{"id":939,"date":"2024-08-23T00:30:15","date_gmt":"2024-08-23T00:30:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/meekobuggy.com\/?page_id=939"},"modified":"2024-08-23T00:35:24","modified_gmt":"2024-08-23T00:35:24","slug":"chapter-01","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/meekobuggy.com\/?page_id=939","title":{"rendered":"Chapter 01"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Chapter 01 <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Bella closed her laptop with a wide smile on her face before taking a sip of her glass as she looked over the vineyard that her uncle kept as a business. While his winery made an excellent wine, subtle and complex, she didn\u2019t drink during the day, and if she could go around it, she didn\u2019t drink at all. She wanted to keep her mind sharp, not dull it with alcohol.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The South of France was beautiful, she loved the lavender fields of their neighbors, the color and scent of it was extremely calming to her and she loved painting it. The Provence had its own quirky charm, and even after 500 years of belonging to France, the dialect was different and the people were different too. It was a great area to disappear to. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was also a great area to make someone disappear when needed, and that was a thought her siblings liked to have. Bella, not so much. Her siblings were like wrecking balls, get what they wanted by all means necessary and Bella was a lot more elegant with that, and she had her uncle to thank for that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her uncle didn\u2019t appreciate his brother\u2019s way of handling things. Messy. Hard handed. Skilled, sure, but they didn\u2019t mind collateral damage. Uncle Garrett taught Bella to appreciate her own skills, the finer things in life, and how to get them with grace and charm. And not to get caught.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If there was one person in the world she trusted, it was Uncle Garrett. His vineyard had been her escape for years during the summers, and she had made it her home a year ago after something had happened at home. Bella had never felt appreciated and loved by her family as much as her siblings. She was the youngest, and it felt like she was a burden to them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella was free now and loving it. But the vineyard and the immediate surroundings didn\u2019t do it for her anymore. So instead she had been focussing on honing her skills on the computer. Learning new techniques to infiltrate websites and systems, and practicing them on dodgy hedge funds, funneling money to charities she liked without leaving a digital trace. Or use it on their local supermarket\u2019s store to lower the prices and get groceries for cheap. Stuff like that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She wanted to see art. She wanted to experience something other than Marseilles or Cannes or Nice. Paris. She wanted to go to Paris.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s today\u2019s lucky charity?\u201d Uncle Garrett greeted her as he walked onto the deck and took a seat next to her. He was wearing his usual overalls and having worn them too much it had faded them, stained them with grapes and there were patches on the areas where it had torn. He looked like a typical gardener with that strawhat on his head, and the image always made Bella smile. Uncle Garrett was a great businessman, and this bumbling gardener persona was a good distraction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe French Federation of Guide Dog Association received a generous donation from a douchebag in India,\u201d she replied as she took a sip of her drink. \u201cJe m’ennuie.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Garrett laughed and shook his head. \u201cIf you\u2019re bored, why not do a hygiene inspection?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBecause they\u2019re boring!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOr check the software?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAlready did that yesterday,\u201d Bella pouted. \u201cI\u2019d love to go to Paris, climb the steps of the Sacre Coeur basilica, take photos of the panoramic view of the city and paint it. Or go to Versailles. Disney Land. The Moulin Rouge. Mus\u00e9e d\u2019Orsay. The Louvre. Oh! The Centre Pompidou!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Garrett looked at his cousin and sighed. He knew she\u2019d gotten bored with the area. While it was beautiful, he didn\u2019t allow her to stray further than Marseilles and they found her there on a weekly basis. Her mind needed to be engaged, and she\u2019d been talking about Paris for years. She was old enough now, and skilled enough, to look after herself and he hated to admit it he wished she wasn\u2019t. \u201cFor how long?\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know. Until I get bored? Or until I have had enough? It\u2019s Paris, Uncle Garrett.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cVery well. Allow me to make a few calls to arrange an apartment for you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella\u2019s eyes grew wide in surprise. \u201cReally?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou\u2019re not a prisoner, Bella, you can go wherever you please. I can\u2019t say, however, that I won\u2019t miss your company.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI promise I\u2019ll stay in touch.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou\u2019d better,\u201d he said as he took out his phone. \u201cDon\u2019t get into any trouble, either. I\u2019d hate to have to bail you out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella laughed and hugged her uncle. \u201cI won\u2019t get in trouble. I\u2019m too good to get caught,\u201d she replied as she let go of him. \u201cI will pack a bag and can I drive up to Paris?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou can.\u201d Garrett nodded. \u201cTake the Aston Martin if you want.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She scrunched up her nose then. \u201cThat car won\u2019t survive Paris. I\u2019m taking my truck.\u201d Oh, she\u2019d noticed his wince. Uncle Garrett wasn\u2019t a fan of her truck. He called it a driving disaster, ready to fall apart. She liked it. It was simple and inconspicuous. Just because she could drive a fast and flashy car didn\u2019t mean that she should. Just like how easily she could drive to Marseille and take the plane to Paris. No, she wanted to drive. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Blast the cobwebs out of her mind and focus. And enjoying herself and the finer things in life away from the vineyard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Grinning, she got up from her chair, kissed her uncle on the cheek and skipped off to her room to pack. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

