A Dapper Heist
The rest of their exit went off without a hitch. Gliding down the shadowed corridor, the two men slipped down the hall, through the foyer, and out to the street with practiced ease. Calmly, they walked away from the large white museum and headed for the black car that Flynn had grown accustomed to seeing and got inside.
He could feel the tension melt from his shoulders as he relaxed into the leather seats. It would have been a lie had he said he wasn’t worried that the mission was going to go to shit. After working with Drake for so many years, the fear of heists going sour seemed to be ingrained in the back of his mind, like some half healed wound that he just wanted to pick at. Flynn shook the thoughts from his head as he finally removed the blasted tie, stuffing it into his jacket pocket, and undoing the top two buttons of his dress shirt. Now was not the time to be thinking such thoughts. He was a thief and a damn good one. And he could finally breath.
The car slowed and Flynn glanced out the window. They were entering a warehouse or some sort of storage building, driving until they were facing an empty brick wall. Why were they – Hello…Flynn’s eyes widened as the wall suddenly split, revealing tunnel. What sort of organization did Talbot – did he – work for? Flynn’s mind was reeling as he tried to remember every twist and turn the car took until it came to a stop inside what looked like an old subway station.
Talbot exited the vehicle and Flynn warily followed suit. This whole situation had bad written all over it. Being trapped underground like this, not knowing the exits or escape routes put Flynn on edge. As he followed Talbot, Flynn’s eyes caught glimpses of men in suits patrolling the corridors. It wasn’t like they were in the middle of a jungle where their camp could easily be compromised. They were underground. An Underground that no one knows exists. So, that left the question of what precious objects were they protecting so fiercely that they needed a patrol?
The dull charcoal of the station melded into elegant white stone. The architecture had to be at least sixteenth century. Talbot pushed open some heavy oak doors and slipped inside. Flynn followed a moment later and paused at what he saw before him. Bookshelves. Glass display cases. There was so much to take in at once that all Flynn could do was let out a low whistle of appreciation.
“Quite the collection you’ve got, mate,” he said as he tried to keep the awe off his face. What had he gotten himself into this time?
Rarely after heists like this did Talbot feel relieved. Normally he was never anxious in the first place; he had this down to an art, and there was no reason to get worried or nervous. However, the little kink in the chain of events had upset the man to a degree. Talbot absolutely hated when his careful planning didn’t pan out, and though they had handled the situation, it still left a bad taste in his mouth.
By the time they reached the warehouse, though, Talbot had recovered. It was time to introduce the new recruit to Marlowe, and that definitely bolstered his confidence. That, and the surprise on Flynn’s face. It was always so amusing to watch others’ reactions to the little hidden underground tunnel. It was almost as though Talbot could read their thoughts…
We’re not just some little crime ring. Oh, no…
When the car stopped, Talbot climbed out without so much as a glance back at Flynn, expecting him to just follow. The other man’s footsteps echoed behind him, and that said enough.
The first time Talbot had seen this place, he had reacted in a similar fashion. It had just…blown his mind. It was amazing. The architecture alone was gorgeous, but that hadn’t been what first crossed his mind. No, the fact that he was in this underground lair, that the Organization was that powerful…it had made him honestly happy.
Before long, they reached a set of heavy doors and Talbot pushed them open, walking through to a library. It was then that he finally turned to Flynn, ignoring the man’s comment as he held out one hand.
“Give me the cup. Marlowe will be here shortly. I’m sure she’ll be pleased.”
