White Collar: The Eye of Sita
Chapter Twenty-two
"You remember everything I told you?"
"I've got it, Neal." Sara smiled. "This isn't my first rodeo."
"Sometimes I forget that you steal things legally for a living."
"I repossess them, not steal."
"Semantics."
"This is a bad idea." Walters growled. "We shouldn't send a civilian into Glass's house...particularly dressed like that."
Inside the large surveillance van Sara looked down at her tight white blouse that had the top three buttons undone. Her lace black bra showed through the fabric slightly. A light weight gold jacket and a skin tight black skirt that barely made it to her knees completed the outfit. Sara wore the revealing outfit with confidence and graceful ease.
"First rule of the con, Agent Walters," Neal smiled mischievously "use all available assets and advantages."
"This is too dangerous." Walters insisted.
"I can take care of myself." Sara said firmly.
"It's true," Peter agreed "Sara isn't your average 'civilian'. Plus we will be here for back up."
"How are you going to listen in?" Sara asked. "I know Neal usually wears that heavy men's watch with a transmitter, but I think that will look out of place on me."
"Which is why we have this." Peter smiled and held up a intricate gold bib necklace.
"That's stunning." Sara approved. "I'd wear that out to dinner even if I wasn't going undercover for the FBI."
"That's the point." Neal said as he took the necklace from Peter and secured it around Sara's neck, taking the opportunity to give her cheek a quick kiss. "You're going to do great. We'll be listening, but for right now just get a description of what Glass wants, I'll sculpt it tonight and then we can deliver it to Glass with the audio/visual equipment inside it. He won't reveal he has the Hope on this first meeting so you'll be safe."
"Sounds like a simple enough plan." Sara nodded.
"Glass has no history of direct violence," Walters added "he is very cautious and like Caffrey said he will not tip his hand during this first meeting so everything should go smoothly, but we can break down his door in five minutes if we have to."
"Your concern is adorable, Agent Walters." Sara reached out and brushed Walters's cheek.
Walters pulled away from her touch with a sour expression. He was far more concerned with the shitstorm of paperwork that would be involved if he got a non Agent in trouble on an undercover mission. Neal gave Sara one last word of advice.
"If Glass gives you a low price demand higher, if he gives you an absurdly high price ask him why it is worth so much to him and if he doesn't answer just walk away."
"Is that what you would do?"
"If I was smart I would."
"So...that's a 'no' then?" Sara teased.
"Pretty much."
Sara chuckled and gave Neal a quick kiss.
"Are they always this 'touchy'?" Walters complained to Peter.
"Just be grateful they've managed to keep their clothes on." Peter replied.
"You are just as affectionate with Elizabeth." Neal pointed out.
"Not when I'm at work." Peter shot back. "Sara are you ready?"
"No sweat, let's do this."
Sara grabbed the purse that Walters had provided her with all the proper identity. She took a set of BMW keys from Walters and stepped out of the van. They were currently parked about a mile from Glass's mansion. She would drive the rest of the way in a swank BMW convertible. The rest of team would be waiting in the converted utility van a block from the main gates.
Glass lives on the outer limits of DC where the city gave way to huge mansions on large wooded lots. She came to the gate that was attended by a guard. She flashed him a smile and he pressed the code that opened the automatic gate. They hadn't known if Glass had accepted the meeting until this point. The fact that she was let in without question was a good sign.
Driving up to the sprawling house Sara stepped out of the car and casually tossed the keys to the waiting valet. Another employee was waiting at the front door and brought her inside. Sara looked around at the wealth of African art and sculpture that lined the long high ceiling hallway.
Sara was brought to a sitting room with a view of the woods behind the house through a large bay window. The man who had lead her here left without a word. Sara looked around the room and was drawn to a large glass cabinet against the side wall. Inside was a large rough chunk of stone about the size of a softball. The rock didn't look like anything special, it was grayish in hue with flecks of black in it.
"Hello, Miss Taylor." A smooth voice broke the silence.
Sara turned around and leaned most of her weight onto one foot to highlight the curve of her hips. She smiled at Glass and looked him over. He was well dressed in a hand taylored suit. He was older than she had thought, he had silver hair, but still had the handsome features of his youth. Sara briefly thought about how unfair it was that some men just became better looking with age. Glass walked up to her and held his hand out. Sara placed her hand in his and he brought it up for a gentlemanly kiss. He made no secret of admiring her figure. He had an arrogance about him that suggested that he was used to having sex with any woman he set his sights on.