~o.O.o~<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She liked to drive. And the fun part about driving to Paris was that it took her through all the small and scenic villages on the way. She could have taken the faster way, but there was something romantic about driving through the countryside. Churches were usually the center of the village, surrounded by a bar and some shops, narrow but clean streets and colorful houses. Great places to lie low, too. Which was the whole reason Uncle Garrett had a vineyard in Provence. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The only downside of France was that it was so close to Italy where her family had a home, filled with some people who did clean up jobs for the family when they fucked up or wanted someone out of the way. The vineyard was protected though, and in a city like Paris, Bella was sure she could look out for herself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She stayed the night in Pr\u00e9cy-sous-Thil, a small village in the Bourgogne and stayed at a bed-and-breakfast. There was a castle on a hill nearby and she wanted to check it out and check the view but the owners of the bed-and-breakfast treated her to some very decent wine and Bella rested up so she could drive to Paris without – hopefully, a wine hangover the next morning. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her uncle sent her the address to the apartment he had arranged for her and when she looked it up on Google Maps, she had fallen in love. And likely overkill for just one person but the area looked great and convenient, and while it was near the Eiffel tower, from what she could see was that nobody could look into the windows. The location made her excited. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The wine allowed her to sleep well, and after breakfast and paying for her stay, she was on the road again. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first thing she noticed about Paris when she officially drove into the city was that the Parisians absolutely loved their tunnels. It wasn\u2019t until she was almost at the apartment Uncle Garret had arranged for her she saw some green, and after her navigation directed her to her apartment complex, she was even happier. Trees surrounded the building and that meant there wouldn\u2019t be any nosy neighbors!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of her uncle\u2019s closest friends and the occasional partner in crime, Liam, greeted her at the door. Liam was Irish and damn proud of it, never allowing you to forget that, either. He could best be described as the muscle. He was built like a tank and freakishly tall, but he had a soft spot for Bella and his jokes were horrendously hilarious. \u201cLiam!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBella, long time no see,\u201d Liam greeted her with a warm hug. \u201cI was thinking your uncle was joking when he said you wanted to be in Paris for a while.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI felt I needed to engage my brain, what\u2019s wrong with wanting to be in Paris?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNothing, Paris is an amazing city, especially for your interests,\u201d he replied as he led them inside and used the keys to get through the first set of doors. \u201cArt wise, of course. And I wouldn\u2019t care about your other skills. I know a good lawyer.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella barked out a laugh and shook her head. \u201cThanks.\u201d The interior of the building was rich, everything was made of hardwood floors and wooden walls, giving it a classy look, and a red carpet was on the floor to prevent scarring. Using a key to one doors, there were yet another set of stairs leading to her apartment, the door secured with keys and a keypad. \u201cWhat is this? Fort Knox?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou\u2019re in the 16th arrondissement, Bella. People who live here own a lot of money. It\u2019s the third richest area of Paris, and the other two are next to this one. People are fond of their security and this is one reason Garrett choose for you to use this apartment, so he knew you were safe.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Liam opened the door and it led to a large entry hall with a set of stairs leading to the second layer of the apartment. There were still wooden floors, well polished, with a rug here and there, and art on the walls. \u201cHoly shit,\u201d Bella remarked as she realized the scale of her new digs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHoly shit indeed,\u201d Liam agreed. \u201cSix bedrooms, Three bathrooms, a dining room, a reception area and you\u2019re going to love the kitchen.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella\u2019s jaw almost fell onto the floor as he led her further into the area. \u201cThis is not a flat.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is in this area,\u201d Liam laughed. \u201cCome on, Garrett wanted you to be well taken care of, live in the luxury you\u2019re used to. There\u2019s a parking space for you in front of the building, and you even have a cellar with your name on it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As they explored the apartment together, Bella started to realize more and more that everything she liked, was inside this building. There was an easel strategically placed in one of the rooms with a window where you could peek to the trees and see the Eiffel Tower. A large kitchen where she could cook, a brand new laptop and computer in the library. \u201cHe doesn\u2019t want me to leave this apartment, does he? Well, tough. This is Paris. I will enjoy Paris and this apartment.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI told him you\u2019d say that,\u201d Liam replied as he grabbed the binder off the kitchen counter and handed it to her. \u201cEverything you need to know about this place. Your access code, there\u2019s even a lift if you don\u2019t want to take the stairs to your apartment. If you have questions, don\u2019t hesitate to call, but I have to go, I have places to be.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThanks, Liam,\u201d Bella smiled at him and hugged him. \u201cI promise, I won\u2019t get into trouble.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou can get into trouble, just don\u2019t get caught.\u201d he winked at her before leaving the apartment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella waited an hour, to make sure Liam had truly left and took stock of what was in the kitchen. Much to her surprise, it was fully stocked with the usual she usually bought from the supermarket. \u201cFuck him,\u201d she muttered as she gathered her keys and her purse and explored the surrounding neighborhood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of her rules was not to steal where she lived; it would be noticeable and it could complicate things in the long run. However, she wanted to get to know her neighborhood and get a feel of the city, the people, and find places to hide out, or to disappear. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

She took her time getting to know Paris, sometimes on foot, sometimes by public transport. Researching on her laptop, hacking into charities to see if there were dirty people around, she was itching to do something in person. Robbing a museum was still too risky. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

She hadn\u2019t grifted for a while now, she\u2019d only done things on her computer and she was rusty. No, she needed to get back in the game before she would do something stupid as trying to get herself an original Picasso a week back in the game. Not to mention, she wanted to swap it out with a forgery, and that would take some time to get right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella went on a shopping spree for clothes, she had taken no fancy clothes with her, and she was tired of wearing jeans. Dresses. Body hugging dresses. Shoes. Makeup. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There were a lot of galleries in the area where the museum was. She had secured herself a job at one that had a perfect view of the street and the museum and it even had a little studio attached where artists could practise their art if they didn\u2019t have space to do so at home. Bella graciously took advantage out of that, practicing brush strokes and lines. Nothing too specific, never something too specific but it gave her something to do when it was quiet in the gallery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She was posing as a restoration artist between jobs, specializing in expressionism. All she needed to do was wait for an in at the museum. She knew that there were several restaurateurs at work at the moment on a lovely piece of Picasso from his expressionism period, and all they needed was to win a prize, or get into an accident. Preferably several of the team. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

She had time, though. There was no need to rush things. It wasn\u2019t her top priority. Aside from her cover job at the gallery, she enjoyed all the luxuries Paris offered. Money. Good food. Oblivious tourists. Bella made sure she made the obligatory tourist shots for Uncle Garrett, but other than that, she was thoroughly enjoying herself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After a few weeks, she still didn\u2019t find herself bored, but figured it was time to explore the Picasso museum on the internet and see if she could get into their servers. Bella wasn\u2019t an art thief, a thief, sure, but her uncle always wanted a Picasso, and she would give it to him. Her forgery was coming along nicely after finding the right materials to paint with. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And now it was time to familiarize herself with the organization. Their mail server was so easy to get into. It didn\u2019t have the right certificates and security, and they all kept their mail on the server itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reading the mail was as if she was reading a very dramatic book. One of the guys running the show had impregnated an employee and demanded she\u2019d get rid of it. Another had gambling debts and yet another had spent time in jail for domestic violence and he hadn\u2019t stopped his behavior. It had only gotten worse and he was the bully of the Picasso museum, and filthy rich which now allowed him to get away with everything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Getting the painting was now a secondary objective. She would make sure the guy would get what he deserved and maybe take out one of the other members.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Marcel Girard was now on her personal shitlist, and she would find everything she could on him. Find out who he was, where he lived, maybe even look inside his house. Perhaps even\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Oh. Yes!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m a fucking genius,\u201d she grinned to herself. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

