ISAAC DICKINSON - THE LOCKPICK

Isaac Dickinson is a writer based in Winter Park, Florida. He is attending Full Sail University for his Bachelor’s in Fine Arts for Creative Writing and has dozens of original stories to his name.

​The Lockpick

​“Look, Ollie, it’s not so much about the money as it is the adrenaline rush. I mean, I don’t make a living off of robbing these idiots, not nearly enough to live in this city anyway.” Geoff pushed off the car. “I mean we make plenty with our delivery business.”
            “Well, I guess you’re right,” Oliver said. “Wait, you said we were breaking into these people’s houses to save up so we can get the business off the ground. It’s just a hobby to you?”
            “Well, yeah the money’s a bonus,” Geoff said. “But, in that light, a bigger score would be better for us, yeah? I mean we’ve already pretty much mastered BNE already.”
            “Well, okay.” Oliver said. “And how much harder could a museum be? You just get in, grab the painting, and get out.”
            “Exactly,” Geoff said as he got in the driver’s seat. “Let’s do this.”
“Right,” Oliver said, getting in the passenger seat as they drove off. “So, what do we need to get?”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, in the movies-”
“Ollie, I’m gonna stop you right there. You’re really basing this off of a movie?”
“Look, I’m just saying, they have all this high-tech equipment they use to break in and they seem to make it out just fine so long as no one betrays each other.”
“Yeah, that’s because they’re movies, Ollie. You think that all those crazy gadgets really exist?”
“What, they don’t?”
“Well, I’m sure they do, but those things are kinda pricy, and we’re on a budget. And all that budget covers is some celebration burgers. Now, go ahead and pick out a mask,” Geoff said, pointing to a duffle bag in the back seat.
After Oliver chose a mask, the two made their way to the art museum. The building was rather large: two stories tall, with shiny, black walls on the second floor, illuminated by the yellow spotlights aimed up at an angle. On the first floor, the front wall was made up of a series of glass doors, while the sides were covered by somewhat dull, off-white walls. Two security guards were lazily patrolling the courtyard in front of the building, which had a large fountain in it’s center. Oliver and Geoff got out of the car and put their masks on.
 “Same deal as the houses, Ollie. Don’t get caught, pick the lock, grab the goods, get out.”
“Um…about that, what are we looking for, exactly?”
“I don’t know, whatever’s pretty, I guess.”
“Okay…and what about the guards and the cameras?”
“I’m not gonna lie to you, I’m kinda coming up with this on the spot.”
“What?”
“Look, just don’t let them see you, okay. And if they do, you’ve got legs and you’ve got a mouth, so run and scream,” Geoff said as he crept toward the courtyard.
“Oh, okay,” Oliver said, following Geoff.
The two managed to sneak past the guards and made their way to the door, not that the guards were much of a problem, as they were chatting.
“Ah…shit,” Geoff said when he reached the door.
“What? What’s wrong?” Oliver asked.
“I don’t think a lockpick’s gonna work on this.” Geoff gestured to the keypad on the door.
“Uh-oh”
“Uh…come on, let’s go check for a back door.”
            On the back wall, they found a simple door with a lock they were used to.
            “Now that’s more like it,” Geoff said as he pulled out his lockpick set and began working on the door. After a sharp click, he said, “We’re in. You know what, Ollie? It’s your time to shine,” as he pushed open the door.
            “Wait, what? A-are you sure? I don’t even know what we’re looking for.”
            “Me neither, just get whatever looks good.”
            “Well, if you’re sure,” Oliver said as he walked in.
            Geoff stood up, leaning against the wall, before hearing a loud thud. “That was fast.”
            “Bad, bad, bad!” Oliver said, running out of the door with a guard following.
            “Time to go, buddy,” Geoff said, taking off with Oliver.
            Oliver and Geoff sprinted through the courtyard, past the two guards, as they flinched at the unexpected visitors. The two managed to make their way to Geoff’s car, get in, and speed off.
             “Well that was fun!” Geoff said.
            “Fun?” Oliver said. “They almost had us! We didn’t even get anything!”
“Remember, Ollie, it’s all about the rush,” Geoff said, matching the speed of the other drivers after getting a few blocks away. “No need to be so uptight all the time.”
“Well, I guess that was pretty exciting,” Oliver said with a sigh.
“Exactly,” Geoff said, patting Oliver on the shoulder. “Now how about those burgers?”
The two drove off into the night, Geoff still playing with the lockpick set in his hand.