by Nina Loard
“Here you go. Here’s a helmet to protect your lovely head.” Luc returned and continued to suck up to her as she stepped outside.
“Evelyn, I’ll just be a minute. Wait here.” Bounce mounted the huge bike expertly and secured her black helmet. With a roar, she was off. I sat in one of the plastic chairs just inside and perused a worn French magazine.
“There are few things sexier than a woman on a bike.” Luc stood mesmerized as he watched Bounce through the windows. Since he had his back to me, I didn’t bother to comment. “You will be riding as well, no?” He turned to me in anticipation of my answer.
“Yes, if she purchases it, we’ll need two helmets,” I responded casually.
“Ah, the two of you will make for quite the show,” he laughed, causing his oily black hair to flap against his forehead. Thankfully, soon I heard a familiar roar from the curb. Bounce was back. She strolled inside, helmet in hand.
“Perfect. I’ll take it.” Luc led her back into his office and shortly we were weaving through the Paris streets, my red helmet secure on my head as I held tightly onto Bounce. The bike was larger than her scooter and she wasn’t able to maneuver it as nimbly. This caused our commute through the crowded streets to be much slower than London, so I wasn’t as panicked as I thought I would be. Past parks the size of city blocks and busy traffic circles, we turned onto Rue du Norvins.
In the shadow of the Basilique du Sacré Coeur, she backed into a parking space and we set out to explore. The impressive, white Roman Catholic Church stood tall against the winter sky layered in varying shades of sunshine and gray. It was surreally beautiful, and we took it in from all sides as we merged with the other admirers of Montmartre. Despite the cold temperatures, people of all nationalities were walking slowly with their purchases, taking in the very Parisian vibe. Bounce and I began stepping in and out of small shops, looking for nothing in particular. After she bought herself a purple scarf and gloves, softening her all black ensemble complete with leather biker jacket, we made our way to the nearest coffee shop. We sat on the patio to watch the passersby, thankful for the plastic flaps that protected patrons from the wind.
“So, you and Finn, huh?” Bounce zeroed in on the one thing I wanted to avoid discussing.
“What are you talking about?” I laughed, paying extremely close attention to my café au lait.
“Evelyn, there are two things you need to know about me. First, I am very perceptive. Second, I have the hotel room next to you.” She grinned over her cup. I had no way of denying it after that. I recalled his name on my lips more than once during our intimacies. With no other choice, I allowed myself to smile back at her, happy to be able to share with her in particular.
“I don’t know what to say. Please don’t tell anyone. Ari didn’t really think this was a good idea, and, well, I couldn’t take everyone knowing right now.”
“Relax, I won’t tell a soul. I don’t need to ask how it was. Are you as happy as you look?”
“I am happy. In this moment, right now, I’m very happy. I can’t pretend to know what I’m doing, but it feels good to give into it, whatever it is.” We laughed together and drank our coffee. She didn’t push for details as she already seemed to be aware of them, which caused me to cringe out of embarrassment. “What I’m doing, do you think it’s a bad idea?”
“With Finn? No, I love him to death. Don’t worry about Ari, he was probably just being cautious,” Bounce advised.
“I’d just hate for him to find out right now, we were getting along in Boston. I don’t want him to think I’m irresponsible.”
“Well, he must have known this might happen. He can’t be completely against it if you’re here.”
“Listen, do you think Ari’s behavior is odd? Coming to Boston, the necklace, bringing me here. Finn was commenting on how much he has changed in the last month.”
“No, it’s like him to find a solution and carry it out. What necklace?”
“The one from Harrods. He gave it to me on Christmas Eve.” I searched her face for any recognition; surely she was who told him about it.
“Oh, I didn’t know he bought it. We were shopping for engagement rings for Mirela and I told him you had tried it on. When he realized he was going to see you for Christmas, he must have not wanted to go empty-handed.”