~o.O.o~<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Marcel Girard was a 53-year-old male with anger issues. Fortunately, he was single. Bella found out that his history of domestic violence was longer than she\u2019d originally read in the emails. Before becoming part of the group of museum owners of the Picasso museum, he worked as a bouncer for nightclubs and as a police officer. The Police discharged him after too many arrests involved him beating the crap out of suspects and the police getting sued or the criminals got away from Girard using excessive force.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was only an owner because he put a lot of money into the museum, and from the news clippings she read online it was almost as if he appeared to be sitting on his personal nest egg while none of the paintings in the building were owned by him but by the foundation and donors. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Every morning on his way to work, Girard stopped by Starbucks for an Americano and at the same p\u00e2tisserie for breakfast. Sometimes he bought macaroons, sometimes a pain au chocolat. Or even a simple croissant. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the outside, he was clean, on the inside\u2026 Bella didn’t want to touch him with a ten foot pole. Girard was filth, and it would be so damn pleasing to take him down, and let him know that a woman was the one taking him down, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During the weekend, Girard received a text message about some party in one of the best nightclubs in Paris, and Bella decided to go too, she needed to let off some steam. She hadn\u2019t had fun like that in ages, and if she played it well, she wouldn\u2019t even need to relieve some of the restoration crew.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then again, her Uncle Garrett would kill her, and there were no guarantees. It was best to focus on the task at hand and gift a few of the crew some long vacations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

The Museum had just been renovated, but there were still works of Picasso that needed to be cleaned and restored, and Mia Robbins had been working on one for weeks now with her coworkers. Mia Robbins was Bella\u2019s art expert alias, or at least one of them, but definitely the most secure. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There was Patricia, a 26-year-old vegan who had gone to a fancy art school in Paris. She had dreads in her hair and her general dressing attire was something Bella didn\u2019t want to be found dead in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Claudette was one of the older people, mid-forties, her short, curly hair already graying in some areas but one of the nicest people on the team. Warm. Dedicated to her job and dressed accordingly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pierre really liked what he was doing. He liked his baguettes and always visited the nearest boulangerie during lunchtime to get his jambon beurre. Bella didn\u2019t like them, because it held more butter than actual ham on the baguette. Sickening. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

George was an American expat like Bella, and he seemed to know what he was doing. Always sharply dressed in jeans that were on the tight side and simple shirts. The bit of scruff on his face made it all a perfect picture with his brown hair all neat and always a sparkle in his beautiful blue eyes. His accent had hints of a long-gone Southern accent, likely Missouri. George walked with a slight swagger, and he was overly confident of himself. Always smiling. Always seemingly up to something. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella didn\u2019t trust George. He was too\u2026 perfect. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

She was unable to find anything about George Barrigan online aside from an apartment in his name in Montmartre. Picasso had a studio in Montmartre when he lived in Paris, and even to this day the area was filled with struggling artists, hopeful to be the new Picasso. It was a quaint little village inside the city though. Cobblestones on the roads, a lot of bistros, trees and other green, even a vineyard. Bella had already visited it and the Sacr\u00e9-C\u0153ur that was the area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Bella decided that the day had come to pull off her plan, she grew increasingly fed up with George, as he remained behind too. She had no other choice but to continue her restoration job with him. George seemed to get growingly annoyed by her presence, too. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe should get something to eat,\u201d George eventually said as he leaned against one of the empty tables, looking at her. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella shrugged. \u201cIf you\u2019re hungry.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI am.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s okay, you know, we\u2019re working late. I won\u2019t tell if you want to get something to eat. I\u2019m fine. I merely want to finish this area so I can go over it again after the weekend.\u201d Bella smiled at him. \u201cI\u2019m not hungry.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMia, you have to eat something.\u201d George smiled back at her. God, he was gorgeous.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She narrowed her eyes on him. \u201cIt\u2019s just you and me in the building at the moment and I feel you want me out of here,\u201d she remarked. \u201cWhat are you planning on doing? Do I need to call the cops on you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

George huffed. \u201cWhat do you take me for? I\u2019m working late, just like you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd while I\u2019m dedicated of finishing today\u2019s work, you\u2019re eager to do something else, aren\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

George moved over to her and removed the soft brush from her hands, brushing her hand with his as he kept his eyes on her. \u201cI\u2019m just saying, we should eat something before we pass out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe could just as well go home,\u201d she stated. She\u2019d return a few hours later, swap out the paintings and be done with it. \u201cAfter I finish, but you don\u2019t have to wait for me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

George let out a breath and shook his head. \u201cWorkaholic, huh?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She picked up her brush again and resumed her stance as she turned away from him. \u201cWe\u2019ve been working together for the last month and a half, you hadn\u2019t noticed?\u201d Bella retorted playfully. \u201cWe\u2019re almost done with this painting. I just want to spend more time with it so we can finish it next week, what\u2019s the harm in that?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWell, it\u2019s a Friday night.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI have nothing better to do, do you?\u201d She turned around to face him again. \u201cLike\u2026 robbing the museum when I\u2019m gone?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

George looked surprised. \u201cWhat! No! What a stupid idea is that! Honestly, Mia, I\u2019m offended. I love working here, why would I do anything to endanger my job here at the museum?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella shrugged. \u201cMaybe because you don\u2019t look like someone who should work behind the scenes of a museum? Compared with the rest of us, you are far too well dressed. I imagine you\u2019re spending your days off in suits or something.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd that\u2019s your only basis?\u201d George laughed, shaking his head. \u201cI just like to dress sharp.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd you\u2019re super careful not to get any solutions on your clothes, either,\u201d Bella replied, as she checked him from head to toe with her eyes. \u201cNot a single drop.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m just not as clumsy as you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cRight,\u201d she replied with a sigh. \u201cYou\u2019re insufferable,\u201d Bella added as she turned around and started to clean up. \u201cForget working ahead, you and I are leaving.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe?\u201d George scoffed. \u201cNo, you go, I\u2019ll finish this,\u201d he reached for one of the pots with brushes in her hands. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI thought you were hungry.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His jaw fell open and quickly closed it again as he nodded in agreement. \u201cI said that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s where this whole discussion started,\u201d Bella replied as she continued to put away their tools. \u201cBe a dear and put the painting in the vault?\u201d She would definitely come back later. Earlier in the day when Patricia had left, she had swiped Patricia\u2019s access card to the locked doors of the main exhibition area where the painting hung that Bella had recreated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Girard was visiting family for the weekend thanks to some carefully crafted emails from Bella, and Bella was ready to go to town with her idea. Everything was in place, except for George. George was an obstacle. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella made sure that they both left the museum and killed some time by walking around the area for a few hours. Eating something before returning to the museum. She used her tablet to disable the cameras in the building – the fun side of modern day security was that it was so easily hacked if you knew what you were doing – and she disabled the alarms attached to the paintings, before using the back entrance to gain access to the museum. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Much to her surprise, most of the usually locked doors were wide open, and she could have sworn that she and George had locked them all. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella took her forgery out of one of the empty lockers, she retrieved her foldable baton out of her bag and made sure she had a pair of scissors in her back pocket. The museum was dark, only the emergency lighting was on, but she could easily find her way as she\u2019d practiced her way over the weeks that she had been at the museum. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Using Patricia\u2019s card to get into the main exhibition area, she froze. George Barrigan was cutting a Picasso from the frame. Her Picasso. \u201cWhat the actual fuck!\u201d she eventually exclaimed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

