"Now," Lacey said, her mirrored lenses shining like silver discs beneath the lights. "What do you think?"
"It’s looking pretty good," I said, nodding thoughtfully as I scanned the cavernous interior. "Make sure the stairs are clear," I said. "Herd the guests that way when things get started. They can hide out in the wings while also having a good view of the action."
"I’ll be sure to take that in mind," Waldorf said, his voice dry as crackling paper. He pushed his glasses up his nose, mustache twitching like a broom. "And... where shall the young lady be making her entrance?"
I studied the ceiling before settling on a particular skylight. "Glacia?" I said, nodding at the height. "Do you think you can come through there?"
Glacia tipped her head upward and considered it. "Yes, I can do that, sir."
"Good," I said, taking a brief look around until I found the emergency exit. "The henchmen will bust in through there when it’s time and clear everyone from the floor. The skylight is over the reception desk, so the falling glass shouldn’t hit anyone. I’ve come in through there before, so I know."
"We’ll be taking tickets at the door anyway," Lacey said. "It will be clear."
"Excellent," I said. "And outside security?"
"Quite fortified, I assure you," Lacey said. "And appropriately deaf for when events begin inside."
"Good. You should probably freeze the main doors closed anyway though," I told Glacia. "Just to give us some plausible deniability as to why security doesn’t bust their way in. It couldn’t hurt, and there’s plenty of exits inside the building if anything goes wrong."
"Freeze... door..." Glacia murmured, hastily writing it down in her notebook. "Yes sir. I understand."
"Good. And what about your heroine?" I asked Lacey.
"She’ll be streaming the event live," Lacey said. "She’ll be moving around the room, so there’s little reason to worry about her. When things start up, and it will seem that no one is going to help, she’ll make her reveal."
"What’s she have?" I asked.
"Sonic powers. Ample enough to shatter the ice and knock out the henchmen," Lacey said.
"That works," I said. "Has she been practicing as well?"
"Don’t worry," Lacey said. "She’ll be ready."
Had anyone other than Lacey told me that, I wouldn’t have believed them. But Lacey was one of those women who actually got shit done.
An admirable trait in your ruthless corporatist. Ayn Rand would have adored her.
"Alright," I said, scanning the interior again. "Sounds like a pretty solid plan. And ah, my pay?" I asked.
"Will be delivered on completion of the job," Lacey said. "As agreed."
"Good," I said.
"And your ticket," Lacey said, gesturing toward Waldorf, who pulled a glossy ticket from his pocket and handed it over.
"Mine?" I said, examining it curiously.
"Of course!’ Lacey laughed throatily. "We can hardly have Glacia’s mentor absent during her first big heist. Besides," she added with a sly smile. "It could never hurt to have someone around in case of... unexpected eventualities."
She did have a point. "Thanks," I said, slipping the ticket into my pocket. "Be the first time I enter a party here through the front doors."
"Hopefully the first of many," Waldorf said, suddenly becoming animated like a windup toy that someone had finally remembered to turn the key on. "Our exhibits feature some of the most controversial art from across the world. In fact, our most recent exhibit on Kievan Rus—"
"How fascinating, Waldorf," Lacey interposed smoothly. "But these two had best get a look around the ground first, in case they need any additional planning."
Thankful for the escape, I waved goodbye and hurried Glacia away.
I had absolutely no interest in standing around listening to the museum’s latest exhibits, regardless of how much I might have enjoyed wandering around with my hands clasped behind my back.
Glacia and I still had plenty to do. We had two days remaining before the debut, when she would make her ’attempt’ to steal the diamond, and I intended to eliminate as much uncertainty as possible.
I led her over to the side door marked EMERGENCY EXIT and tapped against it with my knuckles.
"See this? This is where the Steve’s are going to come out," I said. "We’ve come through here a dozen times before. He knows the way through.
They’ll be armed, but it’s mostly just stock weapons. Hockey sticks. Blunt bullshit objects that people will be nervous about but that can do some damage if properly swung.
Don’t need any heroes. You know, aside from Mysteria. Now, what’s the first thing you notice about this place?" I asked.
Glacia surveyed the domed room with a thoughtful expression. "It’s big," she said.
"Exactly," I said, pleased. "It’s big. And you’re going to be the absolute center of attention. That means blistering blizzards, freezing air, some jagged spears of ice sprouting out the floor. And, most importantly, the evil rant."
"Evil rant?" Glacia said.
"Yeah. That’s vital. You need an evil rant. You need to tell them who you are, what you’re doing, and threaten to mess anyone up that interferes.
The last bit is important. Liberally sprinkle in some literary allusions in there as well. People love that stuff. Quote some Hemingway or Shakespeare. And make sure it’s cocky! People need to see you’re in charge."
"I see," Glacia said, scribbling down some more notes, only to pause. "But, sir? Would it not make more sense to forego the ranting? Why advertise what I seek?"
"Well, naturally, if we were being smart about this, you wouldn’t bother," I said. "If we were just here to steal a pretty rock, you’d sneak in with the crowd, freeze everyone solid, and snatch the diamond before fucking off.
Or better yet, grabbing it while it’s on its way here. But we’re not here to be smart about this."
"We’re not?" Glacia said.
I shook my head. "Nope! Remember, we’re not here to actually take the diamond. We’re here to give people a show. A thrill! And the evil rant is all about that. It’s the ultimate power move. It’s saying ’I’m better than all of you, and you will listen to me!’ If you can pull it off, people will be so in awe they’ll let you get away with murder. Which, incidentally, is what you’re not here for."
"Getting away with it?" Glacia said.
"Yes. I mean, no. I mean, yes, you’re not here to get away with the diamond, but also, you’re not here to murder anyone.
The only way we can do what we do is if everyone goes home happy. You think these rich idiots would come to a scene like this if they thought there was even a chance of getting their dresses rumpled, let alone bleeding? Hell no.
They come to these things hoping the robbery will happen. They love to watch supers beat the hell out of each other. Entertainment of the highest order."
"So we are entertainers?"
"In essence," I say, shrugging. "But on our terms."
"I see..." Glacia said.
I wasn’t convinced she actually did. Most inexperienced villains struggled to understand that part. It was one reason there were so few freelancers.
Getting beaten senseless by heroes wasn’t exactly the sort of career that inspired pride.
Especially when the majority of the audience consisted of wealthy people searching for a little excitement. But I let it go.
She’d either understand eventually or quit the job.
Either way, once we made it through the night of the heist, I’d be in the clear and two million dollars richer.
Oh yeah. Everything was falling neatly into place.