28(S3E6)-The Thief

28

(Season 3, Episode 6)

The Thief

She was able to get two dreamless, unrestful hours of sleep.  She awoke confused, then became frustrated as she saw Lana Simon watching her from the foot of the bed.

“What the fuck?!” Sidney responded, angrily.

“I’ve always wondered if you slept in the nude.”  Lana purred out the words.  She was tall for a woman; almost six feet with short, boy-cut, black hair.  She was lean and thin.

She also had a thing for people who were of her same sex.  This didn’t bother Sidney, normally.  Lana was not normal.

"Get the fuck out of my room."  Sidney ordered.  She was angry and sleep deprived and did not much care if she needed Lana or not.

 

Lana ignored the order and sat down on the foot of Sidney's bed.  "Oh, I’m sorry I didn't mean to scare you.  I knocked but you didn't answer so I tried the door and it was open."

 

"It was not open." Sidney said, aggravated.

 

Lana's grin widened then she shrugged.  "Okay you got me.  I let myself in."

 

"Now you can let yourself out of my room." Sidney said sternly.

 

Lana put up her hands up in surrender. "Okay, okay.  I’ll meet you downstairs."

 

She stood and swaggered out.  Sidney dropped her head back to the pillow, almost falling back to sleep.  She forced herself out of bed and pulled on some pants.  After the night in a skirt, she welcomed the secure feeling that they brought.  She then went to the bathroom and freshened up before heading downstairs to meet with Lana.

 

Lana was pouring herself and Sidney a cup of coffee from Sidney's coffeemaker.  Sidney had only been upstairs for five minutes so there was no way the coffee brewed in that amount of time, which gave Sidney the eerie feeling that Lana had been skulking around in her apartment for who knows how long.

 

"Coffee?" Lana asked, seeing the realization on Sidney's face and deciding to rub it in.

 

"Sure." Sidney said, cautiously eyeing Lana.

 

Lana poured the cups and then sat at the kitchen table putting one cup in front of Sid.  "So, you have a job for me?"

 

Sid nodded.  "Indeed."

 

Lana looked at her questioningly.  "So, I’m inclined to ask where your favorite boy toy is.  I thought you two were joined at the hip."

 

The mention of Tobias stung Sidney a little.  Lana's snide tone didn't do much to help matters.  "He was shot."

 

Lana seemed genuinely shocked.  "No shit?"

 

Sidney shook her head.  "He's in the hospital in critical care, but this job is not going to wait so we have to move on it."

 

Lana put her hand on top of Sidney's.  "I'm sorry Sid. I know how much-"

 

Sidney snatched her hand away and frowned at Lana.  "Nice try."

 

Lana's sultry smile returned.  "Can’t blame a girl for trying.  I'm still a bit confused.  Even with him laid up, I would think I would be the last one you would come to.  After the last time, anyway."

 

Lana was referring to a job they had tried to pull a couple of years back.  It was after Tobias had done his vanishing act and Sidney had need of a rogue’s touch.  She had gotten Lana's name through the normal channels and with the exception of the constant attempts to get Sidney into the sack, she seemed good.

 

That had changed on the night of the job when Lana decided to be a solo artist and made off with the take from the job, leaving Sidney high and dry and almost getting her killed.  From that point on, Lana always worked alone.

 

"To be quite honest," Sidney said.  "You are the only person for this job."

 

Lana looked at her, curiously.  "What's the job?"

 

"It's a bank, night time job." Sidney answered.

 

Lana shook her head.  "You want to sneak into a bank after hours?  I'm not a miracle worker."

 

"We case the place tomorrow and do the job that night."  Sidney pushed forward, taking a drink of coffee.

 

Lana looked angry.  "Okay, now I know you are crazy.  Maybe after a month of prep, but eight hours? You are nuts."

 

"Tobias could do it."  Sidney said, jabbing at Lana's pride.

 

Lana frowned at the shot.  "Well, Tobias has always been a little stupid with women.  I am not."

 

"What if I said I had the bank codes for the vault?" Sidney said, ignoring the return fire, not wanting this to turn into name calling.

 

Lana looked suspicious again.  "Seriously?"

 

Sidney nodded.  "All I need you to do is bypass the security.  Do we have a deal?"

 

"Alright, we can case the place.  Anything smells funky and I’m out."  Lana said, shaking Sidney's hand.

 

"Wouldn't expect anything less."  Sidney answered.

 

Lana's grin widened.  "Want to go upstairs and seal the deal?"

 

Sidney frowned and pulled her hand free.  "Not a chance.  Tomorrow morning, be here at six and I’ll run through the plan."

 

Lana shook her head.  "Your loss, sweetheart.  Too bad, too.  I could really show you something."

 

Lana finished her coffee and left out the back door.  No doubt the one she had ‘let herself in’ through.

 

Sidney couldn’t stand Lana.  She was a snake in the grass wrapped up and decorated as sexual candy.  It did not matter.  Sidney needed her to pull this off, plain and simple.

 

Sidney finished her coffee and grabbed a light coat to protect her from the crisp September air.  She had things to do today and as much as she would like to hit the hay, she had to recruit a slew of extras before tomorrow morning and she only knew one place to do it.

 

She grabbed her keys and headed out the front door stopping dead in her tracks as she opened it. Standing in the doorway, a second from knocking, was Detective Eugene Sellers.

 

“Oh, well I guess this means you are home, then.”  Eugene said, trying to ease the tension.

 

He failed.  “It’s not what it looks like.”

 

As soon as the phrase left Sidney’s mouth she hated herself.  Had she really just said that?  The lack of sleep and stress must be getting to her.

 

Sellers took it in stride and made a wry grin.  “What does it look like?”

 

Sid regained her composure.  “A woman running to the store to buy milk.”

 

Eugene considered this.  “Oh… well if it’s not that, then what is it?”

 

“A woman with questionable morals trying to get out of her house before having to talk to a cop.” Sidney shot back with a smile.

 

Sellers laughed at that, though his suspicion was far from gone.  “Would you like to come in?  I have fresh coffee?”

 

Sellers shrugged.  “How could I refuse?  As long as I’m not keeping you from anything.”

His question was meant to be rhetorical as he brushed past Sidney into the home as he said it.

 

Sidney took a deep breath.  Eugene sellers was, after all, part of the plan.  Sidney had not expected to deal with him so soon, but it was always better sooner than later.

 

“You have a lovely home,” Eugene began.  “How do you pay for it on a part time waitress’ salary?”

 

Sidney frowned at him.  “Tips.”

She then walked into the kitchen and poured his coffee.  “How do you take your coffee?”

 

“Black is fine, thanks.  “Sellers answered before continuing his not-so-subtle interrogation.  “You must get good tips.”

 

Sidney did not answer.  Instead she finished pouring the cup and put it on the table.  “Let’s save time.  You think I’m dirty - that my actions have something to do with Tobias getting attacked.  Why wouldn’t you, after Linda’s temper tantrum?”

 

He shrugged and sipped at his coffee.  “Is this the part where you confess and tell me what’s going on?”

“That would be your best questioning ever, wouldn’t it?” Sidney mocked.

“Oh yeah.”

“No, that’s not what I’m willing to give you.” Sidney said, continuing.  “I can give you Fenton Sanoma, and a Local thief named Lana James.”

Eugene eyed her curiously, trying to decide what to do.  What he did next would decide the fate of the job itself.

END EPISODE 28

 

 

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