Joe had taken the boys to get their suits and came back a couple hours later pleased with how easy it was. They spent the rest of the time preparing for the ball and making sure Josh and Adrian really did know how to act. Adrian was perfect at all the banqueting manors and he wasn't a bad dancer. His mother taught him well. Josh though was young and had little practice, but he would do fine for the only part he could be a part of, which was the diner part.
Joe was anxious the day of ball. It had only hit him the night before that if anything was going to happen, tonight would be ideal. He went to Shades with his concerns, but yet again Shades was already a step ahead and reassured him that nothing would happen. And he was right, mostly.
Dinner went well; Adrian was more then qualified to keep up the diplomats in their discussion of economics, military and what ever else they talked about. Josh was quiet most of the time, but when asked question he responded with shy answers, but was polite about it. Joe though, it took him twenty minutes before he calmed down and decided nothing would happen.
The Genovian Prime Minister came up after dinner to the podium and began his speech and Joe took it as a chance to take Josh to bed. He had to carry the young boy half way on his way to the bedroom because he was so tired. Joe changed Josh gently so he did not wake the boy and then tucked Josh into bed. He closed the door and nodded to one of the guards before heading back. Before heading back he decided to stop at a restroom and it was a good thing he did. Because when he came out he spotted some men in black with guns turn the corner and heading in the direction of the ballroom.
Joe tensed and ran around the next corner to find the guard outside Josh's room unconscious. He took the mans ear pieces and radio. On the radio reports of nothing happening was going through. No one else knew yet of the strange men. Joe quickly reported it himself as he opened Josh's door slowly to find that Josh was still there sleeping.
Joe sighed with relief; the guard was only knocked out so that the two men in black could pass by. Joe checked that the windows were locked before locking the door behind him. Now security was going nuts trying to stop the intruders. Joe pulled out his gun and quickly moved through the hallways.
"Listen carefully," Joe said into the radio. "The intruders heading to the ball may be a distraction, keep an eye out for others heading in other directions."
"Understood." he got back many times from different security.
Joe carefully crept through the dark hallways. He came up behind two of the men in black. Their backs were to him so they did not see him. "What are we looking for?" One asked the other. Joe kept hidden behind the corner.
"Nothing, we are distractions, until we have the crystal."
"Then we are looking for something."
"No idiot, that's someone else's job." Joe knew it they were distractions. He looked around for something to knock them out with, but the only thing was an antique table. He closed his eyes in horror and he loudly broke off the table leg. "What the!" One of them said with a jump. Joe held up the leg and swung it at the guys head as he came around the corner.
Joe hit him right in the jaw and knocked the guys straight on his back. The other was right behind him and pulled out his gun. Joe swung the table leg again and knocked the gun away and came back down on the back of the guy's neck. Both men lay on the ground. Joe sighed and dropped the table leg. He pulled out his gun again as he ran the rest of the way to his room.
He opened the door to and put his gun down on the table beside the door. Joe quietly moved to the hidden vault and opened it. He reached into the dark corner and pulled out the small velvet bag with the diamond in it. He smiled he wasn't too late then. That's when he heard the cocking of a gun behind him and he froze. "Turn around and keep your hands above your head." Said the male voice behind him, Joe put his hand up and turned around to face Adrian.
