Thief: The Dove in the Darkness

by Katlynn Rose

  Back at the camp, Lea learned that a small team of associates had a new assignment; a hit on a gas station about fifty miles from the lake. It was a distraction. Law enforcement would receive an anonymous tip in the hopes the undercover cops would take the bait. It was nothing but a chancy ruse just so Nikki could get a sucker punch in and rob their campsite.

  Lea was grinding her teeth, having been told she was to be one of the guinea pigs to hit the camp. She knew it was Nikki's sadistic idea of punishment. Since Lea had pulled unwanted attention that caused a deviation from her duties, the operation's flow had been disrupted, and everyone knew you didn't fuck with the flow of Nikki's operation.

  Lea's argument had received a blank stare. How could she help it if someone wanted to strike up a friendly conversation with her? One of her duties was to look like a coed, and that alone garnered at least a little attention. Lea hadn't bothered to mention how much she had gawked at the dreamy cop, but it didn't matter. Nikki's mind was made up.

  Chewing nervously on her bottom lip, Lea huddled in the corner of Ox's RV She wondered if this new life was any better than the troubled one she fled years ago. Being motherless with her barely there, alcoholic father had not made for a happy home, especially on the bad nights. Father could be a mean drunk.

  Lea had come to regret some of her past decisions, but the leap she had taken to get away from her father was not one of them. However, she had deluded herself into thinking that joining Nikki's outfit would be something fun, adventurous. It didn't turn out to be what she had imagined. Now she wondered if she would have followed Ox into the lion's den if she had known what lay beyond.

  Because, after tonight, there was no going back. Tonight, she had to prove herself. Lea swallowed hard, realizing she was about to cross the line between a slap-on-the-wrist and jail-time.

  The RV rocked to one side as Ox entered, his weight tilting the whole vehicle. She looked to him, and his expression was laden with sympathy as he met her eyes. Lea had just enough bravado left to scoff.

  Ox saw through her charade and chuckled softly, motioning her to follow as he turned around. She joined him at the barbecue pit, where the other associates were already waiting. The light had faded to dusk, and it wouldn't be long before full night settled across the lake. It was time to go.

  Lea followed close behind Ox, almost in a daze. They walked along the trails around the lake, and were constantly running into drunken revelers, but no one paid them any mind. Even if they had, Lea probably wouldn't have noticed. Her palms were sweaty, and she was fighting back the nausea roiling in her gut.

  Nervousness crawled through her limbs and into her fingers and toes like little electric worms, and she clasped her hands together to stop them from shaking. How was she going to do this without fainting? Her mind was so deeply mired in worries that Lea almost ran into Ox's broad back when he stopped.

  He looked down at her, surprise on his face at how close she stood, but then he smirked. "Now's not the time to get friendly, sweetheart."

  Lea stumbled back a few paces and managed to scowl at him, but even that did little to help harden her wavering nerve. Ox did not share her same reservations. He had gone from pleasure to business in the blink of an eye, and his expression was hard steel as he addressed everyone.

  "No cell phones, no pagers. Are we clear?" There were nods from all around. "Nikki doesn't want damages, so no vandalism. Get in, take what you can, and get out. Sutton is our primary target here, so bonus points for anyone who can dig up some extra info, but don't take any unneeded risks. I doubt he's got his stash here, but he's got to launder that shit sometime, right?"

  A chortle, some nods and a "Yes, sir" answered Ox.

  "Go. You know what to do." He whispered, but his voice boomed in Lea's ears. Scarcely able to breathe, she turned to follow, and her heart leaped into her throat as Ox's big hand encircled her arm, jerking her to a stop. "You're not going."

  Lea stared up at him, confused. Her mouth worked wordlessly for a moment before she finally found her voice. "But Nikki said--"

  "Nikki would like to get you killed. She's jealous, but I said wait. You're not up to this." And with that, Ox was gone, his big frame swallowed up in the darkness.

  Lea stood dumbstruck, staring at the spot where Ox had disappeared. Shouts and laughter of the festivities could be heard in the distance, but no sound came from close by. The half-moon didn't offer much light under the trees, and the wooded area that had seemed so secure a moment ago had taken on a creepy vibe. What the hell was she supposed to do now?

  Alone, she spun in a circle and huffed. She knew where their rendezvous point was, but she had doubts she could find it in the dark. Had Ox thought of that before he tried to be a hero?

  Lea took two steps back the way they had come, intending to head toward their camp, but stopped short. What if she made it back before everyone? What would Nikki do to her then?

  Pressing her lips together to stop a groan, she turned in the direction where she thought they would rendezvous, took two steps, and stopped again. What if she couldn't find it? What if she got her ass lost out here in the woods?

