Chapter 4
Rossi Heist
Sam began running down the hallway beside Alcazar. He couldn't help feeling he was getting involved with a person that was very dangerous. "How long have you had this planned?" Sam asked. "Since the moment I set foot in this place," Alcazar said, "Samuel keep up! We have to move quickly!" Sam passed several dead guards in the hall. He was getting more and more uneasy about the entire situation. Soon they entered the main guardhouse, and Sam saw even more dead guards. There was one guard clutching his arm and as Alcazar approached he begged for mercy. Alcazar shot him in the head. Sam gasped. He knew Alcazar was an evil man, but he had never seen him act so ruthless. Turning to face Sam, and taking note of his horrified face, Sam said, "These guards are sadistic. We're doing the world a favor huh?" Sam thought he knew who the true sadist was. "Here," said Alcazar handing Sam a pistol, "You'll need this. You remember how to use it?" Sam took the pistol reluctantly, "Yeah it'll come back to me," he said. Sam didn't want to kill anybody, and he wouldn't shoot to kill. He saw Alcazar look at one of the henchmen and command something in Spanish. Then he saw him grab the keys for all the cells. Sam looked at Alcazar and said, "Hector don't! You do that and you'll start a riot!" Alcazar laughed, "Exactly!" he said. Suddenly he heard the cell doors open, and dozens of inmates exploded out. Alcazar's men handed out pistols and clubs. Sam put his hands behind his head, he felt like he could throw up. Suddenly Alcazar's men burst into the prison yard, accompanied by dozens of angry prisoners ready to draw blood. Sam hid behind a wall as bullets began whistling past him, guards poured into the yard and started shooting. Sam didn't want to hurt any of the guards, but at this point he knew he might have to. He wouldn't kill unless his life depended on it. Sam rushed to the next shelter, hiding from the rain of bullets. It was now a full blown riot. Guards were clubbing and shooting, and the henchmen and inmates were shooting back. Sam saw the bloodthirsty Alcazar throw a smoke bomb into the main yard. Afterwards he clubbed a guard to death before moving onwards. Sam kept going, smoke burned his eyes and nostrils. As he ran closer and closer to the edge of the yard, he felt somebody grab his neck. It was one of the guards. He desperately tried to escape his grip, and Alcazar came to his rescue. He clubbed the guard with the butt of his AK. They continued on, but then that part of the yard ended. They would have to go through another building to leave. Several guards were gunned down, and then Alcazar beckoned, "Come on Samuel." Sam followed until they reached a dead end room. It was blocked by a huge metal prison door. Sam saw several people cower behind a desk. "Get behind something Samuel!" shouted Alcazar, Samuel obeyed, and his eardrums nearly burst as a gigantic explosion went off in the room. The door had been bombed out. Sam rushed out, and back outside. It was an alleyway between buildings. A guard blocked the way, and Sam engaged hand-to-hand. He knocked the guard out, but didn't kill him. Continuing on as quickly as he could, Sam went back inside a building. He could see a clear exit, and he made a break for it, not caring where Alcazar was at anymore. Suddenly, they reached the center of the prison yard. The main building had a massive gun turret on top which a guard was using. "Take cover!" shouted a voice. It was Alcazar. Suddenly, the turret exploded into a ball of flame, rock and mortar flying in all directions, "See!" Alcazar laughed, "I came prepared!" Running ever closer to the entrance of the prison yard and freedom, more buildings and barracks exploded, the inmates, armed with bombs, were blowing the entire prison up! Guards kept shooting, but Sam didn't bother with them, they he was too close to the exit. Suddenly, he saw the wall! Leaping up and over, Sam jumped on top of the wall and down the other side. There were several vans waiting, Alcazar inside of one, beckoned Sam to jump in. When he did, they closed the door, and made good their escape.
