Secret Keeper: Knight Agency, #1

One

Jane opened her eyes and groaned a little. Twelve o’clock, noon, her usual time to get up, but this night — if night it could be called — had been a little shorter than normally. Yet, she got up from the bed, grabbed her phone off the nightstand, and activated an app on her way to the bathroom.

Good morning, Steven.

Good morning, Jane. The man at the other end of the line put a lot of emphasis on the word ‘morning,’ as he usually did. They both knew the reason why she rarely rose before noon.

What’s on the schedule for today? Jane stepped into the shower stall and turned the water on. She kept it cold for a moment in order to wake up fully.

Well, according to your calendar kickboxing, a manicure, and a dinner with Richard.

And according to your calendar? She turned the water to warm and started proper showering.

It’s time for the Regency Coup.

Are you sure? You have postponed it several times already.

Yes. My gut says it’s the right day.

Jane hummed. Steven’s gut was more reliable than any facts, especially when it came to special jobs like the Regency Coup. Then I will have to get out of the date with Richard, I guess. I think my dear aunt will have to take the blame again. She’s very useful that way … also very imaginary.

Jane detected a hint of amusement in Steven’s voice. She’s a marvellous woman … I would date her if she were real. You won’t regret it, though, will you?

Why should I? Jane turned the water off, grabbed a towel, and stepped out of the stall. To be honest, I start to get bored with him. She dried herself off, doing the pixie cut last. Short hair had a lot of advantages, especially to her. I might have to hand him over to Cynthia. They both love fashion and clubbing, they should be fine together. You’re not going to tell me it’s amoral to sleep with so many men, are you?

Why should I? Nothing can happen because of it, so do as you please. I just find it tiresome to keep up with their names.

Then ignore their names.

I can’t … I have to do a background check on them, after all.

Jane kept her amusement in check. I’m sorry to be such a bother to you, Steven.

Oh, you can bother me any time, Jane. You have half an hour for breakfast, so I suggest you eat slowly … it’s better for your digestion. Then you should take your car to the kickboxing training, so you can drive back and change into something more suitable before your manicure appointment.

Perfect planning, as always. Until later, Steven. I’ll be up for a complete briefing after the manicure.

Until later, Jane. I will do some last-minute checking.

Jane turned the app off and walked back into her bedroom, choosing a few pieces of clothing for the morning. As suggested, she took her time with the breakfast.

* * *

Jane drove her light-blue mini to the old warehouse where the boxing club resided. She had been a member for three years already and trained regularly, so none of the men in the large gymnasium took too much notice of her or tried to get too close. Those who had in the past, usually had spent a couple of weeks without training for health reasons. She trained on her own, preferring not to show the full extent of her abilities in public. After the last mission, she had decided to buff up a little. Jane gave her punching bag a harsh beating, first with her bare fists, then with her gloved fists, and finally with her legs and feet. At the back of her head, she was aware that several men in the room were watching her, even more so as she wore some simple, tight fitting yoga pants and a top which left her midriff bare. She didn’t mind the attention alone — if she had, she would have worn something more covering and much wider. She only minded it when they thought they could take liberties with her. After more than one hour, Jane stopped training and left the gym. She usually didn’t shower there, especially on days when she had other appointments to keep.

She drove back home, took a long shower, and changed into something a little less casual, but more girly and fashionable. She checked her watch and went back down to the car, driving to her manicure next. She declined artificial nails, as always, but opted for gel nails in taupe instead. Her manicurist wasn’t too surprised, since she’d been doing Jane’s nails for over two years already and knew her customer. Still, she asked again every time. Jane couldn’t blame her, it was unusual for a woman in the circles in which she moved. Most of the women she knew had long artificial nails, not short natural ones, but for her true occupation, long nails would have been extremely impractical. Her usual explanation was that she did a lot of sports and sports less suited for long nails than jogging or yoga. As a matter of fact, she did neither of those. After the manicure, Jane slipped behind the wheel of her mini again. She paused for a moment, admiring her new taupe gel nails, then she turned the ignition key and put the car in gear. It was beyond her why people should prefer to drive automatic.

Call Richard, she instructed her board computer. It was quite a bit more advanced than a regular one.

He answered the call quickly. Hello, Jane. How are you today?

I’m fine, thanks. How are you? Jane dropped her voice slightly, losing the curt, clear pattern, sounding more like people would expect a woman of her age and supposed background to sound.

Fine, too. He sounded a bit bored. Are you already preparing for our dinner?

