AMBER BRANDAU - THE HEIST OF THE JEWELED DOG

Amber Brandau has self-published poetry and flash fiction collections under the pen name Blair Nightengale on Amazon. Their micro fiction and flash fiction have been published in online and in print literary magazines. They are currently attending Full Sail University for their B.A. in creative writing for entertainment. Their dream is to write at least one best-selling novel and write screenplays for movies and television.

​The Heist of the Jeweled Dog

​The two thieves slithered up to the flying buttresses that resembled a set of spider legs that extended from the gothic building. The old building was now an art gallery. The younger and thinner thief looked up at the towers that reached out toward the moonlit sky. His knobby knees shook as they approached the old wooden double doors.
            “Marven, are you sure this is a good idea?” asked the younger thief.
            Marven shifted the red and black duffle bag before he turned. He sighed before he spoke. “Yes, Tim. It is a good idea. Before you even ask, it’ll all work out if you just follow my lead. Got it?”
            Tim nodded as he shrank back from Marven’s rough and quick lecture. He followed close behind Marven as he twisted his hands together and chewed on his bottom lip. Marven’s face scrunched up as he turned off the alarm box that was near the doors.
Tim fidgeted in place while Marven preceded to open the old double doors.
            “See, it’s simple,” Marven said as he motioned for Tim to follow behind him.
Tim hesitated before entering. Paintings and statues lined the walls of the old building. They cast stretched out shadows, that followed Tim’s every move. Tim looked around – nervous. Statues reached out for him as he walked by. Tim swallowed hard before he picked up his pace. He reached inside of his jacket and pulled out a flashlight. The flashlight’s handle became wet fast from his sweat.
 
            They crept up to the two vases. Marven nodded. Tim was careful and slow as he reached for the black and gold painted vase. Marven grabbed two wooden crates from the duffle bag. Without delay he snatched the one that was painted white and gold.
Tim followed suit and grabbed his. Marven slid the two vases into small crates, before placing them inside his duffle bag. At a snail’s pace, they headed further into the building. Neon exit signs cast an eerie yellowish glow above them which was out of place in the ornate architecture.
            “What else are we supposed to take again?” Tim asked.
            Marven sighed and shook his head. “We’re supposed to also steal the jeweled dog statue. Which you would have known if you’d only pay attention during our meetings.”
            Tim’s face flushed and he looked down. He nodded in agreement and followed closer behind his accomplice. Marven’s jaw was tight and his movements brisk.
            “How come you don’t pay attention during our meetings?” Marven looked back at Tim.
            “I guess I got side-tracked, my family is having some problems right now. I don’t want to get into it though.”
            Marven nodded. “Okay. Still you need to pay attention. Just do that next time.”
            Tim nodded. “How many times have you done this before?” Tim questioned.
            “Too many times to count. One day you’ll be as calm as me during a heist. There’s no doubt about that.”
            “I don’t know. This is pretty nerve-racking.”
            Marven laughed and looked back at Tim. “No, really one day it’ll be like taking a walk in the park for you too.”
            “But only if I learned to pay attention though, huh?”
           
            Marven nodded. “That would help.”
            “Why did you decide to do pursue this line of work?”
            “The same as most, I needed quick cash. I had rent that was coming up and a buddy of mine needed help with stealing back someone’s belongings that was unrightfully taken during a divorce,” Replied Marven.
            “I can relate to that. I needed quick cash too. For different reasons though. My daughter she’s got cancer and I can’t pay her medical bills. My ex died a few months back, so there’s np child support to help.”
            Marven’s face stayed blank as he kept walking. “Life can be hard and can give us a hand of shitty cards that’s for sure.”
            Marven and Tim stood in front of the golden statute coated in rubies. They glistened underneath the artificial light that shone from the spotlight from above. Tim’s jaw dropped as he walked closer to the podium that housed the lifelike statute.
            “It’s amazing. I’ve never seen something that shimmered like this before,” Tim said as he reached out for it.
            “I know this is our big-ticket item. Our client wanted this more than the vases. So, be careful when removing it.”
            Tim nodded as he grabbed the statute in a tight grip. He moved slow, making sure not to drop it.
The statute slipped from Tim’s sweat-covered hands.
Marven glared at Tim.          
            “Marven, I’m sorry!”
“I’m sorry too.”
            He reached behind his back. When his hand slipped back into view there was a revolver nestled between his chubby fingers. He pulled the trigger. Tim’s body fell to the floor like a limp doll. Marven returned the gun to his waistband. He turned away from Tim’s lifeless body. He didn’t look back. No emotion of remorse shone on his plump face.
            “I told him to be careful,” he said aloud as he grabbed his duffle bag. “He didn’t listen just like the others.”
            Marven walked away from Tim’s corpse and out the closest exit. He soon came back in with a long black bag he moved the body and tossed it into the bag. His gaze swept the area cleaning up anything that could lead back to him or Tim being there. After the cleanup he dragged the body bag without effort back out the exit