George quickly turned around with his flashlight and his eyes widened in surprise upon seeing her. \u201cMia\u2026 it\u2019s not what it looks like\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella nodded as she let out a deep breath. \u201cIt\u2019s exactly what it looks like. I\u2019m not fucking surprised. Pick a different painting, I have plans for that one,\u201d she commanded as she walked over to him with the forgery in her hands. \u201cAnd don\u2019t try anything, I\u2019m armed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

George smirked as he happily stepped aside, his eyes wide in curiosity. \u201cI didn\u2019t think peg you for an art thief.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBecause I\u2019m not,\u201d she replied as she cut the wires of the alarm and swapped the portraits out. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNor for a forger\u2026\u201d George moved so he could watch her handiwork. \u201cWhich you\u2019re not. Your technique is sloppy, do you want to get caught?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She said nothing as she started to walk back towards the doors. \u201cYou\u2019d better follow me out, I will put the alarm back on once I\u2019m gone, and with those wires snipped, people will know,\u201d Bella hinted as she opened the doors and went out the same way she came from. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

She heard George letting out a groan, then something ripping and footsteps of him following her. \u201cI don\u2019t want to get caught, but I can explain.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo need. We were never here. I will not ask you what you\u2019re going to do with your Picasso, and you\u2019re not going to ask what I\u2019m up to.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re just two strangers in the night,\u201d George agreed. \u201cYou got me curious though.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella let him out the back and made sure she locked the door. \u201cSee you around,\u201d she headed towards the car she\u2019d stolen and parked a few streets away. Making sure Barrigan didn\u2019t follow her, she got into the car and drove off to Girard\u2019s residence. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once parked, she quickly found her way into Girard\u2019s home and hid the painting in the attic. She wiped down the car before abandoning it in front of his house. She completed her mission. As she walked through Paris, she stopped by several bars for a drink to have herself a good alibi and eventually reset the alarms and cameras of the museum. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

By 6 am, she stumbled back into the door, reeking of alcohol and the doorman helped her to her apartment, laughing at her and making fun of her in French. Once she was in the safety of her very secure apartment, she hid her tools in a convenient hiding place under the floorboards, took a shower and put her clothes in the washing machine. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

She was too pumped to go to sleep. There was no doubt in her mind that the art theft was now known – likely because of the painting George had stolen – and all she had to do was wait a bit before sending an anonymous and untraceable tip to the police that there was another painting stolen but replaced by a forgery and that they could find the painting in Marcel Girard\u2019s home. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The asshole was going down. At least for the next two years. No more hitting women, and he\u2019d likely be too tainted to remain one of the big bosses in charge of the Picasso museum, after all, he stole one of the paintings!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But, until then, she still had a job to go to on Monday as not to raise suspicions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

~o.O.o~<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Marcel Girard got taken away by the police after an anonymous tip came in about him swapping one of the Picassos for a forgery and hiding the original in his home and George Barrigan never returned back for work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How stupid was he?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The investigation that followed had the police search every home of everybody who worked there, and Bella had made sure that before she started to work there that she had an apartment in Mia\u2019s name in Bondy, made sure she visited that often and, Mia was cleared of all wrongdoing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Uncle Garrett was proud of her, the news of a painting being stolen and one of the museum\u2019s owner stealing another reached the rest of the world, which was maybe a stupid idea, but she\u2019d used an alias that nobody in her family would recognize. Bella was proud of her work; another asshole off the streets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She liked that feeling so much, that she was going to do that more often. But she had to be more careful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella quit her job after two more months of working for the museum and she was now enjoying the sun in a beautiful 17th century Botanical Garden with a nice cup of coffee and a good book, resetting her brain, relax in a great environment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGreat weather, isn\u2019t it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella let out a groan as she looked up to the direction of the voice. \u201cAren\u2019t you supposed to be elsewhere right now? Enjoying the lovely view on your wall?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

George scoffed as he sat down in the grass next to her. \u201cAs if I\u2019m stupid enough to keep it around.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She closed her book and took a sip of her coffee. \u201cYou didn\u2019t show up for work, the police are still looking for you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd if they find me, I\u2019ll have a perfectly good explanation, don\u2019t worry about me, I\u2019ve been doing this for a while,\u201d he laughed, shaking his head.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOh yeah? How long?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cA while,\u201d George replied playfully. \u201cI was saddened to hear that you didn\u2019t keep the item I originally went for, why\u2019s that?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBecause the boss beat women, and now he\u2019s off the streets for two years,\u201d she replied casually, taking another sip of her coffee. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut the item! I can\u2019t believe you did that!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere\u2019s more to this world than pretty things, and I already have everything I need,\u201d Bella replied with a shrug. \u201cI enjoy the finer things in life, make sure I have the funds to do so, but I do it for the fun, for the rush. This? Was one hell of a rush and I want to do it again someday.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

George hummed. \u201cPerhaps we could do something together?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella barked out a laugh. \u201cDream on.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou have no idea who I am, do you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella sighed as she put her book in her bag and got to her feet. George was a self-obsessed egomaniac who thought he was the shit. Such a turnoff. \u201cI know that you love yourself a little bit too much,\u201d she winked at him. \u201cHave a good day, George.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

