A/N: I was going to write more, but I decided this was good enough for now. I'm still settling on what their next steal will be. I think I might have to make it up for the sake of the story and it progressing smoothly. I'm not going to go into much detail on how to break into a museum, etc. Because I actually can't find much information on that (shocker). Instead I'm going to just do whatever I feel is necessary and hopefully, it will be believable! I bet you guys never saw this character coming tho. Hee! Enjoy. (Also, thanks to the anon and my friend for helping me decide on the name for said character!)
May 23rd, 2013.
10:25 a.m.
Police Headquarters
Ever since his boss had come and talked with him about the agents, the two suits had backed off. They were still hanging around the station at random intervals and whenever they had a meeting, the agents would hawk over him, drilling him with questions about what he might know or what his plans were. So far, they had proved only to be an irritant.
Eugene rubbed his temples as his computer screen began to blur and become one mass. "Fitzherbert," one of the agent's voice woke him from his stupor.
"Huh?" he turned to face agent Parkerson. "Yes, Parkerson?"
"The agency is sending down another agent to help the investigation move a lot smoother. According to my boss, this agent worked the case a while ago and knows in-depth details about one of the Big Four." Parkerson's blue eyes scanned Eugene's face, reading the signs of exhaustion and frustration. "You don't look so good," he said without concern, "maybe they should give the case to a more worthy detective."
Eugene felt his hackles rise and he sat up straighter, "sure, they could." He said calmly, "but nothing would ever get done. You see, Parkerson, I'm the best. I'm better than the best. When I want to get something, I get it." He stood, now eye-to-eye with the agent, "got it?" he whispered. His tone never changed from one of nonchalance, but his eyes spoke a different story.
Parkerson narrowed his eyes, "I understand, detective." He replied.
"Sparks flying?" Matthew Curtis, the CIA agent appeared next to them. Out of the two, Matthew had been the least problematic and was even helping Eugene by keeping Albert Parkerson off his case. "Don't set the station on fire. The new agent will be here soon, and that's not the best way to greet a new face." He sipped his coffee calmly, his whole body relaxed as the two finally stood down.
"This agent, what exactly do they know?" Eugene asked, sitting back down in his seat.
"Apparently, they had a personal relationship with one of them. Other than that, I can't say."
"Why not?" Eugene asked suspiciously. "Classified?"
Curtis smirked, "No. I just don't know."
"This… agent, who are they exactly?"
"I think you are about to get your answer…" Curtis gestured toward the station doors as they swung open and a woman in a pencil skirt, button down shirt, matching jacket and four-inch high heels clicked into the office. Her hair was black and soft, it was pulled back into a ponytail, as her bangs hung slightly over her eyes. She was somewhat tan and held a very foreign look.
She clicked toward them and stopped in front of the trio. Eugene's eyes bugged, he honestly hadn't been expecting this. A woman, and a beautiful one at that.
"Eugene Fitzherbert, I presume?" she said pulling off her dark sunglasses, "my name is Ana Fae. Special agent for the CIA." She smiled and held out her hand, "pleasure to meet you."
Eugene blinked, coming back to reality. He stood quickly and shook her hand, "Same."
Ana turned to the other agents, "Parkerson," she nodded, "and you must be agent Curtis." She shook his hand too. "Now that all the introductions are out of the way," she turned back to Eugene, "why don't you fill me in on what you know, and then I can help you out from there."
"Whoa now, I'm good as is. But thanks anyway," Eugene said.
A fine eyebrow rose on Ana's face, "then you know all about where they are going to hit next? And of course you are aware of their procedures, as well as how they operate and who goes in to collect, who distracts, and how they intend to hack into the top security systems in the world without ever being detected?" She smiled stiffly.
Eugene glanced at the other two agents and then back at Ana, "uhm…"
"Alright then, you will fill me in on what you know and then I can help from there." She nodded, "gentlemen." Without another word she left them, heading for the break-room and a cup of coffee.
Eugene watched her go before turning to Curtis and Parkerson, "how come you two don't know those things?"
They shrugged, "we were never told." Parkerson replied.
Eugene sat down with a groan, "great. Looks like I'm going to have help whether I want it or not."
"You need it. You've had the case for three or four days now and you've done nothing to uncover where they are going to hit next!" Parkerson snarled, "I had a clue and you, you just throw it away as if it were nothing."
Eugene rolled his eyes, "think about it, why would they hit a place that they made themselves known in? What's the point? The museum would know they were coming and have extra security! There is no point in returning there. It was a ploy to get you to believe that's where they would go. And like the naive agent you are, you believed it."
"Mr. Fitzherbert is right." Ana's voice cut through any protest Albert had, "they would never hit the same place twice. It's just not smart. I'm glad to see Mr. Fitzherbert knows his stuff."
"It's just common sense," Eugene said, smiling a little at the compliment.
Ana's mouth twitched as she forced down the smile, "thief knowledge sometimes isn't." She glanced at the agents. Curtis ignored the remark, while Parkerson steamed in annoyance.
"Now," she pulled a chair up next to Eugene's desk, "tell me what you know."
Eugene stared at her for a moment, studying her face. She was obviously a stern person, to be a female agent surrounded by masculinity would take a lot of guts and self-esteem. But he also sensed something deeper, a hurt long pushed aside. He sighed and looked away, "alright. I know that the Big Four have been operating since 2010, three years ago. However, nobody knew who they were even after they made their first heist.
"Since 2010, they have made over twenty-five thefts, including personal property of one Duke in France, and ten from different countries outside the US and France. They even made personal house calls to rich collectors homes. After the third heist, which happened to be from the Louvre Museum in France, they were put on the map. No one knew who they were or where they came from. But the teens named themselves the Big Four. Bold and daring, they dropped a clean card with no prints on it, in place of an item they stole (the name of which was kept from the media) with bold letters that spelled out 'The Big Four'. Now having a proper title, the Big Four ran amok in the art world. They even stole a priceless necklace from the Egyptian museum." He smirked, "I gotta say, these kids are pretty gutsy."
Ana twitched, "indeed. They are."
"And they have a member who can replicate any art piece that they steal to utter perfection! Some of the top authenticators in the world couldn't tell the difference between the fake and the real one."
"If I didn't know any better, I'd say you actually admired these punks," Parkerson said.
Eugene swiveled his chair and smirked, "as a matter of fact, I do. It takes serious brains and lots of confidence to do what these kids are doing. Some of the biggest thieves known to the world have never even come close to stealing what they have stolen."
Ana nodded, "they are very good. But I think soon they will slip up. Since they began in 2010, new bands of thieves have popped up all over the world. None of any real consequence like the Big Four, however a few are worth noting and being fearful of. It would appear they have competition heading their way."
Eugene blinked, "you mean there are other teams of thieves who are out to get the Big Four?"
"Yes, that's exactly what I mean. The Big Four are no longer alone in the game, they have awakened rivals and what I fear will be deadly competition." Ana sipped her coffee, "we have to find out what it is they plan to steal before they steal it, and intercept them and any others who may want to get their hands on the item."
Eugene sighed, "wonderful. How exactly do we do that?"
Ana grinned, "don't worry. I have a plan."
