Chapter 5 : NEGOTIATING WITH A THIEF

Victoria's POV

My heart was in my throat as I stared at the thief who was lounging on my bed.

"What's wrong Victoria, cat got your tongue?" He asks in a mechanical voice, as he stares back at me.

"H...how did y....you get in?" I ask fearfully.

"I've got my ways, this is quite a extravagant room." He says as he looks around my room. I stare at him in is pitch black clothing with is black mask on.

I thought that the day I came in close contact with the Shadow, I would be able to distinguish a few of his features. But to my surprise I couldn't, the mask hid his face and it was impossible to guess who was behind it. His eyes were a brownish colour.

"Why are you here? What do you want?" I question him further.

"To check on you detective, you know usually when someone saves your life your express your gratitude and don't run away." He says as he stands up and I take a cautious step back.

"Don't worry Victoria, I don't bite at least not hard." He says.

"How do you know my name?"

"Like I've told you before I got my ways."

"What do you want?"

"It isn't about what I want it is about what we both want."

"What are you talking about?" I ask perplexed.

"You see for the last two years I have been searching for someone and I have run out of leads, I need your help."

"Why do you think I would help you, for all I know your a heartless thief."

"Ah, I thought you would say that, but I know you are beginning to doubt the fact that I am a 'heartless thief'."

"What do you know about what I think." I say quite loudly, getting frustrated that this person thinks he knows me in the least.

"You saw the video."

"I didn't see a video, I don't know what your talking about........wait a minute how did you know I saw the video?"

"Well you see I knew the video might have sound so I needed to the destroy the evidence and I knew the police captain might have a copy so I sneaked in to destroy it, only you came in before I could and watched it....." he explains.

"You mean you watched me watch a video...that means you saw what I did...oh no." I say as I recall the moment I spun myself in the chair. The shadow started to laugh so hard he clenched his stomach.

"Its not funny." I scream at him trying to get him to stop laughing.

"You're right it isn't, " he says as he sobers up, "it is hilarious." and then he burst into laughter again. This guy is unbelievable, first he sneaks into my house and know he is laughing at me in my own bedroom.

"Ha ha ha, it is extremely funny, now would you please tell me why you believe I would help you?" I ask annoyed, "Just because I have reason to believe you're not after the money, won't automatically make me help you."

"Sure Sherlock, you see you're great at detective work so I believe we could help each other, I am trying to find a gang leader but I have no luck." He says.

"Why do you want to find a gang leader?"

"I have my reasons so are you going to help?"

"Maybe. ...... if you give me one good reason why." I say trying to get him to talk.

"Fine... you see a couple years back there was this notorious thief, he hid is identity with a big white mask..."

"Oh, I remember him, he terrorized the city for seven years and then after he almost got caught he dissapeared."

"Yes that's him, anyway I thought he disappeared too but he didn't."

"What do you mean he didn't?" I ask confused, how can he not have dissapeared, he hasn't been seen in three years.

"I know it doesn't sound right but it is believe me, you see two years back I discovered that he actually got people to do his dirty work. He never met them in person so that if they got caught nobody could point fingers at him..."

"And how did you find this?"

"Does it really matter?"

"Yeah, how do I know your telling the truth and you're not just making this up?"

"I guess you just need to trust me, so what do you say? Will you help me?"

"I need to know more about who he is and who all your suspects are and...." I was interupted by a beeping noise.

The Shadow took something from his pocket, looked at it and then said, "Sorry Victoria but I've got to run, think about what I've told and then we can figure something out if you want to help." He says as he walks to the window and opens it up.

"O ...okay, but how will I contact you?"

"Don't worry Sherlock I'll come to you, see you soon." and with that he turned around and left, and I was left staring at my open window.

My thoughts were running wild, I didn't know what to think. I closed my window and locked it and switched of my light. As I lay there I tried to process all the information I received. I couldn't believe it was already eight o'clock, how long was he here?

I thought about whether I was going to help him or not, I mean he could just be lying about the whole gang leader that gets other people to do his work, but why would he lie about that. Maybe I should help him but on my own terms, I'll get all the information I can on him and if he tries to double cross me I am going to take him down. And with that thought I went of to dream land.

The next day went by in a blur, my thoughts were to occupied by a certain someone that I didn't even notice, luckily the school closes on friday and I have a three week vacation to get my thoughts strait.

When I finally arrived back home I was drained, I had no more energy left, but I had homework that needed to be completed. I groaned internally.

After I was done with my homework, my mother called me downstairs to help her with dinner. She was planning on making lasagne, my second favorite dish. When the lasagne was finally in the oven I went to the living room to watch some television. To my surprise one of the television series I most enjoyed was showing, Castle. After two episodes my mother finally announced that dinner was ready.

I quickly set the table before my mother came in with the lasagne followed by my father.

"It looks and smells great, love." My father says as he takes a seat.

"So Vici, how was your day?" my father asks.

"Same as usual." I reply.