Sam, inside of Alcazar's van, breathed heavily. He was drenched with sweat, and in shock about everything that had just happened. Alcazar gave him a canteen and said, "Here, Samuel, drink." Oh no I'm good," said Sam, "Better than good actually." "No," said Alcazar, "You're dehydrated, drink." Sam took it and drank. "So," said Alcazar, "What's next for Samuel Drake?" Sam sighed, "What is next?" he said, "Well I'm going to take a bath, sleep on a real bed, track my brother down…That seems like a pretty good start." "Yeah," said Alcazar, "It is." They paused, until Alcazar said, "So, how long do you think it will take to retrieve Avery's treasure huh?" Sam said, "Uh…I don't know. I mean, I get back to the States I can resume my search." Alcazar snatched the canteen from Sam's hand and snapped, "How long?" Sam shrugged, "It's kind of hard to say until I get the search on." "You said you know where it is." Alcazar said. Sam replied, "Yeah I do but…I mean it's not like Avery left a map with a big red X on it, OK? I mean I have some very solid leads," Alcazar spoke to the driver something Sam didn't hear. Suddenly, the van came to a stop. Sam saw what was happening, "Oh OK. Wait a minute. Hey!" The van door opened, and one of the henchmen came, and threw Sam from the van onto the ground. One of the guards pulled a pistol on Sam, who was breathing hard. Alcazar motioned for the man not to shoot. He loomed over Sam like an executioner and said, "I like you Samuel. More importantly, I believed you. That is why you are here." Sam looked at Alcazar, "Look I can get it, OK? Just give me some time!" he begged. He went to one of the henchmen and grabbed a knife. Alcazar crouched to Sam's eye level, holding the knife ready in his hand, "You see," said Alcazar, "I'm having all these doubts enter my mind." Sam, breathing heavily said, "Hector. Listen to me. I will find it." Alcazar shoved Sam's head into the ground, and held the cold, sharp edge of the knife to his throat. "How…long?" asked Alcazar. Sam didn't say anything, but when Alcazar pressed the blade a little harder Sam replied, "Six months." Alcazar laughed and said, "People are lazy. They always ask for more time than they actually need. Three months." Sam gasped and said in a panicky voice, "What! Three months is imposs-" "Three months!" Alcazar growled, "Half the treasure. Can you do it? Say it." Sam said quickly, "Three months! Half the treasure." Alcazar stared at Sam and said, "Now listen. If you try to run, or try to hide the treasure, or do something really stupid like go to the authorities, I'll know. And when you least expect it, I will be there. At that point, death is not a mercy I will grant you." Sam felt the knife leave his throat. He gasped and felt Alcazar help him up. "Here," Alcazar said, "Come on. The nearest town is ten kilometers in that direction, towards the sunrise." He handed Sam some money and a canteen, "It's been a while since we've seen the sunrise outside." He patted Sam on the back. Alcazar hopped into the van. "When I find it," Sam called back, "What then?" "Don't worry," replied Alcazar, "When the time comes, I'll be there to collect." "Adios Samuel." With that, the vans all drove off in a cloud of dust, leaving Samuel behind.
"So, Alcazar lets me go and here we are." Sam finished telling his story to Nathan. Nathan didn't respond right away. He had no idea what to say. "This is bad…" Nathan said. "We'll just pick up the trail where we left off and…" Sam said. "Trail?" Nathan said, "Sam there's no trail! After Rafe and I escaped he took up his parents entire fortune and bought all the land around St. Dismas cathedral. We combed that place for weeks. Avery's treasure isn't there." Not that that stopped Rafe. Moron's been digging for years. Still hasn't turned up squat." Sam took a drag of his cigarette. "Not really surprised," Sam said. Nathan raised an eyebrow, "What does that mean?" he asked. "Well," said Sam, "I happen to have been doing a little digging of my own." He pulled a piece of paper out of his coat pocket and said, "I'll bet you Rafe doesn't have this." Nathan unfolded the sheet of paper. It was a screenshot of a listing of an item on an online marketplace. It was the St. Dismas crucifix. "It's just the St. Dismas cross," Nathan said. "Oh is it?" Sam said, "Because I remember our cross being broken and hollow remember?" Nathan looked closer at the picture. "Holy crap it's still intact!" he said. After thinking for a moment he said, "Avery made more than one cross." Sam