Thanks for reviewing and/or adding me to watchlist. I will try to upload a chapter a day till this story is finished. If things go as planned (do they ever?) the story should need about 10 chapters of roughly 1000 words each. Today's is a bit shorter, I had to work late. What I do for a living? Well, I work in an organic foodstore, of course ;) Please, keep reviewing. I love reviews. English is not my native language and I am struggling with it a bit. I am eager to learn, though and will not be offended if you point out any errors I make. So feel absolutely free to tell me where I messed up.
"To a job that went perfectly smooth", Nate toasted. The other clinked their wine glasses together.
"And to a perfect meal", Sophie added and raised her glass towards Eliot. He accepted the praise with a small nod.
"It's not over yet. There is still desert."
"Oh, mercy, I can't eat another bite", the grifter complained.
"Well, I surely can, so I say: bring it on"
Eliot smiled at the greedy tone in Hardison's voice and got up to fetch the tray with the freshly baked honey bread from the kitchen.
"You should never eat so much that there is no room for desert. Desert is the most important part of a meal", Parker declared.
"Why is that?", Nate ventured to ask, even though he wasn't sure he wanted to know the answer.
"Desert is when you steal the watches", Parker explained. Sophie smiled.
"Good point"
"What? Why? Tell me, why do you steal watches during desert?", Hardison wanted to know.
"Easy", Parker explained. "In the beginning, everyone is hungry. They have their eyes on the apetizers and both hands on the table, forks at the ready. Perfect moment to go for necklaces. They are so busy swallowing, that they don't notice when you fumble at their necks opening the catch."
Nate looked from her to Sophie, who nodded.
"Sounds reasonable, it's what I would do ... if I were into that sort of thing, that is", she added hastily when Nate frowned at her.
"Then", Parker continued, "the main course. Everyone is still all about the meal, they still need both hands, so hands are on the table where everyone can see them. Still a no go on the watches. But it's a perfect opportunity for wallets. It's totally natural to touch someone or brush along his clothes when you ask them to pass you the platter or when you reach for the salt shaker. Piece of cake."
Hardison remembered how Parker had demanded the salt earlier and hastily checked for his wallet. It was still there. Parker smiled reassuringly.
"Don't worry. I just borrowed your cellphone"
She drew it out of her pocket and gave it back to him.
"What did you borrow it for?", he asked suspiciously.
"Just because I could", Parker answered.
"So", Eliot announced, carrying in the large silver tray on which he had decorativly piled slices of honey bread, "desert!"
Parker took that as a cue to continue her explanation.
"And when desert is served, people already start to get tired ... food coma. They relax on their chairs a bit. Plus they need only a spoon for the desert ... if they need cutlery at all ..." Parker looked pointedly at Hardison who already extended a greedy hand towards the tray.
"And chances are, they drop the left hand to their sides, under the table", Sophie completed.
"Watchpicking time", Parker ended with dramatic emphasis.
A mobile phone played "Hotel California. Eliot looked confused.
"That's mine!", he exclaimed. "Parker, what are you doing with my cellphone?"
"Borrowed it", she smiled, dug it out of her pocket and flicked it towards him. Eliot caught it in a fluent motion and opened it on the third ring.
"Yeah?"
"Main course", Hardison couldn't help clarifying. "She did that during the main course"
Eliot needed a second to recognize Annie's voice through the phone.
"Eliot! Thank God! Don't eat the honey!" she burst out. The panic in her voice was enough to let Eliot act without further explanation. He knocked the slice of honey bread out of Hardison's hand just as he was about to devour it.
"Hey man!" the hacker protested, misinterpreting Eliot's action. "I did not know that Parker was stealing your mobile!"
Eliot just glared at him.
"What's wrong with the honey, Annie?" he asked. There was something in his voice that got everyone's attention at once and the rest of the team silently looked at him when he put the cellphone on speaker.
"It might be poisoned", Annie answered for all of them to hear. Eliot cocked his head at Hardison who turned a bit pale under his black skin. Parker slowly laid the piece of honey bread she already had in her hand back unto the tray eyeing it suspiciously as if it were about to bite her.
"I think we should talk", Eliot told Annie. "I'll come and pick you up."