  Stomping her foot and unable to stop the growl this time, she turned toward the undercover's camp. Damn you, Ox! Goddamn you!

  After a good few moments of waiting, her indecision eating up valuable time, Lea finally got her feet to move. Moving as quietly as she possibly could, her tentative steps led her toward the campsite to where she could find Ox or one of the others to lead her out.

  It was eerily quiet, unlike every other campsite on the lake. The only light Lea could see was the glowing red embers in the barbecue pit. She stalked closer to the RV, her eyes straining to penetrate the darkness of the abandoned camp. Had they actually fallen for Nikki's scam?

  Idiots, Lea smirked wryly to herself, sidling against the wall of the tall vehicle, feeling somewhat safer hiding in its dark shadows.

  Abruptly, Lea tensed as she saw a shadow move in front of the tent, but she relaxed a second later when she recognized the shape of once of the twins. His blond hair was unmistakable in the night, and Lea exhaled slowly, letting the relief wash over her.

  She caught more movement at the other RV, and the big shadow could only belong to Ox. He was at the door, probably trying to pick the lock.

  Lea's eyes became slits as she glared at his back, a foolish wave a courage breaking through her. She could pick a lock too, and if Nikki sent her out here to prove something, then she was damn sure going to prove it.

  Her small body slid along the side of the RV, slipping through the shadows like a cat. At this point, she was sure the need for secrecy was null, and everything depended on speed, but she thought it a good opportunity to hone her skills. Making a game of it, she was determined to get as far as she could without Ox noticing her.

  Coming to a dark, curtained window, she raised on tiptoe to peer inside. A sliver of dim light at the edges of the curtain caught her eye like it was the noon-day sun. She tensed, her breath catching in her throat, and she stood transfixed by it as if it was a trap that had snared her.

  A flash of rational thought pierced her fear, and she latched on to it, suddenly realizing that it wouldn't have been out of place for a light to have been left on. The courage she'd momentarily gained that led her to break into the RV was definitely gone, though.

  Silently berated herself again, she started to pull away when I shadow passed by the light source, momentarily blocking it out, and the RV rocked slightly. Her heart was suddenly thundering in her chest. Someone was in there!

  Lea's gasp was like a whip crack through the silent camp, and she had pushed away from the window in her shock, not realizing what she'd done. She stood frozen in the dim moonlight that illuminated her.

  "Lea?" The soft call came from Ox, and she spun toward him.

  "Someone's in there!" She rasped. Other shadows around her stood at attention, and a noisy rattle came from one of the tents as something was knocked to t
he ground. That was only the beginning of the cacophony as Lea watched in horror as the tent collapsed, one of the supporting rods snapping loose and launching toward her. It missed her by several feet but banged loudly against the side of the occupied RV.

  A light flared to life, its beam manifesting from where it was mounted on the RV. The door sprang open a second after Lea dashed back to the shadows. She made it in time, but unfortunately she was cowering in the shadow of the open door. Her hammering heart made her feel dizzy, and the fear of fainting came back ten-fold.

  "Who's there?" The bellow came from a short, round-shouldered man that came swaying down the short RV steps. He had a gut to match those shoulders, but Lea didn't have time to analyze anything beyond that. She forced her legs to move, attempting to slip around the corner while he was distracted.

  "Mother fucker!" The man cursed when he caught sight of the tent, and he stepped away from the RV, his back to Lea. She thought she was in the clear and hurriedly stepped further into the shadows when a rusted piece of metal siding snagged her shorts, ripping them open and piercing her sensitive flesh.

  Lea reversed direction, but she couldn't correct her carelessness. Her moment was lost. The sound of ripping fabric, her exaggerated movement, and her nearly inaudible gasp had drawn the attention she so desperately needed to dodge.

  "The hell?" The man was muttering as he spun on her. Fear froze her in place, and the certainty of her discovery trapped her. Their eyes met, and she flinched as something like recognition flashed in his beady eyes. Had he seen her this afternoon?

  "The fuck you think you're doing?" The man snarled, clearly hostile as he advanced. They were only a few paces apart, and Lea wasn't going to wait to find out what he planned to do once he caught her. Without even thinking about her actions, she dropped into position and completed a beautiful spinning heel that connected nicely with the cop's double chin. Having been caught off guard, the huge man flailed backward, and the power of her kick sent him into the dust.

  Lea's movements were smooth, fluid. Her body reset into a defensive stance instinctively. Butterflies fluttered in her stomach and her will wavered as she became aware of another man advancing on her from behind. She heard Ox's voice bellow a warning from the shadows.

  "Dammit, Lea. Run!"

  She ran.

  Chapter 3 – Chase