Meeting Vivian - Chapter 5 - The Thief
See Chapter 1 for disclaimers and notes.
Chapter 5 - The Thief
Emily climbed down the stepstool and started searching the middle cubby. Nigel and Miranda, in their infinite wisdom, decided the red leather Marc Jacobs bag featured in last month’s magazine would be perfect for the Vera Wang shoot tomorrow. The only problem? The damn bag was missing! She had been tearing through the handbag room of the Closet for over an hour.
She normally enjoyed spending time in the neatly organized room. The floor to ceiling storage cubes took up three of the four walls. The fourth wall contained the glass doors that allowed entry. Each cubby held one or two handbags, totes, clutches, or the occasional backpack. Unfortunately, there was no red textured leather Marc Jacobs satchel.
“Bollocks!” Emily grabbed a gold clutch and flung it at the far wall.
“Hey!” Andy Sachs caught the flying leather missile before it smacked her in the forehead. “What the hell, Em?”
Emily grimaced and rubbed her forehead. “I’m sorry, Andy. I’m just so frustrated.” The red head looked at her friend and froze. “Is that?” She pointed to the large handbag her friend was carrying.
“Yeah.” Andy gazed lovingly at the red handbag as she caressed the textured leather. “I saw it in last month’s Runway and fell in love. When I sold that series on women in government I decided to splurge. It really was too much but I couldn’t help myself.”
Emily’s shoulders slumped as she realized this was not her missing bag.
“What?” Andy asked with a confused look on her face.
Blowing out a frustrated breath, Emily waved toward the cubbies. “I can’t find Runway’s Marc Jacobs bag. I’ve looked everywhere and when I saw you come in with that.” She shrugged and took the clutch out of Andy’s hands and returned it to where it belonged.
“You thought Nigel or Miranda gave me the bag.” Andy nodded in understanding. “I have the credit card receipt from Saks if it would make you feel better.”
Emily waved off the offer. “If either of them had given you the bag, they wouldn’t be asking me to provide it for a photo shoot.”
“Did you check the inventory system?” Andy fluffed her bangs and looked around the room.
“That’s the icing on the cake. There is no record of it ever being here.” Emily crossed her arms and glared at her friend.
“Whoa. Sorry, Em.” Andy took a step back. “Did you call Eric?”
“Eric?” Emily looked at Andy suspiciously.
“The head of the IT department,” Andy explained. “He can check the system logs and see who deleted the record and when.”
Emily perked up for the first time that afternoon. “He can do that?”
Andy rolled her eyes. “Yeah, give him a call. While he does some digging, I’ll help you search the rest of the closet. If we don’t come up with anything, then I’ll let you borrow my bag.”
The friends were searching the shoe room when Emily’s phone rang. “Yes,” she barked. As she listened she felt her face flush. Her lips moved with silent curses. “Fine!” Emily stabbed the button to disconnect.
“What’s up?” Andy asked.
Emily considered pitching her phone like she did the clutch. “Tina, that bitch!” Emily stamped her foot and contemplated murder. “She removed the inventory record this morning.”
Andy eased up next Emily. “Okay. So maybe the bag is still here someplace. Do you know where Tina is?”
Emily took a deep breath and blew it out. “Tina and the others are helping with the Central Park shoot. If she just removed the record this morning the bag could still be here. But where?” She ran her fingers through her hair as she thought.
“I have an idea.” Andy tilted her head back and called for help. “Vivian.”
The petite woman/ghost appeared between Andy and Emily. “Yes?”
“Vivian, we need your help finding something.” Andy gestured toward Emily.
“Right, a Marc Jacobs red leather handbag has gone missing. There is a good chance that it is still in the Closet somewhere, hidden.” Emily put her hands on her hips and ran her gaze over the shelves of shoes.
Vivian raised an eyebrow and stared pointedly at Andy.
“Hey, this is mine. I bought it a week ago.” Andy opened the bag and started digging through the interior. “I have the credit card receipt. I swear.”
Emily rolled her eyes and flipped her hand toward Andy as the young woman continued to paw through her handbag. “Ignore her. One of the women working here deleted the bag’s inventory record this morning. Since she is out at a shoot I’m hoping she hasn’t had time to remove it from the premises.”
Vivian nodded her understanding. “Let me call the girls. I’m sure they would be happy to help. Ladies?” The six ghost models appeared on either side of Vivian. “Emily needs our help,” she explained. “A red Marc Jacobs bag is missing and may be hidden somewhere in the closet.”