“Did he get a ring?” I still couldn’t believe he was going to be married, but the buying of a ring made it feel more officially real.
“No, not yet. He couldn’t decide on any of them. I don’t know Mirela well, but I am guessing she trends more toward the flashy.” After devouring some powdery pastries, I remembered the exchange with Bounce and the keys.
“What was the key in the Altoids about?”
In answer, she took out the case from her pocket. Within it was the perfect indentation of the key in a chalky white substance.
“The van in the back lot, we’re going to need to go back and get that. Not you, but myself and Brinks later. No biggie.” She wiped her hands and put her new gloves back on as we left. Surprisingly, the idea of Bounce involved in a car theft only caused me to worry a little. It seemed tame in comparison to what else they were planning.
Shortly, we were back on the bike as the sun began to set. Bounce came to a stop on the Champs-Elysees in front of a boutique with very French lingerie in the window. She took off her helmet and looked back at me with a smile.
“You know you’re dying to.” She was right; purchasing an outrageously priced piece of lingerie was a fabulous idea. We began browsing. After she brought me items far too racy for me to consider, I settled on a two piece called Opera, black with velveteen and mesh adorned with embroidered deep purple flowers at the hips and the edge of the cups. I blushed from head to toe when I tried it on. She made a purchase as well, and I wondered who she had in mind during the selection.
“So, is that for someone in particular?” It was fair to ask. Once someone hears your cries of passion, you need some intimate details from them to even the score.
“Not really. Ari’s cousin Marko is here, he lives in the Latin Quarter and runs the Dura Vita there. He used to be a rather talented thief. Ari and he aren’t close anymore. Other than in the boxing ring, they don’t really communicate. You know how obnoxiously hot Luca is; well, Marko’s worse. Luca is a heartbreaker though. Marko is more reserved. So, no, there’s nobody in the picture, but maybe.”
We climbed back onto the bike and made our way back to the hotel. The men of Ari’s extended family were certainly impressive. I wondered what might bring Marko and Bounce together during our stay. Perhaps we should go to the Parisian Dura Vita for coffee and force some togetherness.
We arrived to the hotel just before 5 PM, and I retired to my room to put away my purchases. Though I tried to keep my mind on practical things, I kept drifting back to the shape of Finn’s mouth and feel of his hands on my skin. I calculated how many more hours I had to wait until we could be alone again. Before I could finish the math, there was a knock at the door. I leapt up, assuming he somehow sensed how ready I was. I opened the door to find Ari, causing an abrupt halt to my fantasy.
“Good afternoon. Did you have a good time with Bounce?” He waited, looking very attractive, in a black suede driving jacket, black sweater and jeans with a gray scarf.
“Yes, we got the motorcycle and went to Montmartre.” I stepped aside to invite him in, but he remained in the hall.
“Evelyn, I’d like you to accompany me to the Louvre before dinner. You enjoyed it before, and I want you to be familiar with your surroundings before New Year’s Eve, just in case.”
“Just in case of what?”
“I would feel better if you have your bearings in case we get separated. Perhaps you might recall something as well.” He smiled politely.
“Okay, let me just put my shoes on. Do you want to come in?”
“No, I need to stop off in my own room. I’ll meet you in the lobby in five minutes.” He pulled the door shut as he left. His
proposal made sense. It didn’t surprise me that I’d been to the Louvre before, but I had no recollection of it. After a quick brush of my hair, I was back in the lobby. Ari was there alone, waiting for me.
“Where are the others?” I asked, curious what else might be happening as we took our tour.
“Raven’s out and will meet us for dinner. Brinks and Bounce are getting a key made in preparation for tonight. Finn is working out his cover.” It had turned much colder and I buttoned the top of my coat, wishing I had brought my scarf. He noticed me shiver. “It isn’t a far walk, but you’re cold, let’s get a cab.” He hailed one quickly and I didn’t argue.