George rose to his feet and smiled brightly at her as he clasped his hands behind him. \u201cCan I invite you for a drink?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She narrowed her eyes on him. His self-assurance was almost pouring out of his pores, it was sickening. \u201cSome other time, when you\u2019re not pretending to be someone you\u2019re not.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMia, that\u2019s what I do, who I am. What you are. We are always people we\u2019re not.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou, maybe. Not me,\u201d she replied, slightly annoyed. \u201cThis conversation is over,\u201d she added before heading towards the exit of the Botanical Gardens. She could feel that George was following her out, much like a puppy. \u201cWhat do you want, George?\u201d she asked tiredly. \u201cI\u2019m not in the mood to play games. I want to enjoy my freedom and have fun.\u201d Bella threw her empty cup in the trash can that they passed. \u201cAlone.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m bored.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNot my problem.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDo you know how hard it is to find like minded people? Who don\u2019t speak French? Come on, where are you from?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf I tell you, will you then leave?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMaybe,\u201d George grinned as he playfully ran his hand through his hair. \u201cI\u2019ll start. I\u2019m from Missouri.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHa! Called it!\u201d Bella punched the air with her fist. \u201cI knew it. You still have a slight accent.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYeah\u2026. You do,\u201d she nodded. \u201cI\u2019m from Las Vegas.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNice!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She shrugged as she stopped walking and turned to him. \u201cWill you leave me alone now?\u201d They were so close to the exit of the gardens, Bella couldn\u2019t wait to disappear into the crowd and to go home. Her balcony was peaceful enough and, despite the 2,1 million Parisians and give or take a million of tourists in Paris, the risk of running into George again would be zero.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHave one drink with me? One. That\u2019s all I ask.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou\u2019re like a child! Oh my god! No!\u201d Bella laughed. \u201cGo make yourself be un-bored.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s not a word.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is now,\u201d Bella said as she walked through the gates and into the street, silently cursing herself for leaving the garden at the wrong end, this was one of the exits on the Seine, even further away from her own apartment. She\u2019d have to cross the bridge to go to the metro station. Not that it was a crime, because the Seine was beautiful and all, but she wanted to get rid of George quickly, and this was not the way to get rid of him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unless she jumped into the water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But let\u2019s not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She decided to ignore him as she continued to walk onto the busy bridge. With the sun out, there were a lot of pedestrians on the bridge, and the amount of cars made it congested for them. It was a good thing the bridge wasn\u2019t a fragile looking thing, that was for sure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They were about half way on the bridge when George pulled her away and started pushing through the crowd while he dragged her along. She could feel a burning sensation in her arm, and was wondering what the hell George was doing. \u201cWhat are you doing?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou\u2019ve been shot, we need to get off the street,\u201d he quickly said, causing her to stumble, stop and look at her arm in shock. \u201cDon\u2019t look, keep running, come on,\u201d George coaxed her. \u201cI\u2019ll get you somewhere safe.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She wasn\u2019t sure how, or when, but Bella realized they were in a car now, and George was driving them to somewhere. \u201cI was shot?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou\u2019ve never been shot before?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She looked down at her arm and it wasn\u2019t hurting, instead blood was coming out of it and there was a tie around her arm. \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDon\u2019t remove that tie. If you do, I have to take you to the hospital, but I doubt you\u2019d want that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo, no hospital,\u201d she replied before realizing that she really didn\u2019t like blood. \u201cI need to throw up,\u201d she said as she stopped looking at her arm. She hadn\u2019t felt pain at first, but now it was hurting like a motherfucker. George didn\u2019t stop the car, and she didn\u2019t fancy rolling out of it, so instead, she threw up on the seat next to her. \u201cMaybe it\u2019s a good idea to mention I don\u2019t like blood?\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re almost there, I promise. Any idea who wants you dead?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMe dead? What makes you say this bullet wasn\u2019t for you?!\u201d Bella shot at him as she wiped her mouth with her sleeve. She recognized the area of being Montmartre, where George lived, and he was taking her further away from her own home, and that wasn\u2019t the plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBecause I\u2019m dead already,\u201d George replied grim. \u201cOnly two people know I\u2019m still alive and I trust them with my life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella felt the color drain from her face. \u201cStop the car.\u201d She had the feeling she needed to create as much distance between herself and George as possible. If someone faked their own death, it meant that they were trouble. \u201cStop the car, George!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re almost there. My friend will patch you up.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cStop the car!\u201d Bella reached into her bag, grabbed her baton and smashed the side window. \u201cIf you don\u2019t stop the car, it will be your head next.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

George sighed as he stopped the car in front of a traffic light, reached back and grabbed her baton before he started driving again. \u201cNice baton, I used to know someone who used it a lot, she was an insurance investigator,\u201d he noted with a fond smile on his face, almost as if was remembering something. \u201cSo, who wants you dead?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo one!\u201d She shot at him, hissing as a wave of heat shot through her arm. \u201cI\u2019m no one and I didn\u2019t piss anyone off enough to kill me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBecause you see, I\u2019m thinking that was a warning shot,\u201d George replied as he looked in the rearview mirror to check on Mia who was looking awfully pale. \u201cIt was obviously done with a silencer as we didn\u2019t hear a gunshot, and maybe the next time you\u2019re dead.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd who\u2019s to say it wasn\u2019t you who shot me?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI would never. I hate guns. And in Europe it\u2019s not allowed to carry a weapon like it is in the States,\u201d he replied calmly as he parked the car in a bay at the sidewalk and got out of the car. George then helped her out and pulled her along to his friend Luc. \u201cMy friend used to be a doctor, he still is, but for our kind of people. You can trust him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t even trust you!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t have to trust me, just trust that I\u2019m trying to help you get your arm fixed up and have you stay out of a hospital. You\u2019re safe here,\u201d George opened a door and pulled her through. \u201cLuc! Mon ami a \u00e9t\u00e9 bless\u00e9 par balle!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJe ne sais pas votre ami!\u201d Bella hissed. Fuck that. She wasn\u2019t his friend, but yes, she was shot. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNeal Flanigan, always bringing trouble to my doorstep,\u201d a man looking like a doctor appeared out of one of the rooms. He spoke with a French accent, but his English was brilliant. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s your name? Neal Flanigan?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

George, Neal, sighed. \u201cOne of them. You know me by George, he knows me by Neal.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou look like a Neal, not much of a George,\u201d Bella winced as Luc gently grabbed her arm. \u201cCareful!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Luc hummed as he guided her into a fully kitted medical room. \u201cHave a seat, I\u2019ll fix you right up. What\u2019s your name?\u201d He asked as he grabbed a syringe and jabbed Bella\u2019s arm. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMotherfucker!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI doubt that,\u201d Luc laughed. \u201cBut I do love your sense of humor, I\u2019m going to jab you some more,\u201d he said as he pushed the syringe in her arm again. \u201cHow about some pain relief?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPlease.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s your name?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella winced as he jabbed her arm again. She needed to focus. \u201cMia.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNice to meet you, Mia, my name is Luc and you\u2019re going to be alright.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

~o.O.o~<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With a few stitches in her arm and it all bandaged up, she and Neal or George or whatever his name was were standing outside Luc\u2019s office. First time was free of charge. She was still a bit woozy from the pain medication Luc had given her, but she just wanted to go home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDrive you home?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNot in that car,\u201d Bella said as she pointed at the car she had vomited in. \u201cAnd what\u2019s your name, truly?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