As one, the models turned and stared accusingly at Andy.
“No, this is mine!” Frantic, Andy waved the credit card receipt in front of the ghosts.
Vivian smirked and shook her head. “Please see if you can locate another bag just like it.” The models nodded as they disappeared.
“Thanks, Vivian,” Emily sighed.
Andy pulled out her phone to check the time. “I’ve got to get going. I’m meeting Miranda for lunch.” Emily opened her mouth to say something but stopped when Andy raised her hand. “I won’t say anything about the missing bag. Accessories are your gig.” Andy waved as she hurried on her way.
Emily was surprised when one of the models, she thought her name was Tess, appeared not ten minutes after Andy had gone.
“The bag is in one of the employee lockers in the break room.” Tess watched Emily grit her teeth before muttering under her breath.
Emily wondered why Tess backed away before she realized she must look a little scary when she was angry. Just wait until she caught up with the thief. She’d show that bitch scary.
After Tess disappeared, Vivian walked with Emily to the employee lounge. As they entered the lounge they saw Gina sticking her head through one of the locker doors. Rest of the models gathered around as Gina pulled back and nodded.
Emily shuddered but her disquiet turned to rage when she read the label on the locker door - Tina Simpson. “That bitch,” she muttered.
“Emily?” Vivian raised an eyebrow and waited.
“Sorry.” Emily glared at the locker. “I should contact security but how do I tell them that I know where the damned bag is hiding.”
Vivian smirked as she looked at the girls. “We may be able to help you. Inform security of the theft and have them search Tina when she leaves.”
Emily tilted her head as she considered what Vivian was not saying. “What are you going to do?” She immediately held up her hand. “On second thought, don’t tell me. I’m going to get a picture of the bag from the last shoot and go talk to security.” She glanced over her shoulder as she left the lounge and saw Vivian and the models huddled together making plans.
After a quick stop in her office, Emily stood outside the main security office. Since the door was open she knocked on the door frame. Tom Peterson, Security Supervisor, looked up from a report he was reviewing and waved her in. “I have a problem,” she said as she sat in one of the visitor chairs in front of the desk. Tom nodded and waited for Emily to explain. “A red leather Marc Jacobs handbag has gone missing and I’m afraid it has been stolen. This is a picture of the bag.” She slid the picture across the desk.
Tom picked up the picture, grimaced and rubbed his ear. “I saw Andy Sachs-Priestly earlier with a bag that looks like this one.”
Emily shook her head. “No, that’s Andy’s bag. She has the receipt showing where she bought it.”
Tom raised an eyebrow. “Okay. Fill me in on what you know about the missing bag.”
Emily told Tom of her suspicions and about the missing inventory record. She was relieved when he decided that everyone who accessed the closet today would be searched on their way out. The security system was able to provide a printout of employees who used their code to open the Closet doors.
Meanwhile back at the Closet
Vivian and the girls refined their plan as they waited for everyone to return from the Central Park photo shoot. When the details were decided, Amanda, the youngest of the models, was sent to watch the elevators. It wasn’t long before she popped into the lounge alerting the group to the staff’s return.
“It’s show time,” Vivian whispered.
Bridget and Marla disappeared to play their parts.
Vivian barely restrained herself from following and watching the events unfold. Bridget’s specialty was giving someone cold chills and a feeling of dread. It had been an effective tool in the past for driving away potential renters. Vivian was counting on Tina becoming unnerved enough to want to leave work early with the stolen bag. Once Tina was headed to the lounge, Marla would cause some disruption so that the rest of the staff would be too busy to wander into the lounge while the festivities were ongoing.
‘How much longer,’ Vivian wondered. Then she heard a crash. Smiling, she faded away and waited.
Tina hurried into the lounge and went directly to her locker. She kept looking over her shoulder as if expecting to be followed. It seemed that her fingers weren’t as nimble as usual and she had trouble slipping the key into the lock. Flinging the door open she grabbed the Marc Jacobs bag and stuffed it into her oversized tote. She slammed the locker closed and took two steps before the lights dimmed and an eerie fog started rising from the floor.
Vivian watched with an evil grin as the horrified woman froze in the middle of the room. She loved the visual effect of six faceless forms rising from the fog and encircling the thief. Tina was visibly shaking with fear as the models started moaning. Before the woman could gather her wits and bolt, Vivian popped into view at twice her normal size wearing a shapeless black hooded robe.
“You have offended the guardians of the Closet, thief!” Vivian’s voice thundered in the small room.
Tina took a step back but the models crowded closer. Her head whipped left and right looking for an escape.
