Chapter Ten

Right Of Passage, Classic Havoc

He had Haskell's approval to go forward with the plan, the old man had been looking forward almost too eagerly to the payoff that the bounty from the containers would bring him. Kaz had presented him with the bare bones of the plan before he could even open his mouth. He knew that Haskell would be mad at the meager scraps the Dregs had grabbed from the container, and he had needed to speak quickly before Haskell tried to take that blame onto him. The promise of doubling what they had planned to make, whilst keeping the crew light, was enough to win Haskell over.

Kaz didn't need much to take this on, Inej had given him layouts of the houses, the smaller ones he had sent individual dregs after. But there was one Merchant who had taken a majority of the goods that had come in, Dijkgraaf. He had stored the goods in a warehouse, to Inej's knowledge he was keeping the items in there as he sifted through them, selling what he didn't want and moving the rest to his mansion.

"The warehouse is heavily guarded, I couldn't get in but Diijkgraff takes prospective buyers in to look at the items before they buy." Inej had told him. Kaz couldn't help but begin to feel that familiar burn of passion that followed planning for a job.

"Well, I suppose we will have to show him our interest." He'd responded.

So began a correspondence between Diijkgraff and one of Kaz's many side names, a responsible merchant who was in search of a one-of-a-kind painting. Ironically enough it was the painting that had first stemmed Kaz's interest. Dekapple.

The first stage of the plan was simple enough, he detailed it to Inej and Jesper. He had chosen Jesper and Inej for the plan for two reasons, Jesper had never let him down on a job yet and Inej had proven herself to be the only one he trusted to get Jesper in and get them out at the end. Kaz would go in person to meet with Diijkgraff, whilst there he would let Jesper and Inej in. Jesper and Inej would hide away until Kaz returned at night. Once they were together, they would begin moving the items onto the truck Kaz brought back with him. A simple plan but Kaz had his own reasons for wanting to be personally involved in it.

He approached Diijkgraff dressed as a simple merchant, his crows head cane replaced for that of a simple wooden one.

"A pleasure to finally meet." Diijkgraff held out a hand and Kaz took it in his gloved one with clenched teeth. He let go as soon as possible and forced a smile to his face.

"A pleasure to have the chance to view a Dekapple in person Mr Diijkgraff." He filled his voice with warmth. A folder was tucked under his free arm, and he held it close as they walked towards the large warehouse. Kaz took note of how it matched Inej's description, plain grey cement walls, no windows, a door at the front and he was sure if they walked to the back, he would see a back door and two roller doors. All padlocked, all heavily guarded. Kaz watched Diijkgraff nod to the Stadwatch at the front door as he unlocked it.

"Lovely morning for a winter day isn't it?" He asked the Stadwatch, the man grunted at him and Kaz let himself stumble, dropping his cane. "Oh my."

"Careful now." The Stadwatch grabbed his cane and handed it back to him with a pat on the back that sent shivers of revulsion down his spine.

"Thank you." He smiled modestly and gripped his cane like a lifeline, leaning heavily onto it.

He followed Diijkgraff into the warehouse, nodded to the man and appeared interested.

"Here it is, one of a kind."

The painting did genuinely get his attention, it was a fine piece of art and he could appreciate it. It was also useless stolen, too unique to sell, too priceless to destroy. He had great plans when it was to be taken directly from the containers, now it was a sore pang of reminder.

"It is definitely exquisite; do you have many other interested buyers?"

"Mr Van Eck has shown great interest in it, he has already made a large offer."

Kaz already knew this, Van Eck was a collector of expensive items. He had his eyes on the painting before its boat had touched the harbour.

"Ah, I know of Jan Van Eck, an admirable man. Great interest you said?" Kaz prompted the discussion, his eyes scanning the room. "I would hate to step on any other merchant's toes." He frowned and wrung his hands. "Perhaps this was a mistake."

"No, no! It's no matter, there are other valuable items, please allow me to show you."

"Well, I suppose… if you insist."

Kaz let himself be led, making polite chat and commenting on the items. As they reached the end of the warehouse he began to rub his leg.

"I apologize, my leg seems to be paining me." He leant heavily against the back door, "I don't mean to slow down our pace, I would love to look at the prices for the Ravkan statue." He let out a sharp gasp and rubbed at his knee.

"No need to apologize! Why don't you rest a moment whilst I grab the offering papers?"

"You are truly too kind Mr Diijkgraff."

Kaz watched him walk away, his fingers already working at the locks in the back door. He unlocked them in moments, disabling the alarm moments after. When Diijkgraff returned Kaz looked over and signed the papers, he handed over the money to Diijkgraff, counterfeit but the trusting Merchant didn't question it at all. They walked back out of the warehouse, after watching Diijkgraff lock the door Kaz began to finish their conversation.

