Once again much thanks for the reviews (I love reviews)!
Lyon, a hotel room, 2 days later
„Got it," Amanda heard Methos's voice come out of the other room of the hotel-suite, both had rent using one of Methos's many aliases after he had given her a ride from Lyon airport. Taking her still hot cup of tea with her, she went barefoot to the Ancient who sat in front of his laptop and stared with already slightly reddish-looking eyes on the screen. When she took a look over his left shoulder, she saw a very detailed construction plan of a building being showed there. A slight smile began to spread around her mouth as her eyes caught the symbol that was shown on the right edge of the screen: it was the watcher-symbol.
"You are full of surprises, Methos," Amanda smiled while she looked at the Ancient, "I didn't know that you're such a talented hacker."
"Oh," Methos returned the smile, "it wasn't very difficult. A bit of hacking here, and a bit of hacking there…" The smile on his face was replaced by an amused grin, "and of course the knowledge of Dr. Zoll's code also didn't hurt."
This caught Amanda's surprise. "You know Dr. Zoll's code?"
"Yep." Methos sat back on his chair. "Every child could have guessed it correctly." Seeing that Amanda obviously couldn't follow his words, he finally explained, "word with six letters; starts with a M and ends with a s."
"Oh," was Amanda's only comment as she finally understood.
"Exactly…I always considered the good doctor to be a very imaginative woman," Methos said with a slight sarcastic undertone in his voice. "However," he then continued, once again focussing his attention on the screen. "I see only one way to get into the museum, and that's the way through the glass-roof."
Amanda bit on her lip while she, too, eyed the plan of the watcher HQ. After starring for about two minutes at it without saying a single word, she finally titled her head a bit to the right side, saying, "the windows and doors are secured by magnetic locks, and there're also laser beams installed in front of them… So I agree with you: the roof seems to be the best way to get in. " She continued to stare at the plan. Then, after a few seconds, she finally pointed to one of the yellow-marked patches. "I only see one problem: how to get rid off the cameras?"
"Oh, the cameras aren't a real problem," Methos answered while he began to massage his hurting neck with his right hand. " According to what I found out, are the cameras only there to record. There won't be any security-guards sitting in front of the screens, watching the gallery in real time – doesn't surprise me much because the watchers surly don't suspect someone to break into their little private artefact-gallery… I mean, who else besides the watchers actually knows about it."
"You're probably right," Amanda agreed while she went to the small blue sofa that only stood a few meters away, and sat down on it, making herself comfortable. "Are you sure that the mask will get the bastard's attention?" she then wanted to know, on her face now a slight trace of anger as she remembered what Methos had told her about de Monet.
"Yes, I'm absolutely sure that he'll swallow the bait. I mean, we are talking about an over 2000 years old Death-mask; if that doesn't get de Monet's attention, then I really don't know what else will."
Amanda examined him for a few seconds very closely before she finally guessed," the mask belonged to you, didn't it?" For a short moment she could see something flicker in his eyes, something she was not able to interpret; but then the moment was gone.
Methos nodded. "Yes, it belonged to me… long, long ago. Silas apparently kept it – don't ask me how he managed to conserve it; but apparently he did. After he died…," at these words Methos hesitated; both Immortals stared for a second into each other's eyes. Something passed between them, something only people could understand that had lived as long as the two. Finally he continued, "the watchers took his belongings and brought the mask to Lyon, where they obviously put it into the gallery."
"From which we'll borrow it."
"Yes." A smile appeared on Methos's lips. "From which we'll borrow it."
Night, Lyon watcher HQMethos and Amanda, both dressed in black overalls, their faces covered behind black ski masks, their hands sticking in black gloves, hid behind the black Mercedes-Van they had parked behind watcher HQ. In front of them was the about three meters high stonewall that fenced the HQ grounds around.
Methos glanced at his clock: it showed 00.10. Late enough for the security-guy to already have patrolled this particular part of the grounds. "Ok," he whispered to Amanda, wondering for a second where in her very tight outfit she probably could have hidden her tools. Then, not wasting anymore time to the thought, he helped her to place a small ladder in front of the wall, whispering, "Ladies first."
"Why not age before beauty," she whispered back, her right eyebrow slightly raised.
"Amanda," he grumbled.
Seeing the impatience in his eyes, she finally gave in. "Ok, ok." Not hesitating any longer, she began to climb on the wall, vanishing silently into the darkness as she arrived at the other side. There she stood for a moment, her senses almost bursting of tension as she tried to hear something… but there was only silence greeting her. In front of her she now could see the 4-stay-high watcher HQ, and to its left their target: the much smaller art-gallery. "The burst is clear," she whispered towards the wall.
A few seconds later, the dark contour of Methos appeared on its top before he landed - together with the ladder - almost soundlessly next to her. After having hidden it in the darkness, both crept closer to the gallery until they stood right in front of it. Then Methos put the small black rucksack he was carrying on his back down, and took out a small black-coloured crossbow and an arrow that was connected to an although very thin-looking, but actually load-bearing rope. The arrow, equipped with several barbs so it would better stick to wood, consisted of a special titanium-iron-aluminium-alloy, a material that was able to bear a relatively high load. Methos loaded the weapon with it, and then pointed it at one of the wooden girders that helped to stabilize the glass-roof of the gallery.