Vivian raised her arms and shifted slightly to one side. “BOOOO!”
The shout spurred Tina to race past the dark form and out of the lounge. Vivian was pleased to see that the woman still held onto her tote with the hidden bag.
Vivian pointed to Denise and watched her disappear. The model returned shortly and reported that Tina was in the elevator on her way to the lobby. Vivian and the models burst into laughter as they faded away.
***
Emily and Tom were standing near the security station when Tina burst out of the elevator. At Tom’s signal, two guards hurried to intercept the woman. Emily thought Tina seemed relieved to be in custody. After a quick search, the missing bag was found.
“That’s my bag,” Tina insisted as she glanced over her shoulder.
“Tom, look in the inner zippered pocket. Whenever I use a bag or clutch in a photo shoot I put a card in one of the pockets with the date, photographer’s name, and what issue of Runway it will appear. I then sign the back of the card.” Emily crossed her arms and watched as Tom pulled a signed index card from the pocket of the handbag.
Emily smirked as Tina wilted with the evidence of her theft.
Before Tom led Tina away Emily held up her hand. “Could you give me a second?” He nodded and took a couple steps back to give the women some privacy. Emily leaned in close, “A friend asked that I tell you something.”
At Tina’s questioning look, Emily whispered, “Boo.”
Tina jumped and turned pale. She kept looking over her shoulder as she was escorted to the security office.
Emily sniffed and started for the elevators. She wondered what she could do for Vivian and the models to show her appreciation.
Two weeks later
Emily and Andy watched as the maintenance crew finished setting up the big screen television and related components in the corner of the museum. Emily convinced Andy that a television, DVD player, and cable connection would allow visitors to watch fashion related shows or news. Andy agreed and made the arrangements for today’s installation.
“Is this what you had in mind?” Andy smiled as the men gathered their tools.
“Exactly.” Emily slipped a DVD into the machine. As soon as the men were gone, she hit play. Music blared as scenes from last year’s Paris Fashion Week splashed across the screen. When Emily turned the sound down slightly, she was joined by the models and Vivian. She smiled at the ghostly group. “I thought you might enjoy a little entertainment. My way of saying thanks.”
The models beamed as they clustered in front of the television. Vivian winked at Emily and focused on the show.
Chapter 6 - The Models
Chapter 5 - The Thief
Emily climbed down the stepstool and started searching the middle cubby. Nigel and Miranda, in their infinite wisdom, decided the red leather Marc Jacobs bag featured in last month’s magazine would be perfect for the Vera Wang shoot tomorrow. The only problem? The damn bag was missing! She had been tearing through the handbag room of the Closet for over an hour.
She normally enjoyed spending time in the neatly organized room. The floor to ceiling storage cubes took up three of the four walls. The fourth wall contained the glass doors that allowed entry. Each cubby held one or two handbags, totes, clutches, or the occasional backpack. Unfortunately, there was no red textured leather Marc Jacobs satchel.
“Bollocks!” Emily grabbed a gold clutch and flung it at the far wall.
“Hey!” Andy Sachs caught the flying leather missile before it smacked her in the forehead. “What the hell, Em?”
Emily grimaced and rubbed her forehead. “I’m sorry, Andy. I’m just so frustrated.” The red head looked at her friend and froze. “Is that?” She pointed to the large handbag her friend was carrying.
“Yeah.” Andy gazed lovingly at the red handbag as she caressed the textured leather. “I saw it in last month’s Runway and fell in love. When I sold that series on women in government I decided to splurge. It really was too much but I couldn’t help myself.”
Emily’s shoulders slumped as she realized this was not her missing bag.
“What?” Andy asked with a confused look on her face.
Blowing out a frustrated breath, Emily waved toward the cubbies. “I can’t find Runway’s Marc Jacobs bag. I’ve looked everywhere and when I saw you come in with that.” She shrugged and took the clutch out of Andy’s hands and returned it to where it belonged.
“You thought Nigel or Miranda gave me the bag.” Andy nodded in understanding. “I have the credit card receipt from Saks if it would make you feel better.”
Emily waved off the offer. “If either of them had given you the bag, they wouldn’t be asking me to provide it for a photo shoot.”
“Did you check the inventory system?” Andy fluffed her bangs and looked around the room.
“That’s the icing on the cake. There is no record of it ever being here.” Emily crossed her arms and glared at her friend.
“Whoa. Sorry, Em.” Andy took a step back. “Did you call Eric?”
