"Hairpin?" Steelbeak whispered. "You break a high tech security system wit' a hairpin?"

"Shh! Yes. Didn't you ever watch any old spy movies?"

"Yes. I jest didn't t'ink you wore hairpins. Seems too . . . girlie fer ya."

"I don't. They just come in handy every now and then." Gabriel shrugged, opening the door to the jewelry store. Tough break, kid. She could hear it just as clearly as she had two years ago, and shuddered. "It's chilly out." She whispered.

"Yeah -- you might say dat." Steelbeak paused. "Dey changed de carpet since I was here last."

"Yeah . . . that red sure is an . . . interesting color for carpet." Gabriel paused, shaking her head to clear the bulky, shapeless forms that invaded her imagination. A glint of bright light flashed in her eyes for an instant and she gasped. "What was that?"

"Eh?" Steelbeak glanced at her. "What was what?"

"That flash!"

"Probably jest de light offa my beak." He rubbed at it with his sleeve. "A little bit jumpy, eh? Whoa, get a load o' dat rock!" Steelbeak pointed to an enormous marquis-cut diamond.

"Diamonds are just cliché." Gabriel shook her head. "Personally, I like rubies best. Oh, and emeralds." She paused. "Did you hear sirens?" She asked, her voice shaking.

"No." Steelbeak's mobile phone bleeped. He took it out of his jacket and switched it on. "Yeeello."

"Agent Steelbeak. We trust you are inside."

"Whoa, hey, 'Igh Command! Yeah, we're in."

"Remember: nothing goes wrong. Not like last time."

"Right -- heh -- right, nuthin'. We'll be fine. Ciao." He closed the phone and tucked it back into his jacket.

"'Nothing' what?" Gabriel inquired before catching on. "Oh right."

"Yeah," he replied quietly, looking around. "At least nobody's gonna burst in an' screw it up dis time." God, I hope not.

go back | return to table of contents | continue