Trouble at the Warehouse
A few hours later, Alana and Hitomi were ready to investigate. While they did have their normal black coveralls on, any weapons and equipment were stowed in backpacks. They made their way out the back of the hotel to keep from drawing attention to themselves. Alana joked that they looked mighty suspicious, while Hitomi just dramatically rolled her eyes.
As they approached the area near the warehouse, Hitomi shut the headlights off and coasted to a stop. They sat there for a moment before fishing out their gear. Hitomi slipped her gauntlet on and slipped out of the car. Alana checked her pistol before slipping it into a pocket, then called up the blueprints on her mobile as she caught up to Hitomi. “Where did you want to start?”
Hitomi thought for a moment, “Let’s go in through the back, opposite the fire damaged windows.”
“Right. I’ve got the plans here.” Alana paused, “I think I’m a little nervous.”
Hitomi smiled fiercely, “Good. Keeps you alert. I don’t think I’ve gone into a mission feeling calm.”
“Secret to your success?” Alana’s tone was playful.
“Or something like it.” Hitomi stopped below a broken window. “Give me a boost here?” Alana laced her fingers to give Hitomi a step and heaved. Hitomi grabbed the window ledge and levered herself up, then reached down to give Alana a hand. They lowered themselves to the floor as quietly as they could, but had trouble avoiding the broken glass scattered around. They both winced at the sound. Hitomi gestured towards where the fire damaged area would be, but they both froze as they heard a loud crash across the building. Alana raised a brow in question, and Hitomi just shook her head and started moving in that direction.
As they got closer, the sound of a lighter pounding reached them. They approached what would have been a supervisor’s office when this building used as a manufacturing house. The door was slightly open and light spilled out. Peering in, the pair saw a chaotic scene.
Patrick Joop was tied to a chair, head slumped forward, unconscious. Another man was swinging a sledgehammer, breaking open a walled up enclosure. Against the far wall, a table stood and a small wind-up toy stood broken on the table. Alana mouthed ‘Mona Lisa toy’ to Hitomi, who nodded. The miniature replica of the famous painting was broken off of the figure and the little painting pulled out. Next to it was a yellowed paper that looked as if it had been folded down to a small size.
“Ha!” The man swinging the hammer dropped it and cleared the debris out of the hole, revealing a small compartment with a lone briefcase. The man pulled it out and brushed it off. He took out a pocket knife and pried the locks and opened it. The briefcase was full of money.
The man laughed again, which seemed to rouse Joop. At his groan, the man turned to the bound man and sneered. “I told you Patrick. You were too concerned about not breaking your so called antiques. Well, now I’m rich, and you,” he paused and pulled out a revolver and pointed it at his captive. “You are dead.”
As they approached the area near the warehouse, Hitomi shut the headlights off and coasted to a stop. They sat there for a moment before fishing out their gear. Hitomi slipped her gauntlet on and slipped out of the car. Alana checked her pistol before slipping it into a pocket, then called up the blueprints on her mobile as she caught up to Hitomi. “Where did you want to start?”
Hitomi thought for a moment, “Let’s go in through the back, opposite the fire damaged windows.”
“Right. I’ve got the plans here.” Alana paused, “I think I’m a little nervous.”
Hitomi smiled fiercely, “Good. Keeps you alert. I don’t think I’ve gone into a mission feeling calm.”
“Secret to your success?” Alana’s tone was playful.
“Or something like it.” Hitomi stopped below a broken window. “Give me a boost here?” Alana laced her fingers to give Hitomi a step and heaved. Hitomi grabbed the window ledge and levered herself up, then reached down to give Alana a hand. They lowered themselves to the floor as quietly as they could, but had trouble avoiding the broken glass scattered around. They both winced at the sound. Hitomi gestured towards where the fire damaged area would be, but they both froze as they heard a loud crash across the building. Alana raised a brow in question, and Hitomi just shook her head and started moving in that direction.
As they got closer, the sound of a lighter pounding reached them. They approached what would have been a supervisor’s office when this building used as a manufacturing house. The door was slightly open and light spilled out. Peering in, the pair saw a chaotic scene.
Patrick Joop was tied to a chair, head slumped forward, unconscious. Another man was swinging a sledgehammer, breaking open a walled up enclosure. Against the far wall, a table stood and a small wind-up toy stood broken on the table. Alana mouthed ‘Mona Lisa toy’ to Hitomi, who nodded. The miniature replica of the famous painting was broken off of the figure and the little painting pulled out. Next to it was a yellowed paper that looked as if it had been folded down to a small size.
“Ha!” The man swinging the hammer dropped it and cleared the debris out of the hole, revealing a small compartment with a lone briefcase. The man pulled it out and brushed it off. He took out a pocket knife and pried the locks and opened it. The briefcase was full of money.
The man laughed again, which seemed to rouse Joop. At his groan, the man turned to the bound man and sneered. “I told you Patrick. You were too concerned about not breaking your so called antiques. Well, now I’m rich, and you,” he paused and pulled out a revolver and pointed it at his captive. “You are dead.”
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