That’s why I’m calling. She heaved a sigh. My dear Aunt Agatha is having one of her imaginary sicknesses again.

Oh no … and you have to go and see her?

Well, she is my very, very dear aunt with an awful lot of wealth. If I want any of her money, I better cater to her wishes. And when she feels like being sick, I have the duty to come and hold her hand and pour her that terrible herbal tea she drinks when she feels sick.

He clearly felt dejected. Of course. I had such a nice table reserved and was going to take you to a club afterwards.

That’s too bad, it would have been such a great night. She paused for a moment, just for the effect. Why don’t you call up Cynthia?

You’d be okay with that?

Sure. Call her up, take her to dinner, bed her, marry her, whatever. Just forget me as I’m already forgetting you. She’s just over Alex and she could do with a great night in the city.

I’ll give her a call later … have to get this face mask off now.

And I’ll give you a call when my aunt is better … bye! Jane drew out the bye to at least three syllables, to stay in character.

Call terminated, the computer announced a few seconds later.

Good. Call Cynthia. Jane swerved around a slow lorry in front of her.

Hi, Jane! Cynthia sounded hyper, as always. Jane had suspected her of doing drugs when they first met, but knew better now. Cynthia just was hyper.

Hi Cynthia. Listen … Richard is going to call you later to invite you for dinner and, probably, clubbing. I had to call off our date again, because of auntie.

That sucks … you’re okay with us going out? Do I detect a hint of interest there?

Yes, I suggested it. I’ve been neglecting poor Richie … what with my auntie being sick so often lately. He really should go out and have fun and you … what with Alex finally in the past … should as well. So I thought … why not the two of you together?

But what if … more … happens?

Honestly, it’s okay. It’s what I hope for. If it happens, it happens. It’s my fault, really, for having to drop him so often.

I could do with a night in London … good dinner, clubbing … and Richie is so cute.

See? Perfect. Jane just made it across a traffic light before it turned red.

And it’s okay for you? The date … and if more should happen?

Absolutely okay. You know how I am with men … and I have to cater to auntie, since I’m currently in for most of her money. And lately, she always said she was about to die … shame she never kept that promise.

Cynthia giggled a little. We really need to get together for a long talk soon.

As soon as my auntie is better, I’ll give you a call. We should do a spa day together, they’re always fun.

Yes … and with Myra and Stacy.

Yes, all the gang together! I’d better not block your phone too long … Richard might call. Bye, Cynthia!

Bye! Cynthia beat Jane by several more syllables in her ‘bye.’

Call terminated, the computer announced again.

Jane sighed, regaining her natural speech pattern. And not a moment too soon. Keeping up pretence is tedious sometimes, but it’s part of the job.

* * *

Jane took a sharp left turn and approached the driveway of her apartment complex. She quickly and efficiently manoeuvred the mini into her space in the basement parking lot, then she took the lift up to her penthouse apartment. The moment the door dropped closed behind her, she pulled out her phone and connected to Steven again.

Okay, I’m back home from the manicure.

Good. You’ve been doing a lot of kickboxing lately.

I want to buff up a little, after Jakarta.

Jane, you’re never going to be as strong as that man was, he was enhanced … and brute strength isn’t your style.

She sighed. I know … I just do not appreciate being thrown through a room like a ragdoll.

Nobody appreciates being thrown through a room like a ragdoll … and you did beat him in the end.

Yes. Okay, I’ll do more parcours for the next couple of weeks. I feel better with that, anyway.

Very good.

Jane reached her computer and pushed her phone — which looked like an average smartphone, but was far more sophisticated — into a docking station. Okay, I’m at my computer, let’s start the briefing.

Yes, let’s start it. The computer came to life, several windows opened by themselves, including a video chat and several blueprints. The older, bald man in the chat window gave a quick salute.

Jane returned it. You look younger every day, Steven.

He playfully shook his finger at her. Don’t mock me, brat.

Oh, but I mean it, old man. She had never been able to find out how old her handler really was. She knew he had to be considerably older than her, since they’d known each other for fifteen years now and he hadn’t been young when they’d first met. Yet, Steven didn’t seem to age, perhaps because he shaved his head and thus didn’t show any greying hair or loss of it. I’m ready, let’s go over everything and see how we can pull this coup off.

You know the basics, of course. We have suspected Lady Evelyn and her husband, Lord Edward, of stealing and selling technology for quite a while. Several times, we were supposed to go in and try to find their collection of data. It’s not on their computers, Branch Four has checked it.