nodded and said, "So whatever was missing from the one we found in Panama…" "Is probably still inside this one." Nathan finished. Sam nodded. Nathan, getting excited said, "Alright! Where is this?" Sam said, "Oh, this exquisite piece, is going up for auction in three days, at the Rossi Estate." Nathan stood for a second. "The Rossi Estate?" "Oh you know it?" asked Sam. "Uh, yeah!" Nathan said, "Just how do you plan on securing an invite to an exclusive, heavily armored black market auction?" Sam shrugged, "Well you don't necessarily need an invitation per se…" "Yeah," said Nathan, "And where are you going to get the money to outbid all the high rollers? I could take a second mortgage out on my house and it still wouldn't be enough to…" Sam just stared out into the river blowing smoke from his cigarette. Nathan sighed, "Yep, you're going to try and steal it aren't you?" "No." said Sam, "We are." Nathan looked at Sam and throwing up his hand he said, "No. No man, I can't." "What!?" Sam asked. "No Sam I'm not doing that kind of thing anymore! There's other guys who are much more equipped to do stuff like that." "Like who?" asked Sam. Nathan didn't have a ready reply. "Look Nathan," said Sam, "I need you on this one. Time isn't on my side. Neither is Alcazar. I need your help. Please Nathan!" Nathan looked into Sam's desperate eyes. He sighed. He didn't want to steal anything, but was stealing a little cross worth the life of his brother…he thought for a moment. Sighing, he dialed a number on his cell phone. "Hey hon, it's me," he said, "Uh, you're not going to believe this. Jameson just walked in with the permits so uh…I'm going to be taking that Malaysia Job after all…"
Scoping out the Rossi estate high above, Sam and Nathan both looked through their binoculars. They were in Italy, near Barcelona, and Nathan watched as cars begun entering the cobblestone parking lot. The cars were clearly owned by the super-rich. Lamborghinis, McLaren's, Ferrari's, and other incredibly expensive cars were being driven into the lot by the valets. The two men were on top of the cliff high above the estate. The actual estate itself was extremely large, box shaped, and extremely ornate. It had a definite Italian villa look to it, and was what you'd expect a black market mansion to look like. A white Lotus pulled into the lot, and passed by the large fountain centerpiece. Looking at a blueprint of the mansion, Nathan looked at Sam and asked, "See anything yet?" Sam replied, "Just a bunch of high-class, low-life criminals all cleaned up for prom…" the white Lotus' passengers entered the mansion, and the valet took the car back to the lot. Sam looked through his binoculars again and said, "Still no sign of Sullivan yet." Nathan shook his head and said, "Well we've still got plenty of time." He looked back at the map and after a bit said, "Looks like the storage room is in the building behind the manor. Can you see it from up there?" Sam had been sitting right above Nathan on a rock ledge. He replied, "Uh…Yeah, but just the top of it. Man I wonder what they got tucked away in there…" Nathan sighed and said, "Let's just focus on Avery's cross OK? That's why we're here." Sam chuckled and said, "I don't know. You sure you don't want to pick up something for your wife?" Nathan rolled his eyes, "That's cute." He said, "Just keep it simple." "Right, simple," replied Sam as he jumped down to Nathan's level. Sam said, "It could be a whole lot simpler if it was just the two of us…" "Sam," Nathan said. "I mean we could be inside already!" Sam said while pointing at the manner. Nathan shook his head and replied, "No, not cleanly." Nathan tightened the straps on his shoes and Sam said, "You haven't thought of a backup plan in case Sullivan gets cold feet?" Nathan replied, "No. Because he won't. He's going to slide his way through the party, get upstairs, unlock the window and we're in. it's a solid plan." "Uh-huh." Sam said with gritted teeth. He was bouncing his hand up and down, looking incredibly nervous. Nathan sighed, "Go ahead, say it." "What if he stole the cross for himself!?" Nathan replied, "Not in a million years!" "Victor Sullivan," said Sam, "We're both talking about the same Victor right?" "Yes," said Nathan, "He's double-crossed people in the past, but not us," "No," said Sam, "Not you." Nathan got up and said, "Look, I know you two have never seen eye to eye," Sam huffed, "Huge understatement." "But I trust him alright," said Nathan, "He's family! Look. I just need you to