Audrey needed to spend the next two days planning her next move. James knew her face now, and probably her plan, and the man was certainly smart—all things to be respected rather than underestimated. The strategy would be even more daring, and dangerous. Every detail mattered.<br/><br/>Of course, everything would be more fun this way. Audrey did so love a challenge, not to mention the trill!<br/><br/>It needed to happen at night. Without any hope of disguising herself, the element of surprise was no longer available. Audrey would need to sneak about the old-fashioned way—a good and clever burglary. Everything needed to be planned down to the second. The approach and entry into the manor would be easy, as would breaking and entering. The problems once she got into the mansion, however, were going to be a doozy.<br/><br/>First she needed to find the painting, and two she needed to escape with it in hand. Guards were likely to be all over in the interior. Despite Audrey’s research and surveillance of the manor she would have to do her best to find the artwork quickly, and then hope that she could use an even quicker exit. Unfortunately, paintings were not small objects and carrying an item such as that would require a bit in ingenuity—especially since the frame itself was heavy and unwieldy. No one ever took painting with the frame, but that was part of what made this particular piece so interesting—the frame was part of the worth. Sadly, the frame was worth almost as much as the Van der Helst itself. Her exit strategy was near impossible.<br/><br/>Oh well, she was Audrey LaBelle. She would absolutely succeed.<br/><br/>Sighing, Audrey finds that she is glad for the cover of dark. The air is cool and moist as her body sprawls along the thick branches of the large oak tree. With a tiny set of binoculars she scopes the garden and the second-level terrace, knowing that older building would give her at least three ways to scale the walls, and allow her to enter into what appeared to be a guest bedroom. The intel from the past several days was informative, and not only was Mr. Thackery a bachelor, but he was away on business often. The chances of him not even being at home were fairly high.<br/><br/>It was her one ace-in-the-hole. If the man himself was gone, then that painting was as good as gone.<br/><br/>Here’s hoping that he is gone.<br/><br/>Carefully, she slips her binoculars into her utility belt, and after a quick check to ensure that everything is where it should be--lockpick, bypass scanner (of her own make and design), and a myriad of other expert thief-tools—she carefully slips from the branch of the tree and drops herself down onto the soft grass below.<br/><br/>Slowly she looks about for anything that might raise an alarm. Thackery has an impressive security system complete with lights, motion detectors, and even cameras. Most of that should have already been taken care of, however. Earlier in the day, Audrey hacked into his main system and managed to have the feeds running on yesterday’s streams (good golly, thank goodness for the digital age!). Unless someone was paying attention to the timestamp it would be unlikely that anyone would notice the problem for awhile yet.<br/><br/>Regardless, she moves slowly and carefully, grateful for the ease of movement granted to her from her choice of tonight’s attire: black yoga pants and matching top, and thin jacket. Everything hugs her body, and her shoes are small and custom-made for quiet. Though Audrey is loathe to wear gloves, tonight she does so that her crime leaves as little evidence as possible. She is breaking the law to recover the stolen. Unfortunately, two wrongs did not make a right and Audrey doesn’t plan on going to jail anytime soon.<br/><br/>It really is… just a painting. Not even an interesting one at that.<br/><br/>As expected, the house was quite easy to enter. Climbing the trellis was nothing, and picking the balcony lock even easier. Careful to make sure that her shoes are clean and dry, she enters the house and makes her way into the halls. Audrey stops only long enough to gather her bearings. The painting, if it is of personal value as she expects it is, will be somewhere Thackery can view it often. The study. It has to be in his study.<br/><br/>Slowly, she closes her eyes and brings the floor plans into the forefront of her mind. It was her greatest asset, the ability to remember anything she looked at: books, images, plans. As cluttered as it could sometimes be, in this moment, it was perfect… down the stairs, to the right. There would be a billiards room behind a set of double doors adjacent to the study. The painting had to be in one of those two rooms.<br/><br/>With quiet halls, Audrey is able to quickly make her way through the corridors. She wastes no time to take stock of the man’s taste or style. She was on a mission and little else mattered. Only the painting matters.<br/><br/>Oh yes, and there it is! The painting, of course, was not in the study, but inside that billiards room. Audrey carefully slips through the double doors that are only partially ajar. Smiling grandly she steps toward the painting, and only makes it partway before she realizes that she isn’t alone.<br/><br/>Sitting in a dark, leather club chair with a drink swirling in his hand, is her new favorite adversary: Mr. James Thackery himself. Audrey smirks, unable to hide her own amusement even as she knows she is had.<br/><br/>Quickly, however, she takes stock of the rest of her surroundings. Two guards are now posted on the doors she just entered, and she was willing to be that more are not far away. Perhaps the guards were overkill—really, there was no need to be uncivilized between professional thieves.<br/><br/>“This isn’t a fake, is it. I soooo knew it.” Unable to contain her mirth, she looks back at Thackery. She stretches out the word “so”, knowing that it put her arrogance on full display, even as it isn't her intent at all to laugh or make fun of<i>him</i>. She did so love being right, though.<br/><br/>And this was too rich to pass up—she’s been right about him all along! He had told her when they shared drinks that he had another replica made. Audrey knew he was lying then, but let him have his fun. The more she thinks about it now, the wider she grins until she can no longer help herself: she bursts out into full-bodied laughter. All this over some silly painting? Oh boy, she loves her job. Even as she knows that she’s lost tonight, she absolutely feels like a winner. “Seriously, luv, I have to know. Why did you take it in the first place?”