The Flat
A Distracting Gem.
She crouched like a cat in the shadows… Dressed in a tight black spandex jogging suit, she was almost invisible, except for her long ginger hair that fell past her shoulder in curling silken waves. She didn’t care if her hair was seen, after all, what was life without a bit of challenge?
As one of her mom’s countrymen would say:
We learn from failure, not from success! Abraham (Bram) Stoker,
She was looking through a tall hedge, past a row of neatly trimmed roses, to a large dark stone manor house that had been repurposed into four flats.
The house lay on the opposite side of a well-manicured green lawn.
It looked like a golfing green she thought, Licking her red lips, as she pulled something black out of the brown leather satchel that was held by a strap to her shoulder.
She looked down at the fuzzy black material in her left hand, a black ski mask, well worn. She smiled as she opened the mask and slipped it over her head, adjusting it so her sharp grey eyes could see out the eye holes. She pulled out the thin black silk gloves, and with a business-like manner, slipped them on.
She was ready, the time was ripe.
Stretching up like a cat does from being stationary for far too long, she felt her muscles deliciously relax, ready to pounce.
She turned her attention back to four flats … it was the top flat that was her objective,
No lights had been turned on, no one had come back home…
Her thoughts went back to earlier that evening when she and her fellow thief Emy, had cased a party together:
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Emily had worn a salmon color satin blouse, a black tube skirt in combination with opaque black stockings, and also black high heels. A wide necklace of glimmering gemstones hung with a mesmerizing sway from her throat. Looking sharp as a tack, she was the lure, the distraction maker, bait for the rich quarry.
Cassie, Emy’s ginger-haired partner, was the lift, the inside thief. It was her job to gather the information once they had selected a likely victim. She was dressed in a sensible black velvet dress with pearls.
Tonight it had been instantaneous and collectively deciding between the pair of female thieves as to who that victim would be.
An elegant lady wearing a long black gown of expensive satiny material was stunningly sporting a collection of diamond jewelry that made one wish they had on sunglasses. Her wealthy husband was handsomely attired in fitted tux and tails.
The pair of thieves quickly made the couple their focus.
On one of his numerous forays away from his wife, the thieves moved in.
As Emy distracted the wealthy lady, Cassie snuck in from behind and lifted the expensive purse of gold chain that she had been carrying, from the table behind her.
Cassie had left the party, and using the information she found amongst the expensive items inside the(£580 costing ) purse, had gone to stake out the couple's flat.
Finding the layout to be quite to her liking, Cassie changed into her burglar’s outfit and entered the grounds.
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An owl hooting broke into her thoughts.
She shook her head clear of those delightful thoughts.
Silently she moved off along the hedgerow, sneaking up to a small wrought iron garden gate a good 200 yards off.
Nimbly she grasped its ornate top, and jumped over it, landing in a crouch, looking all about.
She was in, no turning back now, not that she would have ever dreamed of doing so. The riches she imagined inside the flat , like catnip to a cat, were a far too tempting a lure to resist….
She moved off, soon lost in the swirling mists coming in on cats' pads from a nearby bog.
Reaching the outside of the house, she saw a long iron trellis had been bolted to the side of the wall running up next to each of the balconies of the flats. Four in total. One at each level. The trellis was covered in ivy up to the roof
This was how Cassie intended to enter.
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Cassie swiftly climbed up the metal trellis, her lithe figure easily maneuvering up to the top floor.
A stone gargoyle, a relic from when the manor housed a single family, glared down at her. Cassie blew it a kiss as she climbed over a thin wall into the stone balcony of the empty 4th flat.
Staying in the shadows, reaching a glass door, she easily picked open the lock and slipped inside.
As the burglar went in on her hunt, Her mind drifted to her old schools male induced Latin motto, the femininized version She had herself changed and had used in a school essay( and had received a stern lecture from the headmaster for doing so!)
“Et qui vincit, ipsa vincit”
She who conquers, conquers herself
Once inside Cassie allowed her eyes to adjust. Then reached inside her pouch and pulled out a small torch, using its thin beam of light to sweep the room, watching for anything shiny or glittery that may indicate an object(s) of value.
