The Edge of Illusion Art Gallery, Bethesa, Tuesday evening

[magdaofslovenia]

The opening of Chess(ter) Grimes' art exhibit was nicely catered with hors' doevres, light wine, and a string quartet. Just a little too pretentious for the venue, even though pleasant. Sophie was having an enjoyable time circulating, but a less enjoyable time noticing the prices on some of the paintings.

Really, had they no shame?

[for a

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[screwyoumarvel]

Later that night, when the string quartet and the canapes and the pretentious twits were gone, Steve and Sophie returned to The Edge of Illusion (Steve didn't even know what that was supposed to mean). Their purpose was, shall we say, not exactly honest, but come on. Plagiarist.

[magdaofslovenia]

Dark clothes, dark van, and parking out in the alley. The codes that Sophie had downloaded from the owner's Blackberry were incredibly helpful in letting them in through the loading bay.

A small spray can aimed at the junction box helpfully took out the camera system and lights.

"Quickly. There might be a silent alarm, but we should still have at least seven minutes to get most of them loaded up," Sophie whispered under her breath, pushing a dolly in front of her.

[screwyoumarvel]

Most? Who did Sophie think she was dealing with here? Steve started taking paintings down and loading them on the dolly--which he didn't see the need for, except for that some of them were rather awkwardly large--with a quickness. "He's not even that good technically," he hissed, sounding downright offended.

[magdaofslovenia]

Sophie blinked at Steve's speed, and whispered back, "Well, that was the first tip-off, for me," before going back to the van to retrieve the large poster board that read:

The work of plagiarists doesn't stand the test of time.
Sometimes not even overnight.

Feel free to see the ORIGINAL WORK
at the Charm City street fair tomorrow
Courtesy of the real artist
ANNA GILROY

And placed it prominently in the window, just as she heard footsteps.

[screwyoumarvel]

Steve had already heard them and set down the painting he was carrying to inch toward a doorway the footsteps seemed to be headed toward. He held up one finger to signal silence.

[magdaofslovenia]

Sophie froze, drawing back into a shadow, trying to gauge the distance between themselves and the door, and hoping the guard would miss seeing them...

[screwyoumarvel]

He never got a chance to, because the second he stepped through the door Steve hit him on the back of the head. Normal humans didn't really get back up when Steve hit them. "Sorry," he whispered to the now-unconscious security guard.

[magdaofslovenia]

Sophie winced and stepped forward, checking him, and breathed with relief that he seemed to be breathing fine. "You just saved his job," she whispered consolingly to Steve. "Time to go!"

She grabbed the dolly and pushed it, then jumped on the back as it sailed through the back loading dock toward the van.

[screwyoumarvel]

Steve grabbed the last few paintings and followed her.

He'd never been an art thief before. He didn't think it was really his thing, but it was certainly an experience. Besides. Plagiarist.