"I do hope your other appointments for the day are as rewarding, Mr Diijkgraff."

"You are my last of the day. A pleasure doing business."

"Indeed, can I expect the items tomorrow?" Kaz reached out his hand and shook the merchant's hand. Stumbling forward slightly.

"Prompt and early delivery."

They parted ways and Kaz continued to limp away from the warehouse. His pockets were fuller than they had been when he had arrived. He made his way to a nearby bar and ordered a drink, it was time to wait.

"Hello! Yes, you there!" Kaz called out to the Stadwatch stationed by the door, the same man who had helped him before. "You've no idea how glad I am to have caught you!"

"I know you, you're the gentleman with Mr Diijkgraff earlier."

"Yes, yes Mr Diijkgraff said you would still be on, I've left my hat you see?" Kaz gestured at his hatless head. "It's my good luck charm."

"I don't have the keys or authority to let anyone into the warehouse sir, Mr Diijkgraff is aware of this."

Kaz pulled out a chain of keys from his coat, "Yes, yes that's why he gave me the keys to pop in, but he did ask you to accompany me, security and all."

The Stadwatch stared at him suspiciously. "I am not positive…"

"Now, now." Kaz smiled, "What harm could a cripple do under a Stadman's watch?"

The Stadman laughed and turned around to lead Kaz up the steps to the door. Kaz swung out with his cane, his crows head cane, and hit the man hard in the back of his head, knocking him into the ground with one blow.

"Apparently, quite a lot." He snarked to the unconscious body, stepping over it and opening the door, he locked it behind him as he entered.

"I hope you made good use of your time here." He spoke as he turned, Inej and Jesper stepped out from behind one of the statues.

"Well, I bought some playing cards but Inej wouldn't play."

"You have nothing to bet and everything to lose." Inej mocked Jesper. She turned to Kaz, her face taking on a more professional expression. "We've categized the merchandise into what we can sell, what's of use and what's too heavy for the Dregs to cart out."

"Did you prepare the roller doors?"

"Yes."

"Then the others should be taking down the other guards and giving us the sign right about…" Kaz held his hand up towards the doors as a single bang sounded on the back door. "Now."

"Alright let's get this going." Jesper moved forward and pushed the roller doors up.

The three of them worked quickly with the newly arrived Dregs, they cleared out the warehouse in the dead of the night.

"You want the painting Kaz?" Jesper asked, seeing the way he had eyed it.

Kaz took a moment to consider it as the trucks moved off. It would be a brilliant 'screw you' to Radmakker. Bright lights in the distance caught his attention and Kaz turned to look at them, now that was a problem.

"Stadwatch, Scatter!" He called out and the Dregs moved off quickly, he took another glance at the painting before moving back with Inej and Jesper to pull back the roller doors from outside, he locked them with his picks. The Stadwatch were quickly approaching, flashlights sweeping across as they shouted out for them to stay where they were. Kaz gestured to Inej and Jesper to follow him as they moved off, they could not return to the Slat tonight, too many Dregs would be returning, and Kaz needed to be nearby to oversee the selling of the goods. He led them to his nearest safehouse. They rushed in and he locked the door. No one had seen them enter, keeping to the shadows as they moved. Kaz's leg was burning in protest from how fast they had moved, he knew he would pay for it later.

"Swanky." Jesper whistled at the bare apartment style house they had entered. Admittedly he had done little to spruce it up over the years. There was a wooden chair, a desk, a bed, a small kitchen and little else.

"We'll stay here for the rest of the night, let the Stadwatch search around before we return back to the Slat. You can flip a coin on who gets the bed." Kaz flipped his hat back onto his head and straightened his jacket.

"Where are you going?" Inej asked.

"To return Diijkgraff's keys before he's alerted of the break-in." Inej looked as if she was going to offer her company, but he ignored her looks, he didn't need one more thing to worry about as he snuck through the city.

He could hear Inej and Jesper begin to bicker over who was preparing food as he shut the door behind him.

AN:
Heist, Heist, Heist! I really loved writing Kaz acting a role in this and fooling a merchant! It was so much to have him play up his disability and reference how people always see it as a way to underestimate him. The next update may be in two weeks instead of one. I have to do an important test for Uni and need to study for it this week.

Replying to Reviews:

Thank you to GreyHaru for reviewing!

LucyMJ: Thank you for reviewing! Yes, I do plan to write about Inej's first kill! I have a lot planned for it!

Cat K: You're so right, that boy definitely needs a therapist! Hope you enjoyed it!

~ThisMayFlower