Thank you to Pixiehoff for her help writing and editing this story.
Thank you to KatieHoney for proofreading this story.
Infamous international thief Isla Clarke crept along the outside wall in the back garden of Spencer Mansion quietly in the cover of night in an all black clothing ensemble, her hair held back in a tight ponytail. Isla was a slim attractive woman standing at five foot seven with red hair, green eyes and healthy firm B cup breast size. She was fluent in English, French, Italian and Spanish. She heard the party being held in the great hall, ballroom and balcony above her, but she wasn't here for that.
This was the home of Lady Katherine (Katie) Spencer, famous single heiress and owner of the Silver Ice Diamond, and that is why Isla was here. Lady Spencer was a young woman of only 28 born into fortune and fame and sole owner since the passing of her parents in an auto accident. Her family had been part of Britain's high society for well over a century, everybody knew about her and all the myths and legends about her family and its wealth. The mansion was built in the Victorian Era from 1842-1844.
Since then upgrades had been added, including sound proofing the floors and walls, and full plumbing. From contacts she knew the diamond was in the safe in the study. The hard part was getting to the safe without being detected. She was one of the best safe crackers around and this was a combination safe so opening the safe wasn't a problem. Her employer Harper was paying her $4,000,000 for this job. She never got the last name of her employer, just Harper. A striking woman with long blonde hair and amber eyes. Her personality and demeanor was strong and dominant. Harper had heard of Isla from her sources that she was the best thief in all of Britain so she hired her and advanced her $100,000.
She peered around a corner and saw some guests talking and taking in the views from the balcony with drinks and cigars or cigarettes in their hands. She ran back to a designated spot where she had a suitcase hidden. She opened the suitcase and quickly began stripping off her clothes. In the suitcase was a lovely black evening gown, with a purse, shoes and a make-up pallet. She quickly got dressed and put on makeup, then stuffed her old clothes back in the suitcase and sealed it. She looked into the purse to make sure the combination numbers she found from research were still there. She knew the numbers, just not the order, but did have ten possible options that her expert colleagues suggested she try, after those she was on her own. Then she calmly but swiftly walked as it was a rather cool night to the front of the mansion up the staircase to the main entrance where the doormen were standing. They were about to stop her.
"Sono stato invitato dall'ereditiera," she calmly said and quickly walked by them.
Neither of the men spoke Italian so they were stunned and really didn't know what to say back to her and just let her enter.
"Works every time," she whispered to herself.
Isla entered the great hall and looked around at all the people mingling with drinks in their hands. Men dressed in suits and tuxedos, some with white gloves, women in their finest evening gowns, she blended in perfectly. The walls of the room were a dark emerald green color adorned with intricate moulding, adding depth and visual interest to the space, elaborate ceiling medallions and ornate chandeliers.
"May I help you ma'am?" Came a voice in a thick English accent from behind her, startling her, causing her to jump.
She turned to see a distinguished man in a waiter uniform with a tray with drinks on it and name tag that said 'Nige' on it.
"Thank you Nige," she replied and took a drink.
She started casing the place seeing if there was a way she could move around the study without being noticed. She walked around looking for all the ways to get in and out quickly. She decided to take a chance, she shot back the last of her drink, put down her glass and slowly started walking towards the empty hall, always looking behind her and kept watching the crowd and to make sure nobody was following her. She crept along the wall. She wasn't sure which door was to the study so she would find it through the process of elimination. She opened the first door and slipped inside. She opened her purse and took out her mini flashlight and started scanning the room with it. Each wall was covered with books and shelves. She quickly turned off her flashlight, quietly exited the room and silently closed the door.
"Library,"she whispered.
Looking towards the party once again she glided across the wall to the next door. She slowly turned the knob and entered the room again closing the door behind her and with her flashlight she saw this room was a billiard room with numerous tables and cues and chalk scoreboards lined the walls. She exited again, and again looked towards the party to see if she was being followed. She looked back down the hall and continued hugging the wall to the next door, opened it and turned on her flashlight, looked inside and saw it was the study and began to enter. Just then the private security guard to Lady Spencer, Cynthia Manning turned the corner and saw the silhouette figure enter the room. Cynthia has been Lady Spencer's private security and bodyguard for the past seven years when her parents passed away. She stood at 5 foot 5, with brown eyes and black hair (which always had a shine to it) pulled back in a tight neat bun. She was dressed in her usual black dress pants (with black pantyhose underneath tonight due to the unusual coolness of the night) and button up white blouse, and her weapon belt. She drew her pistol and slowly walked towards the door of the study.
In the study Isla was crouched next to a bookshelf where she found the hidden safe. Hastily she was trying the different combination order on her list and lucky number seven 34...6...98...67...83 on her list was in the correct order. She retrieved the diamond but nothing else. The diamond was all she wanted, and quickly put it in her purse.
"Stop right there," came a voice with an English accent.
Isla froze.
"Stand up with your hands above your head,"came the voice again.
Isla stood up slowly and locked eyes with Cynthia who had her pistol pointed at her and Isla smiled at her.