George sighed and hung his head in defeat. \u201cNeal. It\u2019s Neal. George is an alias of mine.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNice to meet you, Neal. I\u2019m Bella,\u201d Bella smiled at him. \u201cAnd if you could accompany me to Trocad\u00e9ro, that would be lovely. I\u2019ll have a friend pick me up.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe 16th? Wow, I thought you lived in Bondy!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMia did.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI could just take you home?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sighing, Bella leaned against the wall and looked at him. \u201cNeal, if you can get us a car that doesn\u2019t smell like vomit, you can take me home. I just want to go home and figure out what the hell is going on, and if it\u2019s not me, it\u2019s definitely you.\u201d Her house was secure enough for Neal not to be able to break in and she was sure to change the codes, just in case. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI can help you figure it out.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou\u2019ve done enough,\u201d she smiled at him. \u201cYou helped me get patched up! Go get us a car.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m not leaving you, you\u2019re still a bit woozy and your life might be in danger.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOh for fuck\u2019s sake! Fine, I\u2019ll call my friend, then YOU can deal with him,\u201d she said as she fished her phone out of her bag and dialled Liam\u2019s number. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHey Bella.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHey Liam,\u201d she replied. \u201cCan you come and pick me up in Montmartre? Rue Gabrielle.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was quiet for a moment before the questions started. \u201cWhat are you doing there? Is everything alright? Why can\u2019t you travel home on your own?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI wouldn\u2019t call if it weren\u2019t necessary.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFor fuck\u2019s sake, lass! I\u2019m on my way.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella put her phone away and looked at Neal. \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou have a friend called Liam?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She shrugged. \u201cHe\u2019s cool. He\u2019s my contact while I\u2019m in Paris if I need him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAlright,\u201d Neal said as he took place leaning against the wall next to Bella, while keeping his eyes on her. \u201cHow are you feeling?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFine.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s the adrenaline talking, it\u2019s not easy getting shot at and potentially having someone wanting to kill you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHave you been shot before?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYeah,\u201d he smiled at her. \u201cIt\u2019s no fun, but I also know that you shouldn\u2019t be alone, at least not until tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s fine, I have Liam.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIs he your boyfriend?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEw, no,\u201d she scrunched up her nose in disgust. \u201cCould you please stop trying to take advantage of the fact that my walls are slightly dented and interrogate me?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Neal shrugged. \u201cIt\u2019s fun.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo, it\u2019s not. I\u2019m asking you nicely.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not like you want to go back in that car and retrieve your baton, is it?\u201d He laughed. \u201cAnd don\u2019t worry, Luc knows people who can get rid of the car without a trace of any one of us ever having been in it. Especially after what just happened.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella remained quiet and closed her eyes for just a second before she could hear a car speed into the street and slam on the breaks upon seeing them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFuck me sideways,\u201d Liam said as he got out of the car. \u201cLooking good for a dead guy, Neal.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Neal let out a groan. \u201cOf course. Out of all the Liams in the world, it had to be you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou two know each other?\u201d Bella said confused as Liam lifted her up. \u201cI got shot.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cShe got shot,\u201d Neal nodded. \u201cDon\u2019t worry, Luc stitched her up and she has some antibiotics in her purse.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Liam helped Bella into the car and looked at Neal. \u201cHow did you two meet?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe both were working a con at the museum,\u201d Neal chuckled. \u201cAnd she has no clue who I am, which is weirdly refreshing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Liam grumbled. \u201cOf course you\u2019d be the idiot to steal a Picasso for himself\u2026 Who was the bullet meant for?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNot me, at least not that I know of.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd not for me!\u201d Bella called from the car, making herself comfortable on the backseat. \u201cI\u2019m the invisible girl, nobody of importance knows about me!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYeah, she\u2019s high,\u201d Liam sighed. \u201cLook, it\u2019s best if you come back with us, Neal, at least until we figure out she\u2019s safe\u2026 and you. Seeing as you\u2019re here and all.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOh, I\u2019m safe,\u201d Neal put up his hands. \u201cI don\u2019t have any enemies, haven\u2019t made new ones\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cUntil we\u2019re sure about that, you\u2019re coming with me. Bella\u2019s home is big enough for the two of you and it\u2019s as secure as a vault,\u201d Liam pointed at the car. \u201cGet in, Caffrey. Once you\u2019re safe, you can leave. And don\u2019t try to fight me, I\u2019ve had to forcefully take you with me before.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Neal pouted as he was being stared down by Liam and reluctantly got into the passenger seat. \u201cWell, some things never change\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t want him in my house,\u201d Bella muttered, using her bag as a pillow. \u201cI don\u2019t trust him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cRight now, you don\u2019t have anything to say about this, Bella. I do,\u201d Liam replied as he started the car and drove off. \u201cI\u2019ll explain later.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOkay,\u201d she sighed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