The silent cab ride was very quick; the Louvre was just a few blocks away. It stood like the fortress it was originally created to be, glowing in the golden lights that had just come on at dusk. It was such a large, seemingly impenetrable building. I became frightened that whatever their plan was would fail. Once we were out of the cab, I couldn’t keep quiet.
“Ari, I don’t see how you can do it. Not here. It’s not possible.” I felt the mist from the outdoor fountains chilling me to the bone.
“Don’t let its size intimidate you. That’s one of its major deterrents. Believe me, it’s flawed and it has been robbed before… several times. I realize it’s hard to comprehend, but once you start seeing the cracks, the break is easy.” Ari walked us toward the largest of the Pei glass pyramids, which marked the underground entrance to the museum.
After descending the marble staircase, we made our way quickly through the expansive lobby. We passed the food courts and circular staircases and reached the escalators for the Denon Wing. Ari guided me past impressive sculptures and marble archways, hinting at masterpieces just beyond, arriving at the Rotunde d’Apollon.
“This is where the French crown jewels are currently on display, and this foyer, as well as the gallery beyond, will be transformed to house the other collections for the New Year’s Eve gala,” Ari explained, leading me through sculpted iron doors into the Galerie d’ Apollon which looked very much like a palace from the renaissance period. Golden trim surrounded painted works of art on every inch of the high, arched ceiling and walls, broken only by the large windows that look out onto the museum grounds. Everything the eye fell on was gilded and ornate, including the large, intricately carved, golden cases that held the French crown jewels.
“I don’t remember any of it, but it certainly is impressive.” I twirled slowly, taking in the painted ceiling, causing a slight feeling of dizziness.
“Yes, it is.” He smiled at me and stepped to the case holding elaborate jewelry sets in diamonds, emeralds, and sapphires, as well as assorted crowns. He explained they were replicas, but the real French crown jewels would be displayed that night. Still, I noticed the black orbs in the ceiling and wondered how many people were watching us.
“With the security cameras and high ceilings, I can’t see how you are going to even get close enough to get into the case.”
He bent to me and said, “That’s the trick. If it were easy, everybody would do it.” He laughed as he stepped away, circling a case closer to the back window.
“But you’re sure, if anyone gets caught, Alex can guarantee they’ll be okay?” The magnitude of what they were going to try and pull off was hard for me to shake. If they had an out, I wanted to make sure it was ironclad.
“Yes, but the plan is amazingly straightforward. Sometimes the simpler ones are the hardest to defend against.” He walked over to the back window and looked off to the side of the museum which led to the manicured grounds and the street. He seemed lost in thought, eyeing the lights as they danced on the fountains. After a moment, he turned toward me with a smile.
“Would you like to see some of the other highlights before we go?”
“Sure, that would be great.” He placed his hand on my back and began guiding me through the other galleries. Past the statue of Diana the Huntress, we gazed upon the Mona Lisa. It was much smaller than I had imagined. I didn’t comment because he had already told me I’d seen it before in person. I was sure I would have said the same thing then. It did feel almost alive, like she was watching us with interest. Behind us, we marveled at the Wedding Feast of Gana and passed works by Titian and Tintoretto.
“So, what is Finn’s cover? You mentioned that was where he was earlier.”
“He and Raven are going to have to be on the guest list. He’s creating their identities with Brinks. If you will excuse me, I have to check on one thing and then I’ll be back shortly.” After I nodded in acknowledgement, he was gone swiftly down the corridor.
I wandered through the sculpture gallery. Beyond admiring the beauty of works like Spartacus, Psyche Abandoned, and Neptune Calming the Waves, I found myself appreciating the nude human form from a purely basic level. Never before had a trip to a gallery been as arousing.
After several more minutes, I tore my eyes from the Dying Gladiator and saw Ari standing before a rather erotic statue called Satyr and Nymph. I stood beside him and studied the nymph, bent backward over the knee of a single-minded, Greek satyr; her hands grasping for his horns to bring him down closer to her. Ari shifted to look at me more closely. I noticed the gift bag he had been carrying was gone.