Jane nodded. Branch Four were the tech specialists, the newest addition to the Knight Agency. They’d be stupid to keep such data on a computer which can go online. If they can steal information through the internet, so can everyone else.

Exactly. We have narrowed it down now to one piece of jewellery … this medallion. A picture of an intricate golden medallion turned up on the screen. Whenever Lady Evelyn is leaving the house to contact some of her employees or buyers, she wears it, but not on other occasions. It’s not a keepsake, either, she bought it only three years ago.

Is it a USB device?

Probably not, but it might hide something, perhaps an SD card or something similar. We will find out about it as soon as we get our hands on this object.

So this is my target tonight. Do we have a facsimile or do I just steal it?

I have put a detailed copy of it in your drop box. You can pick it up on your way later.

Very good, because stealing only one piece of jewellery … and something not very old or expensive … would be suspicious.

That’s the point, yes. Steven paused for a moment. We have postponed this coup several times because the couple’s movement patterns are difficult to calculate. They are quite erratic … even though I’m sure there’s a plan to them. Be it as it may, we know they will be at the opera tonight, which gives you roughly two hours for this coup, more than enough time.

Which opera are they watching?

The one with the jewel song.

Jane rolled her eyes. Faust, then.

I’m glad to see you remember your lessons, Jane. Indeed, Faust.

You forced me to listen to that song until I thought my ears were about to bleed.

It’s a difficult song and few singers who tackle it really have the necessary voice. But enough of opera … they have a date with two other couples, so it’s highly unlikely they will back out of it. They won’t be at home this evening and that gives you the chance to break in and get the medallion.

How will I get in best?

I suggest per glider. I know you don’t really like doing it that way in the city, but it’s the best way. We have new moon, hence the sky will be dark and you will not be spotted easily during approach or retreat. There are quite some useful air currents between the buildings in the area, so you will find it easy enough to land on the right roof.

But they will have security up on the roof.

Only cameras, I checked it myself. You can outsmart them easily enough in the dark. I marked their position on the blueprints.

That’s that, then. Your suggested route inside the building?

The blueprints of the building enlarged. You go in through the door leading to the roof. It’s self-locking, so I suggest you put something in it to keep it open for quick retreat. Use something which you can destroy from afar, if it becomes necessary.

Noted.

Crack the lock to the emergency staircase and go down to the seventh floor, where they have the only apartment. Pick the lock on the door and go inside. There’s no camera surveillance on the staircase, but the doors are connected to the alarm, so be careful. There’s one camera on the floor itself, but it’s aimed at the elevator which you will not use. They have an alarm in the apartment, too, but it’s a standard model from Securitas and easy to deactivate.

Securitas? That’s basically an invitation to professionals.

Indeed. The medallion is, most likely, kept in the bedroom. The room in question became highlighted. Pick it up and leave again, either by the door and up to the roof or by the balcony in the living room. The glider can manage both.

If I go out over the balcony, I need to destroy the door blocker on the roof from afar, so that people don’t realize someone came in that way. What about the alarms?

The one in the staircase will reactivate after about half an hour … keep that in mind in case you need longer and want to return to the roof. You can prime the one in the apartment yourself and leave … that’s how it’s done normally as well, after all.

I’d have to be quick, if I go out over the balcony, but yes, it’s possible.

You can prime from the balcony door as well … for the night … before you slip out.

Of course … good, then I think I will prefer the balcony if possible. Jane mustered the blueprints again. Do they have in-house security?

Yes, but only on call. If you manage to avoid the cameras on the roof and don’t set off the alarms, you have nothing to worry about, they have no patrol routes. Steven paused for a moment. And if you don’t manage to avoid the cameras and set off the alarms, I will be deeply ashamed of you, brat, because I taught you better.

You did and I will do my very best not to make you feel ashamed, old man. Not to mention that I don’t want to tangle with the security or get caught on any cameras.

I know you will do your best, Jane, you never do less than that.

Which building should I start from?

I suggest this one. A street map of the area enlarged and one of the buildings became highlighted. You can easily enter it at night and it doesn’t have any security features on the roof.

Then all I need to do is to dress accordingly, pick up the glider, the tools, and the replacement medallion, and get this coup done.

That should be enough.

Yes, it should. I’ll study the blueprints again and go over the Securitas files we have, just to be on the safe side. When does the opera begin?

At half past eight. They will leave between eight and quarter past. The building you start from is close enough, you can watch for them leaving.

True. Jane checked the computer clock. I will prepare now.

Good luck, Jane.

Thanks, Steven. Bye.

Bye. He threw another quick salute, then the chat window disappeared,