“Eric?” Emily looked at Andy suspiciously.
“The head of the IT department,” Andy explained. “He can check the system logs and see who deleted the record and when.”
Emily perked up for the first time that afternoon. “He can do that?”
Andy rolled her eyes. “Yeah, give him a call. While he does some digging, I’ll help you search the rest of the closet. If we don’t come up with anything, then I’ll let you borrow my bag.”
The friends were searching the shoe room when Emily’s phone rang. “Yes,” she barked. As she listened she felt her face flush. Her lips moved with silent curses. “Fine!” Emily stabbed the button to disconnect.
“What’s up?” Andy asked.
Emily considered pitching her phone like she did the clutch. “Tina, that bitch!” Emily stamped her foot and contemplated murder. “She removed the inventory record this morning.”
Andy eased up next Emily. “Okay. So maybe the bag is still here someplace. Do you know where Tina is?”
Emily took a deep breath and blew it out. “Tina and the others are helping with the Central Park shoot. If she just removed the record this morning the bag could still be here. But where?” She ran her fingers through her hair as she thought.
“I have an idea.” Andy tilted her head back and called for help. “Vivian.”
The petite woman/ghost appeared between Andy and Emily. “Yes?”
“Vivian, we need your help finding something.” Andy gestured toward Emily.
“Right, a Marc Jacobs red leather handbag has gone missing. There is a good chance that it is still in the Closet somewhere, hidden.” Emily put her hands on her hips and ran her gaze over the shelves of shoes.
Vivian raised an eyebrow and stared pointedly at Andy.
“Hey, this is mine. I bought it a week ago.” Andy opened the bag and started digging through the interior. “I have the credit card receipt. I swear.”
Emily rolled her eyes and flipped her hand toward Andy as the young woman continued to paw through her handbag. “Ignore her. One of the women working here deleted the bag’s inventory record this morning. Since she is out at a shoot I’m hoping she hasn’t had time to remove it from the premises.”
Vivian nodded her understanding. “Let me call the girls. I’m sure they would be happy to help. Ladies?” The six ghost models appeared on either side of Vivian. “Emily needs our help,” she explained. “A red Marc Jacobs bag is missing and may be hidden somewhere in the closet.”
As one, the models turned and stared accusingly at Andy.
“No, this is mine!” Frantic, Andy waved the credit card receipt in front of the ghosts.
Vivian smirked and shook her head. “Please see if you can locate another bag just like it.” The models nodded as they disappeared.
“Thanks, Vivian,” Emily sighed.
Andy pulled out her phone to check the time. “I’ve got to get going. I’m meeting Miranda for lunch.” Emily opened her mouth to say something but stopped when Andy raised her hand. “I won’t say anything about the missing bag. Accessories are your gig.” Andy waved as she hurried on her way.
Emily was surprised when one of the models, she thought her name was Tess, appeared not ten minutes after Andy had gone.
“The bag is in one of the employee lockers in the break room.” Tess watched Emily grit her teeth before muttering under her breath.
Emily wondered why Tess backed away before she realized she must look a little scary when she was angry. Just wait until she caught up with the thief. She’d show that bitch scary.
After Tess disappeared, Vivian walked with Emily to the employee lounge. As they entered the lounge they saw Gina sticking her head through one of the locker doors. Rest of the models gathered around as Gina pulled back and nodded.
Emily shuddered but her disquiet turned to rage when she read the label on the locker door - Tina Simpson. “That bitch,” she muttered.
“Emily?” Vivian raised an eyebrow and waited.
“Sorry.” Emily glared at the locker. “I should contact security but how do I tell them that I know where the damned bag is hiding.”
Vivian smirked as she looked at the girls. “We may be able to help you. Inform security of the theft and have them search Tina when she leaves.”
Emily tilted her head as she considered what Vivian was not saying. “What are you going to do?” She immediately held up her hand. “On second thought, don’t tell me. I’m going to get a picture of the bag from the last shoot and go talk to security.” She glanced over her shoulder as she left the lounge and saw Vivian and the models huddled together making plans.
After a quick stop in her office, Emily stood outside the main security office. Since the door was open she knocked on the door frame. Tom Peterson, Security Supervisor, looked up from a report he was reviewing and waved her in. “I have a problem,” she said as she sat in one of the visitor chairs in front of the desk. Tom nodded and waited for Emily to explain. “A red leather Marc Jacobs handbag has gone missing and I’m afraid it has been stolen. This is a picture of the bag.” She slid the picture across the desk.