trust him too." Sam shook his head, "Fine," he sighed. "He'll come through for us," said Nathan. He looked through his binoculars, "Eventually," he said under his breath. One last time Sam tried to convince Nathan of Sullivan's untrustworthiness. "Look Nathan, you could at least entertain the possibility that-" "There!" Nathan said. He pointed to the window. Inside, a lamp was flashing on and off. "See," said Nathan, "Trust!" Sam didn't say anything. He merely huffed and began making for the mansion. Nathan shook his head and followed. The cliff they were on gently sloped towards the mansion, they'd just have to sneak up. They were wearing zipped up mountaineering suits, and underneath that were their tuxedos. Jogging down Sam said, "I just can't believe I'm out. Can't believe I'm here…with you, it Italy huh?" "Yeah me either," said Nathan, "I just wish the circumstances were less tense…" "Yeah well…" Sam replied. "The sights are a bit more enjoyable that way," said Nathan. Sam looked back at Nathan and said, "Oh…so this isn't your first time here?" Nathan replied, "No, it's more like my…third. Had a couple of odd jobs." "With Sullivan?" Sam said. Nathan rolled his eyes. Soon they reached the edge of the cliff. The mansion was overlooking the ocean, and was perched right next to a cliff edge. This provided Sam and Nathan with the perfect way to sneak up on the mansion. They each jumped off the ledge and shimmied their way over a small ledge just wide enough to allow them to walk. After inching over to the last part of the cliff, they reached the back of the mansion. Nathan was about to walk into the yard when Sam stopped him, "Shh!" he said, "Hold up." Nathan stopped, and soon he saw two men, each with AK's, both talking in Italian. When they entered the mansion Nathan said, "OK, we're good." They each clambered onto the yard. Sam whistled and said, "Man did you see him? That rent-a-thug was packing some serious heat. Should've brought guns." Nathan replied, "Sam we're going to pull this off so smoothly we won't need them." They continued through the yard, which was adjacent to the mansion. It was filled with twisting citrus fruit trees. The smell of it permeated the air. Walking closer to the window Sam said, "Hey, about those treasure hunts, the ones I missed, you got any photos?" Nathan sighed, "Yeah I wish. Elena filmed some of it but the camera didn't make it." Sam stood there for a second, "That's too bad," he said. Nathan said, "Well I do have some drawings. When we get back I can show you." Sam looked at Nathan and said, "Drawings?" he said with a tone of condescension, "What are they up on the fridge or something?" Nathan huffed, "No, they're good drawings!" That much was true; wasn't just Nathan's ego talking. The only photos Nathan still had didn't show any of the archaeological wonders, but group pics with Elena or Sullivan, who Nathan affectionately called Sully. The yard sloped up to the mansion, though Nathan would have to climb up the back of the house in order to get inside. He saw a balcony right under their entry window, and decided to use his grappling hook to repel up the side of the building. Sam got out his hook and began swinging it like a lasso. Nathan chuckled, Sam had always bragged on how good he was with a grappling hook. Nathan decided to have some fun, "It would stink if you missed right now Sam," Sam chuckled himself, "Yeah it would," he said. He tossed up the hook, and it looped and latched perfectly on the balcony railing, "But I don't miss." Nathan huffed and shook his head. He let Sam climb up, and then he jumped, grabbed the rope, and latched on himself. After reaching the balcony, he went right to the window, "Hey Nathan," Sam said, "What?" Nathan asked. Sam unzipped his suit. "Oh, right," Nathan said. They took off their suits and immediately looked much more suited to a black market auction. Sam breathed quick, and looked like he was getting warmed up for a triathlon. "You OK?" asked Nathan. Sam replied, "Yeah! How do I look?" Nathan shook his head, "Like four hundred million bucks. Let's go!" "Alright," Sam replied, "Right behind you." As Nathan jumped in the window, he smelled tobacco smoke. A smell he knew all too well. Walking in the room, he saw an older gentleman sitting in a gloomy area of the room on a red velvet sofa. "Sully?" asked Nathan. The man blew another whiff of smoke and said in a hearty, gruff voice, that had a distinct friendly tone, "You know what I like about partying with a bunch of