"I must admit that you are not what I was expecting when I started looking for an artist." Glass said.
"I hope you're not disappointed."
"Far from it." Glass smiled in much the same way that Neal did when he wanted something.
"What is this piece on display here?" Sara asked in a conversational tone.
"Do you like it? It is the world's largest diamond."
"A diamond?"
"A rough one, sadly it has too many inclusions to be cut and polished." Glass replied. "Still there is something about owning the world's largest diamond, even if it looks like an ordinary rock."
"I have to admit that I like the smaller ones that sparkle a bit more."
"I guess that just proves that size isn't everything." Glass purred.
"Quality certainly counts for something."
Glass took a step back and ran his eyes over Sara once more. Not one to be shy Sara put her hands on her hips and posed for him. Glass nodded in approval.
"I like you already. You have the confidence that only a truly beautiful woman can posses. I assume your art work is just as stunning as you are?"
"Are you familiar with the statue of Diadoumenos by Polykleitos at the Met?"
"I am, a fabulous piece."
"I was the restoration artist, only the head and legs below the knee are original, the rest is mine."
"So you are classically trained?"
"I am."
"Where did you go to school?"
"I was privately mentored."
"Anyone I would have heard of?"
"No." Sara shook her head. "But I'm sure you've seen his work without even knowing it."
Glass thought about this for a moment before nodding. Both of them were being careful not to openly discuss any illegal activity. They had been able to plant her alias in the Met's database so that if Glass had looked her up he would have been able to view some of her 'legitimate' jobs. Since there were literally thousands of status in the Met's collection he must have looked her up in order to be able to recall this one piece.
"I don't have any details about the job you're offering other than you need a clay sculptor who specializes in discretion."
"I require a life sized statue of the Goddess Sita. I have some concept drawings to assist with the look."
"Concept drawings?" Sara repeated pretending to be surprised. "So you are not looking for a forgery?"
"Not exactly."
"Then if you don't mind me asking why do you need my particular services?"
"Mostly for your discretion."
"Okay, well if the price is right what you do with the statue is your business."
"How does four hundred thousand sound?"
Sara paused. She recalled Neal's advice on negotiating price, but it wasn't until this moment that she realized that she didn't know what was high and what was low. Glass waited expectantly. Sara decided to try and draw him out.
"You're kidding right?" Sara asked sounding skeptical.
"Not enough?" Glass asked with a raised eyebrow.
"I didn't come all the way to DC for pocket change."
"Fair enough." Glass nodded. "If you are as good as you say I will happily pay seven."
"Deal."
Sara wasn't ready to relax just yet. Glass didn't seem threatening, but he did have certain power in his personality that suggested it wasn't wise to cross him. Sara was hoping to just get the concept drawings and get back to the FBI as quickly as possible.
"If you give me the drawings I will go back to my studio and get started."
"No I need you to do the sculpture here."
"What?"
"I have a all the materials you need."
"My studio has all of my tools." Sara pointed out.
"I have everything you need and I can get anything you request."
"I'd feel more comfortable in my own space."
"This is not negotiable." Glass said sternly. "I have special clay from the River of Life in India that must be used. Come, I'll take you to the studio. You'll stay here until the job is finished."
Sara took a breath to protest when the door to the study opened and three armed guards stepped inside. Glass offered Sara his arm for her to take. Forcing a polite smile Sara realized that now was not the time to hesitate. She took his arm and he lead her to the third floor where he had a large open room with high ceilings set up as an art studio. There was a set of glass doors that lead to a small patio on the far wall, but being three stories up it didn't make a good escape route.
"Does everything seem in order?" Glass asked.
"It looks good at first glance."
"Excellent. If you need anything just knock on the door. I'll give you some privacy I know how artist hate to be watched when they work. Dinner is at six. I would be honored if you'd join me."
"Of course."
"Wonderful."
Glass left, but made a point to make sure she heard him tell one of the guards to stay outside the door. Glass closed the large double doors and locked them with a heavy click. Feeling a touch of panic Sara looked around the well stocked art studio. She didn't have any idea what half of the equipment was even for. She tapped on her transmitter necklace, hoping that it was sending a signal.
"Uh...Guys, I think I'm in a bit of trouble here."