Some might say a painting by Renaissance artist Giotto is priceless. However the one Natalie held under her arms had recently been bought by White Inc. for 18 million. Currently it was carefully wrapped in brown paper and resembled any old mail envelope.
Natalie let the package slip through her fingers and didn't watch as it dropped through the gap between the open elevator doors. It tumbled down the elevator shaft in silence and her heart dropped with it. She might have been okay with stealing the painting but if the masterpiece was destroyed because of her she would never forgive herself. Natalie listened for the sound of 18 million dollars hitting the base of the elevator shaft, but no echo came.
She suppressed a smile. Good old, Mac. Always right where he should be, ready to make the catch.
The doors rolled shut and Natalie tried to keep her jittery hands still while she waited for the chime announcing her arrival on the 32nd floor.
She hadn't made it four steps out of the elevator before two nervous guards approached her. "I'm sorry, miss, but I'll have to ask you to come with us." The elder guard said. He looked close to retirement and the worn look on his face said he was very much ready for it.
Natalie folded her brow into a practiced frown. "Is there a problem?"
The younger guard couldn't have been older then twenty-five, and he clearly lacked the finesse of his partner. "Yes, there is. A painting has gone missing from the gallery."
"Missing?" Natalie's brows shot up, "As in you lost it?"
"As in it was stolen."
"Then shouldn't you be looking for the thief?"
"That's what we're doing," The young guard was losing his patience with her questions, "You match the description given by a gentlemen in the gallery who witnessed a young woman leave the room with package."
"Oh, I see."
The elder guard spoke up, "We don't wish to offend, Miss, but we'll have to ask you to come with us so that some of our guards can search your purse."
"No, of course. Anything I can do to help. I'm sure this is all a misunderstanding."
Relief passed between the two men when Natalie didn't appear offended. "We appreciate it, miss. We can't be too careful," The elder guard said.
"No, no, of course not." Natalie paused a moment, "The package wasn't brown, was it?"
The guards exchanged a look, "Yes." They said in unison.
"I'm sure it was nothing," The charming girl brushed it off.
The younger guard cleared his throat, "If you have any information that could be helpful, Miss, we would appreciate it-"
"Now that I think of it, I believe I saw a young woman, well she couldn't have been much older then I am, with a package under her arm. She got off several floors before me."
The younger guard pressed her for the floor number.
"I'm sorry, boys, I really can't remember, but I think it must have been the 24th or 26th floor. Or something around there."
At that moment a stunning young assistant rounded the corner, and strode towards them with purpose, "Is this her?" She demanded of the two guards.
The men just starred, dumbfounded, into the woman's stunning green eyes.
"I was instructed to escort a young woman down to the security office to have her purse checked," The woman explained, "Is this her?"
The elder guard was the first to overcome the paralyzing affect of those green eyes, "Uh, yes. Patrick sent you?"
"Yes. And he said that you are supposed to head to the 26th floor. They need your help there."
The younger man turned to his partner. "They must have found her."
The elder guarded nodded first to his partner then to the girls, "Excuse us, ladies."
"Good luck, boys," Siena smiled as they parted before turning to Natalie. "Right this way, Miss."
Siena locked the stairwell door behind them. Heels in hands, the girls bounded down the stairs. Natalie spoke into her mic as she ran, "James, we're in the stairwell. Rendezvous in six minutes?"
James' response was immediate, "Make that five minutes, 40 seconds. Those guards have already made it to the 26th floor and they don't look impressed. I left the van out back. You going to make it in time, Mac?"
"I should get there before Nat and Siena do. I'll have the engine running. Doors will be open."
"Thanks, Mac. You're a doll," Natalie chimed.
They were passing the 22nd floor when Siena called down to Nat, "That's a cute jacket. Did Cake pick it out?"
"This old thing? Nah, Cake wouldn't approve of it."
"I certainly do not approve," Cake agreed.
Siena laughed, "Must be why I like it so much. Mind if I borrow it?"
"Why? You got a hot date coming up?" Natalie teased, knowing full well that Mac could hear.
"Dating?" Dmitri broke in. "Who's my sister dating?" As intended, Natalie's remark had set off a squander of jokes between James and Dmitri about Siena's non-existent dating-life. While their jests ricocheted through the comms, Natalie threw a glance over her shoulder and caught a look at Siena's vengeful smirk that seemed to say 'Two can play at that game'.
"You know what, Nat," Siena shot back, "you should hold on to the jacket. You can wear it to lunch with Eric on Monday."
There was a moment of silence on the comms before James' tense voice broke it, "I thought you had to cancel your lunch plans."
Natalie groaned, "Can we all please just focus on the heist?"
"Good idea," Mac said, "I've got the van ready."
"Perfect timing," Siena smiled, pushing her way through the fire escape door onto the back street. The girls were in the back of the van and being swept off into on coming traffic before anyone had the chance to look their way.
Siena climbed into the passenger seat beside Mac and Natalie didn't fail to notice that the slender girl's hand rest on Mac's shoulder longer then necessary. She didn't think Mac would miss it either.
"Everyone's in, Jay," Mac called over the roar of the old engine. "We're headed your way. Be there in two minutes, tops."
"I'll be waiting for you. We'll see you soon Dmitri."
"I'll have everything packed by the time you get here," Dmitri replied. His injured leg meant that he wouldn't be partaking in any heists for a few weeks yet so the crew had left him at the hotel. "It should be smooth sailing from here on out so I'm going to shut my comm. off. Get back safe boys and girls."
"Will do. Okay, Dmitri is off the air," Jay announced.
It was then that Natalie spotted the truck. "S, I don't like the look of that SUV. The one on the right. It's been on our tail for at least four blocks."