Tom picked up the picture, grimaced and rubbed his ear. “I saw Andy Sachs-Priestly earlier with a bag that looks like this one.”
Emily shook her head. “No, that’s Andy’s bag. She has the receipt showing where she bought it.”
Tom raised an eyebrow. “Okay. Fill me in on what you know about the missing bag.”
Emily told Tom of her suspicions and about the missing inventory record. She was relieved when he decided that everyone who accessed the closet today would be searched on their way out. The security system was able to provide a printout of employees who used their code to open the Closet doors.
Meanwhile back at the Closet
Vivian and the girls refined their plan as they waited for everyone to return from the Central Park photo shoot. When the details were decided, Amanda, the youngest of the models, was sent to watch the elevators. It wasn’t long before she popped into the lounge alerting the group to the staff’s return.
“It’s show time,” Vivian whispered.
Bridget and Marla disappeared to play their parts.
Vivian barely restrained herself from following and watching the events unfold. Bridget’s specialty was giving someone cold chills and a feeling of dread. It had been an effective tool in the past for driving away potential renters. Vivian was counting on Tina becoming unnerved enough to want to leave work early with the stolen bag. Once Tina was headed to the lounge, Marla would cause some disruption so that the rest of the staff would be too busy to wander into the lounge while the festivities were ongoing.
‘How much longer,’ Vivian wondered. Then she heard a crash. Smiling, she faded away and waited.
Tina hurried into the lounge and went directly to her locker. She kept looking over her shoulder as if expecting to be followed. It seemed that her fingers weren’t as nimble as usual and she had trouble slipping the key into the lock. Flinging the door open she grabbed the Marc Jacobs bag and stuffed it into her oversized tote. She slammed the locker closed and took two steps before the lights dimmed and an eerie fog started rising from the floor.
Vivian watched with an evil grin as the horrified woman froze in the middle of the room. She loved the visual effect of six faceless forms rising from the fog and encircling the thief. Tina was visibly shaking with fear as the models started moaning. Before the woman could gather her wits and bolt, Vivian popped into view at twice her normal size wearing a shapeless black hooded robe.
“You have offended the guardians of the Closet, thief!” Vivian’s voice thundered in the small room.
Tina took a step back but the models crowded closer. Her head whipped left and right looking for an escape.
Vivian raised her arms and shifted slightly to one side. “BOOOO!”
The shout spurred Tina to race past the dark form and out of the lounge. Vivian was pleased to see that the woman still held onto her tote with the hidden bag.
Vivian pointed to Denise and watched her disappear. The model returned shortly and reported that Tina was in the elevator on her way to the lobby. Vivian and the models burst into laughter as they faded away.
***
Emily and Tom were standing near the security station when Tina burst out of the elevator. At Tom’s signal, two guards hurried to intercept the woman. Emily thought Tina seemed relieved to be in custody. After a quick search, the missing bag was found.
“That’s my bag,” Tina insisted as she glanced over her shoulder.
“Tom, look in the inner zippered pocket. Whenever I use a bag or clutch in a photo shoot I put a card in one of the pockets with the date, photographer’s name, and what issue of Runway it will appear. I then sign the back of the card.” Emily crossed her arms and watched as Tom pulled a signed index card from the pocket of the handbag.
Emily smirked as Tina wilted with the evidence of her theft.
Before Tom led Tina away Emily held up her hand. “Could you give me a second?” He nodded and took a couple steps back to give the women some privacy. Emily leaned in close, “A friend asked that I tell you something.”
At Tina’s questioning look, Emily whispered, “Boo.”
Tina jumped and turned pale. She kept looking over her shoulder as she was escorted to the security office.
Emily sniffed and started for the elevators. She wondered what she could do for Vivian and the models to show her appreciation.
Two weeks later
Emily and Andy watched as the maintenance crew finished setting up the big screen television and related components in the corner of the museum. Emily convinced Andy that a television, DVD player, and cable connection would allow visitors to watch fashion related shows or news. Andy agreed and made the arrangements for today’s installation.
“Is this what you had in mind?” Andy smiled as the men gathered their tools.
“Exactly.” Emily slipped a DVD into the machine. As soon as the men were gone, she hit play. Music blared as scenes from last year’s Paris Fashion Week splashed across the screen. When Emily turned the sound down slightly, she was joined by the models and Vivian. She smiled at the ghostly group. “I thought you might enjoy a little entertainment. My way of saying thanks.”
The models beamed as they clustered in front of the television. Vivian winked at Emily and focused on the show.
Chapter 6 - The Models