then realizing the exit was the way that Alex went she turned and headed up the stairs as well leaving Dylan standing in the middle of the room by herself. "Nat! Alex! Guys?" she called but neither answered. She had never seen a case divide them before. This didn't bode well. "Just great," she sighed and trudged up the stairs. "How much worse can today be?"
*-*-*-*-*
Kate opened the door to the house that was once her uncle's and went inside. As she started into the living room she suddenly felt a sharp, cold piece of metal against her throat. Dylan had learned to announce herself when she came home while living with Anthony. He was constantly on alert for intruders, Kate hadn't learned that yet but she was getting the lesson by the blade of Anthony's sword against her throat. "You can have whatever is in my purse. Please just don't hurt me," she said with a sob. Anthony spun her around and glared at her.
"Jesus Anton, you scared the hell out of me," she said placing one hand against her chest to still her rapidly beating heart. He just watched her as she placed her purse and wrap on the couch. It reminded him of Dylan's messy ways. Setting his sword to the side he removed the note pad and pen from his pocket and wrote, "Did you give it to her?"
"Give what to whom?" she asked honestly confused. Then it dawned on her what he was talking about. "Oh the note to Dylan, yes don't worry about it," she said impatiently. Last night while he was gone she imagined all the possible scenarios that could have taken place the night before had Dylan not been in the picture. She had even imagined what might have happened had Dylan not walked in when she did.
Anthony quickly jotted down another note and handed it her. "Did she say anything?" was written on the slip of paper. Kate read it and placed her hand on his arm, "No, she just put it in her pocket. She didn't read it." When she saw the disappointed look cross his face she added, "But I'm sure she will."
He had hoped for a reply; a phone call or maybe a note. He wanted to talk to her. Not in writing but using his voice. No one had ever made him want to speak in all these years but her. He plopped down on the couch and pulled a cigarette out of the cigarette case in his pocket. Lighting it he inhaled deeply feeling it in the bottom of his lungs then exhaled.
Kate knew he had always been moody and withdrawn but now she was interested in him it bothered her. "I know what will make you feel better," she chirped. "Tonight is the exhibition gala. Come with me as my guest."
He shook his head. He wondered if she had always been that perky. He didn't remember being that way when she was seventeen and he thought she was the most beautiful thing on the planet. Of course back then she was cold to him, and now she wasn't. Now she reminded him of a canary flitting and fluttering around singing a merry tune. He preferred ravens and the occasional cardinal. "Come on," she said paying no heed to his rejection. "It will be fun and Dylan will be there." That got his attention he stood up and looked at Kate. If Dylan would be there then he would go. All he wanted was a chance to apologize and her to accept it. Then if she still didn't want anything to do with him he would move on. She understood his body language and said, "Yes I am sure. It is her case after all. We'll have fun. I promise. Let me tell you about the dress I bought." Anthony removed the lock of Dylan's hair out of his pocket and caressed it to his face as Kate went on about her new dress.
*-*-*-*-*
Francisco pulled up in front of Dylan's condo and took one of the eggs out of the bag. He slipped his hands into a pair of latex gloves and carefully unwrapped the egg from the burlap and plastic bubble wrap. He then slipped it out of the velvet bag that it was nestled in. The one he had chosen was the Resurrection egg. He looked at the detailed work from the pained scene from the resurrection to the bands of gold and diamonds. He couldn't understand his employer's motive; the eggs themselves were worth a fortune. If it was up to him he would take the eggs, sell them to private collectors, take the money and run. Maybe buy a villa in the south of France but his employer was only after revenge pure and simple.
He wrapped the egg back in the velvet, stepped out of the car and walked up the walkway to the front door to the building. An old woman who was coming out held the door for him. He went up to Dylan's condo and knocked. There was no answer which was a good sign, which meant he could come and go as he wanted. Out of the sleeve of his shirt he slid a small lock pick kit. Within seconds he was inside. He walked to the bedroom and opened each drawer in turn finding nothing but lingerie and socks. Finally the last draw was the right one. "Bingo" he whispered. He carefully lifted the men's undershirts and boxers out of the way and placed the egg in the back of the drawer.
As Francisco shut the door he heard a key in the lock. "Shit!" he exclaimed. He went to the French door of the bedroom, opened it and stepped out on the balcony just as Dylan entered her bedroom. Laying the garment bag on the bed he stopped and looked around, something didn't feel right too her; however nothing seemed out of place.
On the balcony Francisco held his breath. The order that he had was if Dylan got in the way it was okay to kill her. It wasn't the preferred method as his employer wanted to make her suffer but if necessary it was permitted. He watched as she came back into the bedroom. He hoped she would leave, go to the bathroom so he could get out of there.