Siena spun around to get a better look. "Hey Cake?"
Cake chimed in, "What can I do for you, my darling?"
"Can you run a plate number for us? KHO 0517."
There was a pause and the sound of a fingers flying across the keyboard before Cake spoke again, "Damn, not good, loves. It's registered to White Inc. I suggest you lose that tail before you start sprouting fur."
"I'm all for that idea. Forget the planned route, its time we improvise," James voice was tense now. "Mac?"
"My pleasure." The tires screeched as Mac broke through several lanes of traffic to their left and swerved to miss a streetlamp. The van tore its way through the streets and back alleys as its passengers held on for dear life. There were only two things in the world could make Mac smile. An old fashion car chase was one of them.
After several tense moments and some chose swear words from Natalie after each sharp turn, Cake spoke again, "I've got satellite images up, my darlings but its looks like they're still on your tail. Make that three SUVs."
"I don't get it. How are they still keeping up with us?" Siena asked.
"Don't know. But we need to get you guys out of there. Ditch the van." James ordered.
"There is a bus pulling up at a stop not 200 meters in front of you," Cake provided information from her bird's eye view. "You'll want to catch that one."
"Understood," Mac replied through clenched teeth as he slammed on the breaks.
The van screeched to a halt in the parking spot and its passengers disappeared into the crowd carrying only a seemingly ordinary package. The SUV's roared past as three thieves climbed onto the bus, not caring where it was going, not giving a damn when they would get there.
Mac, Siena and Natalie made four more bus changes but before too long the SUV's returned to tail them.
"How are they tracking us this far?" Siena tried to keep the panic from creeping into her voice.
"They must have satellite access as well," Cake answered.
"Then its time we went underground," James took control, "Cake where's the nearest subway entrance?"
"Grand Central. Get off at the next stop and head one block east. I'll figure out what's rolling into the station."
By this point the crew had lost all hope of discretion and when the bus parked itself at the next stop the three thieves were the first off the bus, sprinting toward Grand Central station.
When the trio descended the stairs to the lower levels the comms went dead in their ears. Cake's voice disintegrated into crackles.
"That's our technical support gone," Natalie panted as they sped walked across the platform.
"Then we'll have to make it on our own from here." Mac answered ushering them onto the nearest train. Two line changes later the crew was still being followed.
"That's impossible," Siena said. "How could they have followed us here?"
"There must be a tracker on the painting." Natalie said.
"Can we get it off?" She asked.
"There's no frame so it must be on the painting itself. I don't know if we could remove it without damaging the work," Mac eyed the parcel tucked under his arm.
"That's not an option," Natalie insisted.
"Alright, so we ditch it." Siena suggested.
"This is by Giotto for heaven sake, we can't just toss it on a bench and hope it ends up somewhere safe."
"I don't care if it's the keys to heaven. Its not worth getting caught," Siena threw her hands up in exasperation.
"S, Natalie may have been wearing gloves but I'm not. My fingerprints are all over this thing," Mac's voice was low compared to the train that roared into the station beside them.
"Alright, alright," Siena backed toward the trains as its door slide open, "We get on this train and we keep going until we find some way to get rid of the tracker or remove the fingerprints."
"We can't run forever. We already know they have more resources then we do." Mac tried to reason with her.
"We'll do it. We have to. Come on!" she led the way towards the nearest open train doors. Shouts from the other side of the platform alerted them to the appearance of their pursers.
"Move! Now!" Mac ordered, as he urged Natalie forward with a hand on her back.
The trio pushed their way to the nearest car doors but Mac paused in the doorway, and looked down at the package in his arms. Their pursuers were gaining on them. The doors tried to roll shut but Siena stopped them before they could separate her from Mac. "Hurry up! The doors are closing."
From down the train someone yelled at them, "Hey, stop blocking the doors!"
"Back off!" Natalie shouted back in true New York style.
Siena was grasping at Mac's shirt, "Mac? Get on the train, Mac."
He tried to detach her hands from him, "Step back, Siena."
"What are you doing?"
He shook his head, "I'm not bringing you down with me. They won't follow you."
"Stop being an idiot. We don't have time for this. Mac, just get on the train-"
"Don't hate me. Please, don't hate me." Mac's lips crashed against hers. Breaking apart, he shoved Siena with enough force to send her stunned form falling backwards into the train. Now unimpeded, the subways doors slid shut, separating the pair. Before Siena could scramble to her feet and pry the doors open the train was moving and Mac was sliding away from them.
Siena banged on the train doors, screaming, "Mac! No, no, no, no! Mac, don't! Damn you!" The doors wouldn't give and the girls were forced to watch as Mac was overtaken by their pursuers and knocked to his knees, arms high in surrender. The priceless Giotto was knocked to the ground beside him. Even as he slammed into the ground, Mac's eyes didn't leave Siena's until the train disappeared into the tunnel.
The scene evaporated before them and Natalie couldn't breathe. Every eye on that train was focused on them but neither of them could bring themselves to care. Siena turned toward her and in the moment Natalie saw the unbreakable girl crumble before her eyes. "We have to help him. We have to stop the train," Siena sobbed.
"We can't Siena. They would only grab us too."
"No! No, we have to go back." Siena collapsed against the doors, sliding to the floor as wave after wave of sobs racked her body. "Please Natalie! Do something!"
"I-I can't. S, I'm sorry. I don't know how. I'm so sorry, Siena." But the girl on the floor couldn't hear her. Siena rocked back and forth, drowning in her own grief, "Please, help him. They're taking him away. Please, just help him."
But Natalie couldn't do anything but hold the broken girl in her arms and tell her soft lies, "He'll be okay, S. I promise he'll be okay."