“Aren’t you missing your bag?” I looked around us to see if he had laid it down and forgotten it. He shook his head and continued toward the exit, ignoring my question. It felt as if Ari was a thousand miles away as we emerged outside into the cold night.
“Are you okay? You seem distracted.” I turned to him in the backseat of the cab, trying to make sense of his mood. I considered that the planning of a major heist could monopolize someone’s attention.
“Adequate, thank you.” He smiled politely, but kept his eyes forward. I searched my mind for anything that might solicit a more human reaction.
“Bounce tells me you are ring shopping. Any luck?”
He turned to me with a look of surprise. After a moment he replied, “No. Finding the right ring is harder than I thought it would be.” He dropped his eyes and stared at his own hands with a concerned expression on his face.
“How long have you known Mirela?”
“All her life, really. My uncle always wanted us to wed.”
“Why?”
“Tying together the two families. My being half Scottish seems to matter little for the purpose of matrimony.”
“Forgive me, but you just seem so unenthusiastic about it.”
“I suppose I do need to concentrate more on her and the wedding. This week is difficult to see beyond. I’m happy to be making good on a promise to her, and my aunt and uncle. Our marriage makes sense. The passion will come later.”
“Isn’t the passion supposed to come first?”
“Well, in my culture, it’s best to delay that until the wedding night.”
“Oh. Sorry, that most certainly is none of my business.” Now the separation made a little more sense. They wouldn’t want to take the chance that her status changed pre-wedding. However, it didn’t look like Ari was struggling at all with the arrangement. But, he was so good at keeping feelings hidden, who knew what was going on inside of him.
I was the last to reach Ari’s room that night for dinner. Bounce was still in her all black outfit from earlier and Brinks almost matched, aside from his tan rain jacket. I remembered that they had more to do that evening.
Ari sat at the desk within the large living room area and gave some background on the plan. “I thought it would be important for us to hear a status report.” He motioned for Brinks to begin.
“Yes, Boss. Well, The Louvre has a large security team and many security cameras, but there are some things in our favor. First, due to cutbacks earlier this year, they had to scramble to hire some security when they made plans to host this gala and the exhibition, many within the last month. Inexperience is helpful to us. Second, there are many cameras for surveillance, but only half are actually operational. Lucky for us, they have chosen the
gallery for the gala where the current, fake French crown jewels are kept. The camera within the room is just for show, and they aren’t going to incur more expense by rewiring it.
“However, the one that shows the rotunda and gallery entrance is a working surveillance camera. To that end, Ari just successfully patched into the camera feed earlier. We will need to manipulate the picture during part of the job. Security is going to place guards both inside the gallery and at the entrance. Beyond that, the windows in the gallery, as well as the cases that contain the jewels, are secured with individual glass break sensors.” Brinks held and looked to Ari to see if he wanted him to continue.
I turned to Ari, after realizing what had kept him at the museum while I waited. “So, was that what you were doing when you left me with the sculptures, tampering with surveillance?”
Ari nodded in response. I considered how very casually and quickly he had done something that sounded rather complicated. I supposed that my understanding of their ability was probably grossly under-formed.
Ari continued, “So, our challenges are the security guards and the glass break sensors. I wasn’t sure how we were going to address either until I overheard one fact that changed everything. The Apollo Gallery is one of only two with large windows overlooking the main grounds of the Louvre. Just prior to midnight at the gala, all guests will be escorted outside to watch an impressive fireworks show as a conclusion to the evening. The gallery will start emptying around 11:30 PM; only security will remain inside by midnight. Security has realized that fireworks that close to the gallery will set off every glass break sensor. At midnight, for fifteen minutes, they are going to have to turn them off and rely solely on armed guards, which is still significant protection. But, the unalarmed windows and cases give us an advantage.”