A second later, Amanda heard the quiet sound of the fired arrow; then a slight 'plonk' as it bored itself into the wood. She once again hesitated, listening with all her senses into the darkness again, waiting nervously for the slightest trace that they had been discovered… but the only sound she could hear was still the pounding of her own heart. She let go of the breath she subconsciously had held, and looked at Methos who was checking the stability of the rope by pulling it. Though they were standing almost in the dark, Amanda could see the satisfied expression on his now by the moonlight illuminated face.
"Good," she then heard him whisper, "You are lighter than I; you go first… I'll lift you the first meters."
About fife minutes later, both sat on the wooden girders of the glass-roof. Methos handed Amanda a hand-picker that was equipped with a diamond-nib and a silicon vacuum cup. He watched her put it onto the glass, and then press it very cautiously onto it until she finally was sure that the vacuum cup would stick. Then she began to cut a circle into the glass, big enough for a single person to climb through. Methos noticed a small sweat-drop appear on Amanda's lip as the diamond-nib finally finished the circle. She hesitated for a second, her eyes making contact with his.
"Ready?" she whispered.
When he nodded, she pushed the cutter very carefully… An almost inaudible noise sounded through the darkness as she then raised it again, adhering to it now the cutout glass-circle.
Both waited for any alarms to go off, their hearts bumping very quickly, almost painfully now. Methos felt cold sweat on his back while he stared into the darkness… but the seconds passed without hearing any guards or loud sirens. After a few more seconds, Methos allowed himself to relax again and looked at Amanda.
"Give' me the belt," he heard her whisper, a slight tension vibrating in her voice.
After having done what she had asked for, he also produced a small pulley out of the rucksack and fixed it firmly to one of the wooden girders. Then he took the rope that was already connected to Amanda's belt, and fastened it to the pulley.
"Ok," he heard Amanda whisper. "I'm ready; you can let me down now."
About five minutes later, Amanda, a flashlight in her mouth, landed on the soft carpet that covered the gallery-floor. After she had freed herself from the belt, she gave Methos a sign to pull it up again. Not paying any more attention to it any longer, she then began to look around.
In the beam of her flashlight, she was able to see several showcases full of artefacts that looked – as she got a bit closer – Egyptian to her. Not longer interested in it, she began to creep through the room, passing several old-looking swords that were hung up on the wall to her left while she searched for the Death-mask Methos had described to her. What turned out to be not a very easy task, because the room was large and also totally staffed with artefacts coming from all centuries and cultures. It took her several minutes of very close search before she finally discovered it, lying on blue velvet in one of the showcases at the other end of the gallery. "Ahh," she whispered satisfied, "there you hide."
When she bent a bit forward to examine the showcase a bit closer, she found not only a keyhole, but also a digital display. "Hmm," she muttered to herself while she massaged her tensed neck subconsciously with her right hand, considering the best way to approach it.
After she had arranged the flashlight in a way on the floor that its beam was illuminating the showcase, she pulled a small LCD decoder out off her overall, and hooked it onto the display. While she waited, she could see digits flash on the decoder as it tried possible codes. Only three minutes later, the decoder suddenly stopped: a 9-digits-long number had appeared on it.
Satisfied, Amanda put it away before she instead produced a large ring with keys of different shapes and sizes out of her outfit. She flipped through them until she finally found a master key that looked as it would fit into the lock. Before she inserted it, she took a very deep breath. Cold sweat ran down her back as she lifted her other hand to push the code into the display.
One… two… three. She turned the key… an almost inaudible click sounded through the room. Her body was covered now in cold sweat, her throat almost painfully dry as she waited for any alarms that may have been triggered – but the only sound she heard was her own quick heartbeat. She let out the breath she subconsciously had held, and sighed in relief.
Then Amanda lifted the lid of the case, and carefully took the mask out. "Good," she whispered, a very satisfied smile playing now around her mouth while she pulled a black plastic bag out of her outfit, and put the mask into it. After also taking the flashlight into her right hand, she hurried back to Methos.
She almost had reached him when her eyes suddenly felt on a showcase; in it several beautiful jewels that were gleaming almost magically in the light. A smile passed over her face as she admired it, licking subconsciously with her tongue over her lip. "Diamonds are a girl's best friend," she whispered, feeling a tingle spread in her stomach.
She was just about to pull the decoder once again out of her outfit and connect it to the display, as she suddenly heard Methos's voice very urgently whisper from above," damn, Amanda, we're not here to steal some diamonds. Get your little ass up here – and that quickly! The guard can show up every minute."
Amanda glanced at her clock: nine minutes before the security-guard would make his routine-round through the gallery – more than enough time to get the jewels. "Only a minute," she whispered back while she hooked the LCD onto the display.
