Page 69 of Prettiest Little Thief
“There is a dumpster behind the building as well. We can move it below the window, but it might make it more obvious that someone is back there,” Avram chimed in.
I sighed, my nerves kicking up a notch. But this needed to be done. Lucas didn’t fly us all the way out here for failure. Hedidn't promise two million big ones for us to turn back now. This was for Sarah.
“Okay, let’s do it.”
“I’ll go in the shop and distract Davit; you two help Monroe get up to the window. If, for any reason, Davit seems like he’s going to investigate, I’ll dial Jericho’s phone.”
With our plan in place, we all exited the car and strode toward the pawn shop.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Monroe
With my hands on my hips, I inspected the backside of the building. Just like the front of the pawn shop, there were missing pieces of cement. Jagged edges and small holes that might be of benefit to me. The small window was open but a lot smaller than expected.
Jericho and Avram pushed the dumpster under the window as quietly as possible. Which wasn’t very quiet at all. A cringe formed on my face from the squeaky wheels and sound of vibrating metal as it slid over the uneven pavement.
Even with the added height of the huge garbage bin, there was a big gap, and I wasn’t sure my petite frame could reach the window.
Once in place, Avram hoisted me up onto the dumpster, my feet planted securely on its lid. With outstretched arms, I reached up to gauge the distance I needed to close. About two feet or so.
I looked at the wall and placed a foot into the best pit available. My gaze searched for more holes I could grab onto to pull myself up the building. It was like a map of cavities, and my mind was connecting the dots of how to climb the remainder of the surface.
My planned path was going smoothly, as my fingers gripped the rough concrete, though it took a lot more upper body strengthto pull myself up than I realized. My limbs shook as pieces crumbled beneath my hands, scraping the skin of my palms.
When one of my feet slid into the next spot, I slipped, nearly falling. My heart thundered wildly in my chest as I took a deep breath and felt around with my boot for another place.
“Are you okay, Mrs. Knight?” Jericho whispered.
“Yeah.” I nodded frantically, not looking back at them. “I’m okay. Too bad the lid can’t carry the weight of all three of us.”
I found purchase and used the rest of my shaken strength to haul myself up. My hands caught the edge of the window ledge, where I placed my forearms. My legs dangled as I tucked my nails under the corner of the screen and ripped it out of its place, sending it crashing below.
“Shit.” But I didn’t look down to see where it had landed. Too afraid to see how far off the ground I truly was.
Pushing myself headfirst into the window, my body slid in just past my waist. The flare of my hips halted my movements. I wiggled and wiggled, trying to force my butt through the tiny opening. My breaths grew heavy with effort and sweat began to drip down my spine.
I inched forward and grunted, tumbling into a shower. The powerful thud of my body as it connected with the shower pan shook the walls. Without moving, I listened to see if Davit would come running from all the noise going on in his apartment. Nothing.
After a few moments of silence, I dared to push to my feet. My arm pounded in bruising pain from the fall, but not enough to stop me from this mission.
With rushed movements, I went into the bedroom. There were dozens of boxes of every size scattered throughout the room. Dust was gathered on the dressers and headboard, thesheets a rumpled mess. Who would be able to find anything in this room?
I tore open the boxes in a quick fashion, finding a variety of items within. Rings, electronics, tools. Box after box, but no chest. There was no sign of it on the dresser, in the drawers, or under the bed.
Blowing out a breath, I spun around in the room, my eyes skipping to every corner until it landed on a door. I pulled it open, finding a closet with piles of dirty clothes on the floor. How did I know they were dirty? Because the smell of body odor and nastiness nearly made me gag as the scent wafted into my nostrils.
There was no way I was touching the filthy clothing. Instead, I shoved them around with my foot, finding nothing but stained carpet beneath.
“Argh!” Frustration started to wear me down. Maybe the chest wasn’t here. Maybe Davit really didn’t have it anymore. From what Alina told us, he seemed to enjoy holding it over her head. Time was running out. Lucas couldn’t hold him off forever.
Just when I was about to give up and close the door to the closet, something glinted in my peripheral vision. On a shelf and half covered with a button-down shirt, the corner of something wooden poked out from underneath.
I grabbed an empty hanger and pushed the offensive laundry aside until it fell to the floor. A wooden chest with artistic carvings in silver and gold intertwined, a dusty keyhole centered in the middle. But other than that, there was nothing particularly special about the chest.
Even though I didn’t know what the relic was supposed to look like, I would bet all my money that this was the remainingpiece ofAnastasia’s Keepsake. And hidden away in a gross wardrobe, no less.
A smile graced my face as I pulled the box down and wrapped my arms around it, ready to get the heck out of here.