She was in the master bedroom. Savoring the elegantly beautiful items that were caught in her torch’s beam, Cassie decided to do the bedroom last, knowing most of the good stuff was here, in favor of checking out the rest of the flat.
Cassie crossed over to the fat door and opening it, entered into a large living room
Then she again casts her beam of light, quickly seeing a small elephant of green jade. She went over and snatched it up, placing it inside her leather satchel. Her light caught up several more small statues of silver, ebony, and more jade, and they all quickly were collected and placed in with the elephant.
On the far side was a pair of closed doors, on either side of the double main entrance doors.
Cassie went to the one on the right and discovered an obviously empty second bedroom. Pity no female guest was visiting. She didn’t bother checking the dressers. Took a quick look inside the closet. Here gowns were hanging. She ran her hand sling each one checking for brooches or pins that may have been left on the sleek scintillating material. Nothing other than some rhinestone decorations.
Cassie quickly vacated the room and tried the door on the left. It was locked.
As curious as any cat would be when finding a door locked, Cassie pulled out her thin pick and had the lock opened in record time. She opened the door, licking her lips as she slipped inside.
It was the husband’s study. The smoke of old cigars hung heavy in the atmosphere of the leather-accentuated room.
Her torch beam caught a solid silver frame on a fireplace. She went over. It was a wedding picture of the couple. The bride was wearing an eye-catching scooped necked cream satin gown, with mouth-watering diamonds dripping down along her model-like figure. Cassie liked the picture so much that she kept it in the silver frame as she stuffed it inside her satchel. None of the other pictures had expensive frames.
Cassie then went over to the desk.
Snatching up a solid gold table lighter, and silver cigar cutter, and a matching silver cigar case, filled. The husband must have another with him, probably gold. The cigars would be a victory smoke later if this heist was pulled off.
There was a decanter with matching glasses on the desk. An amber liquid inside the decanter looked appealing and Cassie took a small swig. Expensive brandy burning sweetly down her throat.
She looked around the room, it looked, felt, and smelled of wealth, and power.
She swept her beam on the rug, noticing a slightly worn path that led to the wall behind the desk chair. There was a picture, of no value, hanging there.
Correctly reading the signs, Cassie walked to the picture and placed her hand on one side feeling a hinge. Going to the other side she swung the picture out, revealing a wall safe.
Almost purring, Cassie began working the tumblers, easily hearing them in the dead silence of the flat. Then the sweet sound of a click, and the door was opened.
She put the torch in her mouth to free her hands.
Her light caught a few piles of cash, fat envelopes, velvet-covered cases, and small boxes of various colors and sizes.
Quickly the notes and envelopes were lifted out and placed in the satchel.
She reached in and lifted out a velvet case. Opening it her eyes were met by the sparkling that only the most expensive jewelry can give off. She closed it and slipped it inside the leather satchel at her side. Then quickly scooped up the remaining cases and boxes. All felt heavy, filled with more jewelry she didn’t bother to inspect.
Something odd caught her eye in the back of the safe. Reaching in she pushed a button set in the back, that had been exposed by the removal of the jewel cases. The back slid open, exposing a small niche in the wall… Cassie gasped.
For there, in all, it’s glory, was a diamond tiara, worth a king's ransom!
She reached in and plucked it out, mesmerized by its beautiful shimmer. She placed it greedily inside the satchel.
Finished she closed the safe, turned the tumblers, and swung closed the picture
Not bothering to check the desk drawers, Cassie quickly exited the room, closing and locking the door.
Then she made a beeline back to the master bedroom. To be quickly(she was sure all the ‘good stuff in the flat had been found) and expertly looted before making her escape on the bedroom’s stone balcony.
Entering the room she followed her beam to the bed, where she had spotted a jewellery case on a small table.
The car burglar quickly began scooping out the compartments of the jewelry case. Day jewels of Gold, silver, pearls, and several pieces of gemstone encrusted lovelies. Earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and rings. All deliciously expensive in their own right.
She went to the other side of the bed where the oak doors of the closet sat shut.
Opening them she found more expensive clothes.
Satins, velvets, silks, and more. She again ran her fingers along the sleek materials. This time being rewarded with a diamond clip on a Raylon dress, and a sapphire broach from the high ruffled neckline of a satin blouse, along with a thick gold pin from a velvet jacket. All of which were plucked off and added to the valuable collection inside her now heavy satchel.
