This story takes place in a fictional city named ----.

(THIS PORTION NEEDS TO BE WORKED ON. PLEASE TO THE STORY BELOW)

Chapter 1- The Thief

9:52pm. I saw the time. I was waiting for my signal in the ballroom of Leon Mansion. I wore a light purple gown with spaghetti straps and a slit on the right side from knee. The ballroom was huge with large door size windows covered with floral curtains. There was a large chandelier in the centre and four smaller ones at the corners. The dcor of the whole ballroom was with ribbons and drapes. There were large tables set up against the walls containing drinks and snacks. On the other end of the hall, I could see my friend Sandy. She wore a sea green, strapless, A-line gown. With a glass of wine in one hand, she was talking to Steve Leon, that night s host and the owner of Leon mansion. Sandy s beauty and charm had captivated Steve. Her long silky black hair and smooth figure could easily get her mistaken for a model. In short, she was a distraction to his attention. Here is your drink, Miss, said a man while handing me a glass of champagne. Thank you, I replied with not much interest. His name was Aaron Stone and for some reason, he had been trying to hold a conversation with me but my mind was concentrating elsewhere. He was rich, young, and handsome and had just started handling his successful father s business. Probably any normal girl would want him but I was not one of them. Susan would you like to go out for dinner some time? asked Aaron. Damn, I thought. I had hoped he wouldn t ask that question. Um okay, I replied reluctantly.

How about Tuesday at Rosemary Resort around seven? he threw another one. Luckily, I had college duty on Tuesday, which I never considered a good thing until then. Sorry, I m a little busy that day. The next day, then? he persisted. His eyes were pressuring me with hopes for a yes. Argh! I thought, if only could avoid this. However, I cannot move away before time. Clovie, time to get started, I heard Zoe s voice through the microphone in my earring. It was such a relief to hear her voice. Aaron, could you excuse me for a moment? I m having a call, I lied indicating my purse. Sure, he answered and I was already on the move heading towards the washroom. Susan was my fake name in that party just as Kate was for Sandy. My real name is Clover Brown. My best friends sometimes call me Clovie. Sandy and Zoe are two of my best friends. All three of us are second year college students and we are professional thieves. We steal for people who have been robbed, and get their precious item back to where it belongs. Sandy is our beautiful spy and the queen of sabotage. Zoe the computer genius is our hotshot hacker and mission planner. As for me, I am the thief in action. That night s mission was to get the gold locket Steve Leon had acquired from Egypt. Zoe was outside in a van with her computer hacked into Leon s security system. So I hear you have a date with Mr. Aaron Stone on Wednesday, teased Zoe as I entered the washroom. Oh please Zoe! Not now. I whispered. I could hear her giggling on the other side.

Three washrooms were reachable from the ballroom. I went to the one in the gallery as decided, locked the door and slid the mirror on the right. Then I took out a small lipstick shaped laser from my purse and curved out the tile from that wall that stood just behind the mirror. Behind that wall was the backyard of that mansion. We had previously stored the required clothes and gears for the robbery by making a cavity in the wall right behind the mirror. You have two minutes to get set, Clover, Zoe informed. I quickly started changing and plugging up my gear. This washroom was just adjacent to the living room that had the door to the study. The study was under guard from the living room at all times except during the ten-second interval of guard shift. The next guarded shift was at ten. When I was ready, I unlocked the door and waited for my queue with my hand on the doorknob. Now, commanded Zoe. I opened my door, rushed up and inside the adjacent room before anyone noticed. Automatic door lock to the study, open now, said Zoe as she unlocked it using her computer while I walked across the living room. I did not look around much because there was no time. I entered the study shutting the door behind me. Clack. I heard the door to the living room open. Right in the nick of time, I sighed. My calculations are always precise, cheered Zoe, now on to the next step. Go to the large bookshelf up front. On to its right are a few buttons. Press the one that is blank. The study was bigger than the living room. There were two bookshelves on the left adjoining to a door in between. In the centre of the room

was a desk with a computer and a few books on top. Behind it was the large bookshelf that Zoe told. It was about ten feet tall. I got to the right side of it and searched for the buttons. There were four of them, something written on the first three but the last one was blank. I pressed it. A board came out of the wall with a keyboard on it. The password is Daniel, Zoe told me. After I typed it, there was some movement in the bookshelf. Zoe? I asked worriedly. Zoe instantly clarified, No need to worry, the bookshelf just changed into a combination lock. The books make the combination. They are like tumblers of a lock. They won t come out completely, only move forward halfway. We need to find a combination of six among themAnd we ve got one chance to do this, I interrupted, no mistakes allowed. Yeah, Zoe continued, Well we do have time since the guard shift part is done about thirty minutes but let s not use more than fifteen to keep some spare for afterwards. So what books are these? I asked, I ve never heard of them. Looks like all of these are family books each are written by some Leon, Zoe explained, and they are not famous at all. There is nothing on the net. I had to search about them in Leon s computer. How will we make a combination out of these? Pretty weird names for books too, I added, Blue Dream Town, ABC Music, Long Dot, New Night Bird what are these? What did you say? asked Zoe abruptly. What are these? No before that Weird names ?

The book names, Zoe muttered irritably. Oh, I realized, they were Blue Dream Town, All Music, Long Dot and New Night BirdNew Night Bird it s not one of the books, Zoe told, It s an album. There are six albums in here, Steve s albums. We need only six, I said, what are the rest? err They are Dolphin King, Lousy Aunt, Evening Chair, Alone me and lastly Inside my book. Wow! Odd names for albums too. They don t even reveal an event. But we have to pull them in the right sequence, said Zoe. Yeah, what could they combine as? Okay, let s look at this again. We have to make a combination of six from albums. They are Dolphin King , New Night Bird , Lousy Aunt , Alone Me , Evening Chair , I concentrated, and Inside my book err um Daniel D.A.N.I.E.L. It s the same password. Well that sounds right, Zoe agreed and with that, I started to pull out the books in the same series. When I pulled the last one out the bookshelf budged to the left. At first, the small opening seemed to be a dead end but on having a closer look, I saw stairs rising on left side. I climbed up until I reached a metallic door. It took a little strength to open it but I managed. The inside was breathtaking. The small room contained jewellery and articles from various countries. However, I was only asked to pick up the gold locket. The locket is at the left end of the room , Zoe informed, The pedestal has a mass detecting function, so make sure not to let it drop from 50grams. Yeah I know, I practiced this part before, I replied.

On reaching the pedestal, I removed the locket with the help of weights.

***

The next day during our free time Zoe, Ethan and I were sitting in the canteen relaxing. Ethan is Zoe s boyfriend. They started dating by the end of first year. Phew! That was vexing, said Sandy as she joined in after getting rid of a person. Wow, you really blew him off, I said, Third one this week. You re living up to your reputation. Poor guy, I pity him, Zoe chuckled. Well, Sandy explained, guys are idiotsAhem, Ethan expressed, You should look before speaking. I m not wrong, Sandy continued, You are dating Zoe, do you need any other example. Hey! Why am I being insulted in this, Zoe said.