Dylan came back into the bedroom and began removing her clothes. She had to get ready for the gala. She was looking forward to getting the information out of Rutherford; if she was lucky he would clear Anthony. She didn't want to believe, like Alex did that he was behind the missing eggs. She did comply with Francisco's wishes, she stepped into the bathroom and shut the door giving him his opportunity to escape undetected.
*-*-*-*-*
Dylan pulled up in front of the agency. After she left Rutherford's she went to the park, just to sit and think and while she was there she lost track of time. What she wanted to do was to find Anthony and listen to his side of the story, she decided. She was ready for that now but she supposed it would have to wait a little bit longer. Arriving a little after four she parked Alex's car and went inside. Following the sound of the angels' happy voices she found them in costume room of the basement in the evening wear section.
"Hey guys," said Dylan as she came in the room, "What's up?"
"Not too much. Just looking for something to wear tonight," said Natalie as she flipped through the rack of gowns in her size. "What about this one?" she asked holding a pale blue dress up in front of her. "Or maybe this one?" She held up a sparkly dress in pale green covered in transparent sequins.
"That one" said Dylan pointing to the second. "I guess you're getting ready for the exhibition gala tonight?"
"How did you know about that?" ask Natalie. "We only found out about it about a few hours ago."
Alex turned from the rack containing dresses in her size and said, "Yeah Kate is good about waiting to the last minute apparently."
"I found out from my date," said Dylan pulling out a dark blue dress and handing it to Alex. "Try that one."
"Your date?" said both of the other angels in synch. Taking the dress Dylan handed her Alex stepped into the dressing room.
"Yeah my date. Apparently that is part of the deal to get Rutherford to help us. I have to go to the gala with him." Natalie didn't know what to say. Alex on the other hand wasn't quite so tongue tied. Poking her head out from behind the curtain she said, "You couldn't have seriously told him yes."
Dylan glared at her with the look she picked up from Anthony. She loved the angels but sometimes she felt as though they treated her like she wasn't the brightest bulb in the lamp. "It's not a real date. I am accompanying him and exchange he gives me his leads on who stole the eggs."
"We might not need him. Alex got a partial from the back of one of the photos," said Natalie.
"Really? That is great do we have a match?" Dylan asked looking for a pair of shoes that would go with the dress Rutherford had given her to wear.
"Did you get one?" Natalie asked Alex. "She wouldn't say anything until you got here." Dylan and Natalie looked at Alex waiting. The Asian angel stepped out of the dressing room and took a deep breath. "Dylan I think you need to sit down."
"Why? Who did it belong to? My father?" Dylan braced herself for the news.
"No, not Mr. Getty," said Alex. She hated breaking bad news when it had to do with her friends and especially when it had to do with Dylan. Even more so now since Dylan had had a pretty hard time the past couple weeks and as much as she wanted to gloat over who it was she knew that Dylan still loved him. Heck she had even started to like the silent ex-assassin although she would be damned to admit it. "Dylan, the print belongs to Anthony. I'm sorry."
Dylan stood there silently. She didn't know what to think or say but Natalie spoke. "It might be his print but when did he have time to go to Sacramento?"
"He didn't have to go to Sacramento himself," said Dylan softly. "With his connections he could have given the photos to whomever and made the arrangements from here to have the eggs stolen." Alex's information made her doubt everything she decided in the park. She still wanted to give him a chance, she wanted to be with him but now she wanted to make sure that he wasn't involved in this before committing herself, again to a relationship with him.
Natalie looked at her friend. She couldn't believe the conclusions that Dylan was jumping to. It was possible that as Alex was saying that Kate and Anthony were in on it together and there was a third person that they needed to locate but Natalie had a feeling about Kate and Anthony that said they were innocent. "Dylan, ask him, give him a chance."
"Why should she?" asked Alex. "She has already caught him with our client making out on the couch."
"They weren't making out," said Natalie but Alex continued not paying attention.
"And Kate claims that she didn't take the eggs herself when she had the perfect opportunity to take them in the customs office. Maybe the pictures were taken so the mysterious third person would know who to give them to when the time was right."
"Hypothetical third person," corrected Natalie. "We don't even know for sure who the first person is. It might not be Kate and I don't think its Anthony."
"Why might it not be Kate?" asked Alex. "Because she is our client? Have you forgotten how many times we have been suckered by clients? Have you forgotten Knox and Woods...and let's not forget Carter. He was a US marshal for goodness sake. As for the Creepy Thin Man- I guess I don't have to say why his involvement doesn't take a big stretch of imagination."
As Alex finished she threw up her hands and stormed off wearing the blue gown and Natalie stormed off the other way, then realizing the exit was the way that Alex went she turned and headed up the stairs as well leaving Dylan standing in the middle of the room by herself. "Nat! Alex! Guys?" she called but neither answered. She had never seen a case divide them before. This didn't bode well. "Just great," she sighed and trudged up the stairs. "How much worse can today be?"