Suddenly She hears the outside door of the flat click open, and a light comes on in the living room. Cursing herself for not locking the bedroom door, Cassie hides inside the closet.
A figure swished in.
It’s the wife.
Cassie pressed into a corner of the closet, ready to spring.
The elegantly attired lady crossed to the bathroom, Turning on the light.
She turns towards the dresser inside the bedroom next to the bathroom door.
Her elegant satin gowned figure is bathed in light, diamond heavy jewels glittery.
The burglar’s heart leapt to her throat. Was she going to have the opportunity to acquire those jewels also? Where was the bloody husband?
It was then she heard a bird's call from outside. The burglar knew it was her partner Emy, giving a warning.
“Too late luv.”
The lady of the house meanwhile is removing her earrings, bracelet, and rings, laying them on the dresser. She then approached the bed, not seeing the burglar crunching in the shadowy corner of a closet door that was open a crack.
Her necklace and broach blaze into fiery life as she bends down and picks up her satin robe from the bed.
Turning away, she swished across the oak wood floor and enters the bathroom.
The burglar began to move as soon as the lady disappeared into the bathroom.
Cassie sat the satchel down by the closed glass doors leading to the balcony.
Reaching the dresser she looks inside the bathroom and sees the lady admiring her necklace in the mirror.
Meanwhile, the cat burglar’s gloved hands are quickly picking up and pocketing the diamond earrings, bracelet and rings from the top of the dresser. Placing them all inside her pants' deep pockets. Along with a small carved ivory statue of St. Patrick holding a 24k gold staff.
Cassie daringly held her ground, watching the lady remove her gown and hang it up next to the bathroom’s vanity on a hook next to the mirror. Next, she slips off her silky undergarments. Now naked, she turns and goes to the shower and turns it on.
Going back to the mirror the lady removed her necklace and laid it carefully on the vanity. Her beautifully bare figure in profile to the watching thief.
Cassie had to admit to feeling a bit of tingling in certain areas. And it wasn’t just from the diamond necklace laying so tantalizing close in reach.
The wealthy lady enters the shower, failing to notice the figure watching her at the door.
As the lady begins to hum inside the shower, the thief is also humming to herself, as she sneakily enters the now steamy bathroom.
Lifting the necklace she admired it’s dazzling radiance before placing it inside her pocket. Then Cassie, eyeing the diamond brooch, cautiously goes to the hanging gown.
Only inches away, the thief freezes as the lady in the shower says:
“Is that you honey? I need a washcloth.”
She holds out her hand, beckoning for it, a gold ring set with diamonds flashes from her pinky.
The cat burglar looks around quickly spying a washcloth. With daring, she lifted her mask, She carried it over to the voluptuous nude figure outline behind the shower curtain, holding it up, she used it to take hold of the hand.
Then leans over, licking the lady’s fingers with her tongue. Sucking off the ring easily from a soapy pinky.
“Silly!, I know that ring always is bloody tedious to remove after wearing it out. Thank you for taking it off for me.” The lady says snagging the washcloth and going back to her showering without looking out.
The thief meanwhile had spit out the ring, pocketed it, then grabbed the gown off the hook, backing out.
When she is at the door, the thief says to herself:
“Thanks for the jewels, and the heads up about your husband, Honey”
The thief turns and goes for a listen at the bedroom door. She heard the clinking of ice being placed in glasses inside the study.
She closes and locks the bedroom door.
She turns and goes back out onto the bedrooms balcony
Whistling to the shadows below, Emy emerged, looking up with brite , questioning eyes
She nimbly caught the satin gown, weighted with the brooch, falling straight, as it was thrown down.
Blowing yet another kiss to the menacingly grinning stone gargoyle, Cassie makes her way back down, the bulging leather satchel strung over her back.
Below, Emy watched as her partner finally reach the ground.
Cassie gives Emy, who had been admiring the diamond broom, a thumbs up, patting the bulging satchel.
They give each other an exciting hug.
Both then turn and steal their way across the now heavy mist-filled yard. Disappearing into the night.
Another adventure attained…
Fini