~o.O.o~<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There was food in her dream. She couldn\u2019t quite figure out what kind of food, but the smell was delicious. She followed the scent of the food as it lured her through her house, until she turned a corner and a sharp pain appeared in her arm. Looking at it, it was bleeding and it kept on bleeding. There was no way to stop it and eventually, her arm fell off. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBella, wake up,\u201d Liam gently shook her. \u201cIt\u2019s alright, lass, you\u2019re safe, just wake up.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy arm,\u201d she whined.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI know, just wake up, you\u2019re having a bad dream.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella\u2019s eyes shot open and she sat up with a jolt, her head slightly more clear than what it had been previously and she was so hungry, she could eat a horse. She rubbed her eyes and looked at Liam for a moment, before cocking her head in confusion. \u201cYou don\u2019t cook, so who\u2019s cooking?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNeal.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou brought him into my home?!\u201d she exclaimed loudly. \u201cI don\u2019t know him and you invited him over? Have you lost your mind?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBella, breathe,\u201d Liam sat down on the coffee table in front of her and placed his hands on her shoulders. \u201cI know the rules Garrett gave you. I wouldn\u2019t invite anyone in here if that person wasn\u2019t safe. I know Neal. I\u2019ve worked with him before, kept him safe during one of his cons, and he\u2019s a good guy,\u201d he said calmly. \u201cI promise you, he\u2019s not here to hurt you, nor will he steal anything from this house, because if he does, he knows I will come after him and he doesn\u2019t want that to happen.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere is a complete stranger in my house. Cooking.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd he\u2019s going to stay until we found out who\u2019s trying to kill who. It\u2019s not as if you don\u2019t have the space, Bella.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHe faked his own death.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFor a fresh start, which he deserved. 2.1 million people in Paris and you happen to run into the famous Neal Caffrey, who goes by the name Neal Flanigan now. He\u2019s not even Irish. I\u2019m offended.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella scratched her head as she tried to think. \u201cI\u2019ve never heard of him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cReally? He\u2019s one of the greatest con artists of all time, I figured he was part of your teachings.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella didn\u2019t say anything as she got to her feet and walked to her office to get her laptop, her mind racing with everything that had happened that day, and also wondering if she put her stuff away now that she was going to entertain \u2018one of the greatest con artists of all time\u2019 for a while. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat are you doing?\u201d Liam asked as she walked back into the room and sat back down on the couch. \u201cGoing to google him?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella huffed. \u201cNo, I\u2019m going to see if I can get the CCTV of that bridge.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Liam took her laptop and shook his head. \u201cWhat you\u2019re going to do is have some orange juice and food.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t see why she can\u2019t do both,\u201d Neal appeared out of nowhere with a glass of orange juice and handed Bella her laptop back. \u201cFood\u2019s ready in twenty minutes, how are you feeling?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThanks,\u201d Bella replied as she drank her orange juice in one go as she kept looking at Neal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDon\u2019t worry, Liam already warned me that he\u2019ll break every bone in my body should I do something stupid,\u201d Neal assured her, a smile on his face, his eyes sparkling. \u201cNice digs, though!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She nodded as she opened her laptop and got to work. Bella was still working on getting access when Neal came to get her for food, but encouraged her to bring the laptop to the table. She was surprised by the plates on the table, all looking restaurant ready. \u201cWow, who are you trying to impress?\u201d Bella said as she sat down and carefully maneuvered her laptop on the table, then remembering her nightmare as she had another whiff of the food. \u201cLet\u2019s hope my arm doesn\u2019t fall off,\u201d she muttered to herself. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou didn\u2019t have that many supplies, so I winged it. I saut\u00e9ed the chicken in a port reduction and I saut\u00e9ed onions and mushrooms with some garlic in butter for on the side. There\u2019s pasta or french fries to choose from as your starch. As vegetables I grilled some asparagus.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt looks really fancy,\u201d Bella nodded. \u201cThank you for the food.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNeal was pretending to be a chef when we first met,\u201d Liam said as he grabbed a chair and sat down at the table. \u201cPreparing food for a wealthy family who had something he wanted.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAllegedly,\u201d Neal pointed out. \u201cIt was never proven that I was the one who stole their 17th century bronze statue of a woman kneeling.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt wasn\u2019t even worth that much,\u201d Liam laughed. \u201cTheir chandelier cost more than that!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSometimes stealing something for fun is fun, I just liked the statue,\u201d he sighed as he, too, sat down at the table.. \u201cIt\u2019s all gone now,\u201d he lamented. \u201cMaybe I should steal back everything I lost…\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou\u2019re dead, maybe it\u2019s a very bad idea,\u201d Liam replied as he took a bite from his food. \u201cShouldn\u2019t you be retired anyway?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAh, but this is so much more fun,\u201d Neal laughed. \u201cGetting in trouble on occasion\u2026 meeting new people\u2026 enjoying life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDon\u2019t you miss your old life?\u201d Bella asked as she quickly took a bite and was surprised that it tasted incredible, too. She didn\u2019t take her eyes off of her laptop as she was very close to getting onto the CCTV system and once that happened, she\u2019d drop even eating. She was going to prove that someone was after Neal, and not her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSometimes, it\u2019s just people that you miss,\u201d Neal replied. \u201cI\u2019m actually thoroughly enjoying myself, keeping busy and such. Paris is such a wonderful city where everything is possible. If I get bored of this place, which I doubt, but I might go to Rome next.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cItaly is overrated,\u201d Bella replied as she took another bite of her food.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou need to inform Garrett about what happened, Bella,\u201d Liam took a sip of his wine. He knew Bella was likely going to crash later that evening, she still looked like she could do with a nap.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOh hell no. Not until we\u2019re sure,\u201d she shook her head. \u201cIf I call him and tell him what happened, he\u2019ll be on the first plane here or demand I return immediately.\u201d When she saw Neal\u2019s questionable look on his face she continued. \u201cMy uncle.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She finished her plate and with one last keystroke, she was into the CCTV system. It was easy to find the bridge she was shot at, rewound the time and hit record once she had found her and Neal on the bridge. \u201cHmm,\u201d she hummed as she pushed her empty plate to the side and positioned her laptop better. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat? You see anything?\u201d Neal got up from his chair and positioned himself behind her, leaning in closely to look at the screen. Bella moved her head so she could look at him. \u201cHave you ever heard of personal space?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOf course, but your laptop doesn\u2019t have that big of a screen.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a 17 inch screen! And with the quality of CCTV cameras these days, it\u2019ll be crystal clear, so take a step back or sit down next to me,\u201d she didn\u2019t take her eyes off of him, forcing him to sit down before she disconnected to the CCTV and opened her recording in one of her special programs dedicated to make things a bit sharper, clearer. And, most importantly, she could zoom into a still of the video to hopefully see who took a shot at her. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And then prove it hadn\u2019t been meant for her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere,\u201d Neal said as he pointed at the screen. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella took a screenshot and zoomed in on the picture. \u201cHe didn\u2019t even put a mask on or whatever,\u201d she muttered. The man had come close, very close, on that bridge and he was in full view of the camera. \u201cRecognize him, Neal?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNope.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLiam?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Liam moved over and looked over her shoulder. Scratching his head he let out a sigh. \u201cDoesn\u2019t look too familiar to me\u2026 Maybe Garrett knows.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOr, I could use facial recognition software.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou have that?\u201d Neal\u2019s eyes widened in surprise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella shrugged. \u201cI have access to more things you can imagine. The only downside is that I can only do it like ten minutes at a time so I\u2019d have to narrow it down, or keep switching VPNs in case they catch me,\u201d she added. \u201cI may be good, but not blocking the FBI kinda good. Their intrusion specialists are a bitch. Not to mention following the rotating incoming IP through a VPN, but also once she was in the system, they would work hard to kick her out. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe FBI?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOr CIA, Interpol\u2026 Local government and law enforcement is easy but\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s good to have limitations.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not a limitation, it\u2019s just a bitch to hack into them and stay connected, and unless you know someone who works for one of those agencies and owes you a favor, we\u2019ll have to do this slowly and hope that his face pings.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou were shot at, and the shooter didn\u2019t show hesitation to shoot you,\u201d Neal said, looking at her. \u201cHe looks like a pro and professionals don\u2019t miss. He\u2019ll come after you again. You really must have pissed someone off.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella closed her laptop and started to clear the table. \u201cSee, that\u2019s where you\u2019re wrong. I\u2019m nobody and haven\u2019t done anything to piss someone off. Stop saying that I have, this is getting annoying.\u201d She was happy that the two men shut up and after she cleared the table, she grabbed her laptop and headed to her bedroom. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