*-*-*-*-*
Kate opened the door to the house that was once her uncle's and went inside. As she started into the living room she suddenly felt a sharp, cold piece of metal against her throat. Dylan had learned to announce herself when she came home while living with Anthony. He was constantly on alert for intruders, Kate hadn't learned that yet but she was getting the lesson by the blade of Anthony's sword against her throat. "You can have whatever is in my purse. Please just don't hurt me," she said with a sob. Anthony spun her around and glared at her.
"Jesus Anton, you scared the hell out of me," she said placing one hand against her chest to still her rapidly beating heart. He just watched her as she placed her purse and wrap on the couch. It reminded him of Dylan's messy ways. Setting his sword to the side he removed the note pad and pen from his pocket and wrote, "Did you give it to her?"
"Give what to whom?" she asked honestly confused. Then it dawned on her what he was talking about. "Oh the note to Dylan, yes don't worry about it," she said impatiently. Last night while he was gone she imagined all the possible scenarios that could have taken place the night before had Dylan not been in the picture. She had even imagined what might have happened had Dylan not walked in when she did.
Anthony quickly jotted down another note and handed it her. "Did she say anything?" was written on the slip of paper. Kate read it and placed her hand on his arm, "No, she just put it in her pocket. She didn't read it." When she saw the disappointed look cross his face she added, "But I'm sure she will."
He had hoped for a reply; a phone call or maybe a note. He wanted to talk to her. Not in writing but using his voice. No one had ever made him want to speak in all these years but her. He plopped down on the couch and pulled a cigarette out of the cigarette case in his pocket. Lighting it he inhaled deeply feeling it in the bottom of his lungs then exhaled.
Kate knew he had always been moody and withdrawn but now she was interested in him it bothered her. "I know what will make you feel better," she chirped. "Tonight is the exhibition gala. Come with me as my guest."
He shook his head. He wondered if she had always been that perky. He didn't remember being that way when she was seventeen and he thought she was the most beautiful thing on the planet. Of course back then she was cold to him, and now she wasn't. Now she reminded him of a canary flitting and fluttering around singing a merry tune. He preferred ravens and the occasional cardinal. "Come on," she said paying no heed to his rejection. "It will be fun and Dylan will be there." That got his attention he stood up and looked at Kate. If Dylan would be there then he would go. All he wanted was a chance to apologize and her to accept it. Then if she still didn't want anything to do with him he would move on. She understood his body language and said, "Yes I am sure. It is her case after all. We'll have fun. I promise. Let me tell you about the dress I bought." Anthony removed the lock of Dylan's hair out of his pocket and caressed it to his face as Kate went on about her new dress.
*-*-*-*-*
Francisco pulled up in front of Dylan's condo and took one of the eggs out of the bag. He slipped his hands into a pair of latex gloves and carefully unwrapped the egg from the burlap and plastic bubble wrap. He then slipped it out of the velvet bag that it was nestled in. The one he had chosen was the Resurrection egg. He looked at the detailed work from the pained scene from the resurrection to the bands of gold and diamonds. He couldn't understand his employer's motive; the eggs themselves were worth a fortune. If it was up to him he would take the eggs, sell them to private collectors, take the money and run. Maybe buy a villa in the south of France but his employer was only after revenge pure and simple.
He wrapped the egg back in the velvet, stepped out of the car and walked up the walkway to the front door to the building. An old woman who was coming out held the door for him. He went up to Dylan's condo and knocked. There was no answer which was a good sign, which meant he could come and go as he wanted. Out of the sleeve of his shirt he slid a small lock pick kit. Within seconds he was inside. He walked to the bedroom and opened each drawer in turn finding nothing but lingerie and socks. Finally the last draw was the right one. "Bingo" he whispered. He carefully lifted the men's undershirts and boxers out of the way and placed the egg in the back of the drawer.
As Francisco shut the door he heard a key in the lock. "Shit!" he exclaimed. He went to the French door of the bedroom, opened it and stepped out on the balcony just as Dylan entered her bedroom. Laying the garment bag on the bed he stopped and looked around, something didn't feel right too her; however nothing seemed out of place.
On the balcony Francisco held his breath. The order that he had was if Dylan got in the way it was okay to kill her. It wasn't the preferred method as his employer wanted to make her suffer but if necessary it was permitted. He watched as she came back into the bedroom. He hoped she would leave, go to the bathroom so he could get out of there.
Dylan came back into the bedroom and began removing her clothes. She had to get ready for the gala. She was looking forward to getting the information out of Rutherford; if she was lucky he would clear Anthony. She didn't want to believe, like Alex did that he was behind the missing eggs. She did comply with Francisco's wishes, she stepped into the bathroom and shut the door giving him his opportunity to escape undetected.