"Amannnndaaaa!" she then heard his hiss, which she chose to ignore while she stared with eyes wide of excitement at the decoder. The first digit appeared on it, then the second, followed a second later by the third…
Suddenly a loud noise came from outside the door: louder getting footsteps. Her heart almost stopped as she became aware that someone was going to open the door every minute. Oh oh, she thought, a feeling of panic now spreading in her stomach. Too late to climb back on the roof, her panicking mind told her. But where else to go? Her eyes flashed to her left and to her right side. There was no place to hide!
"Amanda," she heard Methos's very nervous-sounding voice whisper, "hide!"
Yeah, what a good idea, she thought sarcastically while her eyes still were searching for any possible escape.
The noise outside the door got louder. She heard the guard insert a code into the display. Although her attention was focussed on finding a place to hide, the still rational-thinking part of her mind told her that the guard was disabling the alarm system - only seconds, and he would enter. Damn!
Suddenly her eyes felt on a sarcophagus that was standing only a few meters away from her, leaned against the wall. Without hesitating any longer, she hurried to it while she simultaneously switched off the flashlight,… opened it – desperately hoping that there would be no mummy in it – and then got in. While she closed its lid, she could hear a low creak as the door of the gallery was opened. Her hands clenched tightly around the flashlight as she forced herself to breathe more slowly, fearing that else it would give her away.
She almost had managed to relax a bit when she finally remembered that she had forgotten the decoder; it was still hooked onto the display… and the missing Death mask! Shit! The guard only had to look at the still open showcase… Damn, damn, damn!!!
Through the thin walls of the sarcophagus, she could hear the guard enter the room, apparently checking if everything was all right. As the footsteps came closer to her hiding place, her knees became so weak that she feared for a moment that they would refuse to support her any longer. Blood began to roar in her ears, she almost got no air any longer.
The footsteps grew louder. Amanda shut her eyes…
Then, from one moment to the other, she heard the guard go back to the door again, closing it a few seconds later. Her ears told her that he apparently switched the alarm system on again. Then the footsteps got lower until they finally vanished.
A feeling of incredible relief exploded in her stomach while she let herself sack against the sarcophagus-side. "Oh God," she sighed, "I definitely need holidays – and that very urgently." She waited a few moments until she had recovered enough from the shock; then she finally left the sarcophagus and went to Methos – of course not without taking her decoder first.
About 10 minutes later, both climbed into the car they had parked outside the watcher HQ, the ladder already hidden in the back, the mask securely staffed into a bag. To leave the gallery and the grounds had not turned out to be big a problem: no alarm nor security had tried to hinder them.
Amanda watched Methos turn the key to start the car. "And now?" she asked while she relaxed on the seat beside him.
"Now we drive back to Strasbourg. Let's hope that Duncan is still in one piece."
Morning, next day, StrasbourgAlexandre Lafiette sat several tables away from Joe Dawson, in front of him a big newspaper that completely hid his face, and watched the other very closely. Taking a sip of his hot and very delicious-tasting coffee, he noticed that Dawson looked a bit… nervous? As if he was waiting for something or someone. Lafiette got himself another croissant that he carefully spread with some jam before biting into it.
Suddenly a phone rang: it was Dawson's. Very curious, Lafiette bent a bit forward, hoping desperately that he would be able to overhear some parts of the conversation.
"Dawson," he heard the other watcher answer; then silence as Dawson listened to his conversion-partner. A few moments later, an expression of relief appeared on the watcher's face. "Thank God," Lafiette heard Dawson speak into the phone; then: "so you have it? And no…" To his great sorrow, Lafiette was not able to understand the rest of the sentence because Dawson turned his head to nod his thanks to a waitress that brought him a new cup of coffee.
Lafiette was just about to consider an unobtrusive way to get a bit closer, as Dawson suddenly turned his head back in his direction, saying, "… arrive here, Methos?…"
Hearing the last word, Lafiette swallowed his coffee the wrong way. He coughed for a few seconds; his eyes began to tear while he desperately tried to get some air into his burning lungs. METHOS!!! he very excited repeated the magic words in his mind, grabbing with terribly trembling hands a serviette to clean his face. Dawson really said it! Damn - HE REALLY HAS SAID IT!!
He forced his hammering heart to beat a bit slower, fearing he else would suffer a heart attack right now. Bastard, he then thought while he once again focussed his narrowing eyes on the other watcher, on his face now a slightly angry expression. He really has known it all the time, but never even gave the slightest hint…the bastard!! The tribunal will kill him for that – that means, if there's still enough left of Dawson after Zoll is through with him.
Seeing that Dawson was making himself ready to leave, Lafiette took some money out of his coat and quickly placed it on the table before he hurried to follow Dawson. The other would meet Methos today - of that he was sure now – but definitely not without him! He would be there too, adhering to him like a limpet.
Note: When I first planed the theft, I had a much more intelligent and complicated plan in my mind. But then I thought 'why not use a real one?'. So I checked the Internet for any description of a real theft: at the end, I chose the roof and the ladder (they come from different thefts, but both were successful). According to several descriptions of picture-thefts I found, are the most cameras really only used to record, not to watch in real-time. And many times the laser are also disabled.
The idea with the belt and the pulley is from one of the episodes of Buffy.
I hope that I also was able to characterize Amanda the right way, because this is my first fic in which she plays a bigger role (that means more than one sentence).