crooks?" Nathan chuckled, "What's that?" he asked. The man switched on the light, and said, "Nobody cares if you smoke indoors!" The man had a friendly, carefree face, a grey head and moustache, and he looked at Nathan with a grin. "It's been a while," Nathan said holding his arms out wide. "Too long boy!" The man was Sully, one of Nathan's oldest and best friends, even though to Nathan, he was more of a father figure. He had been a former treasure hunter, but old age had brought on a well-earned retirement, and the treasure he found had given him quite a bit to live on as well. Nathan looked at Sam and said, "You remember my dead brother right?" Sam walked towards Sully respectfully. "Victor," Sam said. Sully whistled and said, "Well I'll be darned. Hm. Fifteen years?" "Yep," Sam replied. Sully held out his hand and said, "Good to see you alive Sam." Sam took Sully's hand and shook it. Nathan went back to the mission at hand, "Alright," he said, "Let's try to keep him alive by getting the captain's cross huh?" Sully looked like something had happened. He sighed and said, "Yeah, uh…about that…" "What?" said Sam feeling nervous, "What about that?" "Come on," said Sully, "Let me show you something." Sully led the two men out into the gigantic main auction room. It was elegant, ornate, and diamond chandeliers hung from the decorated ceiling. "Take a look," said Sully. He pointed out to the auctioneer's podium. Next to the podium was the cross. It had been taken out of storage early, and now would be much harder to get. Nathan was shocked, "That's Avery's cross!" he said. Sully put his hands on the railing and said, "Yeah…They uh…took it out of storage just before you guys got here." Sam put his hands behind his head. This threw a massive monkey wrench into the works. Sam said, "They changed the lot order…" Nathan said, "Well we have to get it before the bidding starts. How long until then?" Sully replied, "Ten, fifteen minutes at the most." Nathan said, "Well there's got to be some way we can grab it…" Sully chuckled and said, "Well there's only the small matter of a few hundred eyewitnesses down there." Nathan shrugged and said, "OK, OK, we might just need a little diversion…" Sully lifted his cigar, "Like?" he asked. "Like um…" Nathan said, "Uh…Like I don't know…But there's got to be something!" Sully grunted and said, "Well if the guards see us making for that cross…" Sam chuckled and said, "Hey guys, what if they don't see us." Sully and Nathan both stared at Sam, waiting. Sam huffed and said, "Man you guys act like you never spent time in prison…If you want something dirty done, then you wait for…" Sully and Nathan both replied in unison, "Then you wait for the lights out!" Sully, wagging his finger said, "Where's the electrical panel for this place?" They went over to a small table where people could leave empty glasses of champagne. Nathan grabbed the blueprints for the mansion and unfolded them over the table. He pointed and planned out. After formulating a plan Nathan said, "Now we just have to go up there and kill the lights." "Snatch the cross in the dark," Sam finished. Sully made another thoughtful grunt and said, "Ah, there's emergency generators that'll kick on if you do that." Sam thought for a second and said, "Well that'll give us a few seconds of darkness to work with…meaning somebody will have to be right next to the cross when the lights go out." Sully shook his head and said, "Except there's no way to get that close to the cross without being noticed." "Ciao!" said a voice. It was a pretty looking waitress holding a tray of appetizers. "Antipasti?" she asked. Nathan said no thank you in Italian, but Sam took a piece, watching her leave with a grin on his face. Nathan rolled his eyes and nudged Sam, "Would you please focus, Romeo?" Sam said, "Oh no I wasn't watching the girl…A waiter wouldn't be noticed." Nathan understood. Sully nodded, "Hmm," he said, "That could work." Nathan smiled, "That will work!" he said. Nathan laid down the plan, "Alright, I'll go upstairs, kill the breaker box, Sam, you're the waiter." "Why?" Sam asked, "Because you're the best pickpocket." Sam nodded, that was true. Nathan then looked at Sully and said, "OK, Sully, you stay down there and keep your eye on the prize. Let us know if anything…kinky…goes on." Sully nodded, "Roger that," he said. Nathan took a deep breath and said, "Alright, listen we still got this. Ready?" Sully, and Sam both nodded, and Sully said, "Alright, follow me, we'll cut through the cellar."