She wanted to be alone. She could feel how the gravity of the shooting was sinking in, and she was worried that the person who shot her was a cleaner from Italy who worked for the family. Even her uncle Garrett was afraid of them as there was no hiding from them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yes, Bella was nobody. She was the youngest of the Cullens and she sometimes fixed their shit, drawing the line at the dead bodies as she couldn\u2019t stand the sight of blood. She was invisible. Even in the circuit, nobody knew that the Cullens had another child. She was invisible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

She was Bella Swan to her friends, and Bella Swan didn\u2019t have enemies. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella locked the door of her bedroom and decided to take a shower first. She was still wearing her bloodied clothes and she felt icky. She was going to worry about other things later, she wanted to shake the bad feeling that she had about the shooting. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Bella left to live with Uncle Garrett, being an adult and all, she was told by her siblings that nobody left the family and got away with it. Nobody. They didn\u2019t appreciate her wanting a life outside the family, they never had.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She didn\u2019t want her life and freedom to be fucked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Chapter 01 Bella closed her laptop with a wide smile on her face before taking a sip of her glass as she looked over the vineyard that her uncle kept as a business. While his winery made an excellent wine, subtle and complex, she didn\u2019t drink during the day, and…<\/p>\n

Continue reading<\/i><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":933,"parent":935,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-939","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"yoast_head":"\nChapter 01 - MeekoBuggy<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Chapter 01 - MeekoBuggy\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Chapter 01 Bella closed her laptop with a wide smile on her face before taking a sip of her glass as she looked over the vineyard that her uncle kept as a business. While his winery made an excellent wine, subtle and complex, she didn\u2019t drink during the day, and... 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Sure, she made a lot of people unhappy but her best friend Jacob had been right; she had to stop making other people happy and think of herself for once. Becoming\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/meekobuggy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/missed_connections.jpg?fit=1150%2C575&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/meekobuggy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/missed_connections.jpg?fit=1150%2C575&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/meekobuggy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/missed_connections.jpg?fit=1150%2C575&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/meekobuggy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/missed_connections.jpg?fit=1150%2C575&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/meekobuggy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/missed_connections.jpg?fit=1150%2C575&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":299,"url":"https:\/\/meekobuggy.com\/?page_id=299","url_meta":{"origin":939,"position":1},"title":"Chapter 05","author":"Buggy","date":"August 14, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Chapter 05 Mystic Falls, February 12th, 2015 It had been nearly two years since she saved Damon from desiccating himself because he didn\u2019t want to live without Elena. Nearly two years since she and Kol got married after a thousand years. Life was pretty good, her trees were doing well.\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/meekobuggy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/woodnymph.jpg?fit=1150%2C647&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/meekobuggy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/woodnymph.jpg?fit=1150%2C647&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/meekobuggy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/woodnymph.jpg?fit=1150%2C647&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/meekobuggy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/woodnymph.jpg?fit=1150%2C647&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/meekobuggy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/woodnymph.jpg?fit=1150%2C647&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1257,"url":"https:\/\/meekobuggy.com\/?page_id=1257","url_meta":{"origin":939,"position":2},"title":"Chapter 01","author":"Buggy","date":"December 30, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Chapter 01 It was no secret that dreary old Forks had secrets of the supernatural kind, but nobody took those rumors for facts. Just rumors and legends. Bella never liked it in Forks; while the forests were thick and green, the climate was terrible; she did better in warmer climates.\u00a0\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/meekobuggy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/foxandswan.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/meekobuggy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/foxandswan.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/meekobuggy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/foxandswan.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/meekobuggy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/foxandswan.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/meekobuggy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/foxandswan.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":150,"url":"https:\/\/meekobuggy.com\/?page_id=150","url_meta":{"origin":939,"position":3},"title":"Chapter 10","author":"Buggy","date":"August 13, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Chapter 10 She had spent the entire week trying to learn the spell that would transform Jasper and Peter into regular vampires. Regular. The word was quite stupid, there wasn\u2019t anything regular about vampires. Dead people surviving mostly off of blood. Immortal. \u2018Regular vampire\u2019 in this case meant, no longer\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/meekobuggy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Sanctuaire_sliderimage.png?fit=1150%2C575&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/meekobuggy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Sanctuaire_sliderimage.png?fit=1150%2C575&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/meekobuggy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Sanctuaire_sliderimage.png?fit=1150%2C575&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/meekobuggy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Sanctuaire_sliderimage.png?fit=1150%2C575&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/meekobuggy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Sanctuaire_sliderimage.png?fit=1150%2C575&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":227,"url":"https:\/\/meekobuggy.com\/?page_id=227","url_meta":{"origin":939,"position":4},"title":"Chapter 03","author":"Buggy","date":"August 13, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Chapter 03 \u201cThe Cullens didn\u2019t like children,\u201d Cami said as they all sat in Klaus\u2019 study. \u201cIn fact, all the human women in his cult were made barren so that there wouldn\u2019t be any accidents. From an early age, Bella was taught not to make any noise as not to\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/meekobuggy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Fractured-Marionette-banner.png?fit=1024%2C768&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/meekobuggy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Fractured-Marionette-banner.png?fit=1024%2C768&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/meekobuggy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Fractured-Marionette-banner.png?fit=1024%2C768&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/meekobuggy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Fractured-Marionette-banner.png?fit=1024%2C768&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":291,"url":"https:\/\/meekobuggy.com\/?page_id=291","url_meta":{"origin":939,"position":5},"title":"Chapter 03","author":"Buggy","date":"August 14, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Chapter 03 Forks.\u00a0 June 4th, 2013 \u201cRise and shine, Bella!\u201d\u00a0 \u201cUgh,\u201d Bella resisted the urge to throw a pillow at her friend\u2019s head. Her sunny disposition always were a pain in the ass and just because she was staying at their house, didn\u2019t mean that she had to be awakened\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/meekobuggy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/woodnymph.jpg?fit=1150%2C647&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/meekobuggy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/woodnymph.jpg?fit=1150%2C647&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/meekobuggy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/woodnymph.jpg?fit=1150%2C647&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/meekobuggy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/woodnymph.jpg?fit=1150%2C647&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/meekobuggy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/woodnymph.jpg?fit=1150%2C647&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/meekobuggy.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/939","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/meekobuggy.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/meekobuggy.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/meekobuggy.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/meekobuggy.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=939"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/meekobuggy.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/939\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":945,"href":"https:\/\/meekobuggy.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/939\/revisions\/945"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/meekobuggy.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/935"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/meekobuggy.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/933"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/meekobuggy.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=939"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}