"Did you get to finish all your projects yesterday?" my mother asks.

"Yes, thankfully."

"That's great darling, how's Gracie and Leila?"

"Good, how was the police convention thing?"

"Boring as usual, but very informative. They gave us more tips on how to improve crime prevention and so forth. You know the usual thing, are you excited about the break?" my dad asks.

"Quite I can't wait to sleep until noon and watch movies throughout the whole night." I say optimistically even though I know I will be spending my break trying to catch too different thieves.

"That sounds fun, anyway I need to go away next week so it would just be you and your mother...."

"Wait a minute, mom's not going with you?"

"Of course not darling, we can't leave you alone for a week." my mother says.

"Mom how many times do I have to tell you that I am fine on my own." I have to convince them that I'll be fine, because if there not here I can focus more on the Shadow without being caught by my parents.

"Are you sure Vici?" my dad asks.

"Yeah, and I'll be getting a sense of responsibility."

"If you say so, but you need to keep the doors and windows locked we don't want a surprise visit from an unwanted thief." My dad says and I try my best not to start laughing, if only he knew that the thief was in his house.

"Don't worry I promise I'll be save."

I quickly helped my mother with the dishes before heading upstairs. I went to my bathroom to get dressed before heading back to my room, and guess who's back.

"What are you doing here? You know my parents are just downstairs." I whisper scream at the Shadow who is once again sprawled out on my bed.

"What? is it against the law to visit a friend?" He asks as I close my bedroom door not wanting my parents to walk in accidently.

"First of all we're not friends and secondly the police captain, my father is just downstairs."

"Ahh, you're mean Sherlock I thought we were starting to bond."

"You saving my life doesn't automatically make you my friend."

"I think it does."

"Ahh," I groan knowing there was no way arguing with this guy, "why are you even here?"

"I wanted to know if you were going to help, so are you?" He asks hopeful.

"I thought about it and...." And just then I was interupted by my mother screaming, "honey can I come in?"

Panick rose in me and I grabbed the Shadow by his arm and dragged him into the bathroom, closing the door behind me before jumping on my bed and screaming, "Yeah."

"Darling is everything alright?"
My mother asks as she sits down next to me on my bed.

"Yes, why wouldn't I be?"

"You just looked stressed tonight."

"Oh you know school, test and all those things."

"Oh, darling you work to hard, you should remember to relax from time to time. Thank goodness Jaydan talked you into going on a date with him Sunday." My mother says relieved.

"Mom for the millionth time Jaydan and I aren't going on a romantic date just a friendly visit."

"I know darling but you can always be his girlfriend."

"His girlfriend?! Mom I barely know the guy and I only agreed on meeting him because I find him interesting not as a potential boyfriend." I say a bit loud.

"Don't be so dramatic, maybe someday you will see how great boyfriend he can be." My mother says.

"Mom, you barely know him, maybe he isn't as great as everybody thinks he is."

"All I'm asking is that you will be open minded, I don't want you to do something you'll regret later." my mother says as she takes my hand.

"Don't worry, I'll be open minded." I say as I hug my mother.

"Alright. Goodnight darling and don't stay up to late." My mother says as she leaves my room.

"I won't." I yell behind her before closing the door and breathing a sigh of relief.

Then my bathroom door opened and the Shadow came out leaning against the door frame arms crossed.

"You were saying?" he asks with a smile.

"I am not sure..."

"Come on Victoria think of how proud Prince charming will be when he finds out that you've caught a criminal."

"Who's Prince charming?"

"Your dear old Jaydan Stewart."

"Did you listen to my conversation? And how do you know he will be proud?"

"What else was I suppose to do while I waited, I was stuck in a bathroom and last I checked there wasn't very fun things to do in there. And who wouldn't be proud of their friend for solving a crime."

"Whatever. I have decided to help you but know this, if you make one wrong move I'll give my father all the evidence I have and tell him about this whole 'operation'."

"Alright fine, but I do have to ask what evidence you have on me?"

"I have a recording device hidden in my room and," I say as I walk over to my drawer and pluck out my binder with all the information on the Shadow, "this file full of things."

The Shadow takes the binder out of my hands and pages through it, looking quite intrigued with my information.

"Quite a little stalker, aren't you Sherlock?"

"I am not a stalker just a thorough investigator." I say as I roll my eyes.

"Whatever you say, here you better keep it as leverage even though you don't really need it."

"Well you are a thief and I don't trust you yet, but I am sure we can figure something out."

"Good now here is your communication device, it is Bluetooth activated so we will be able to talk over long distances, just put this thing in your ear and keep the radio with you and I will be able to contact you."

"Alright thanks."

"Okay thats that, please contact me if you get something and visa versa. Now I need to go do something, goodnight and see you soon."

And with that he was out of the window. After he left I closed the window and locked it.

Setting my Bluetooth communication device in my bed side drawer I wondered if I made the right decision to trust a criminal.

____________________________________
Hey guys
So this is chapter 5, I hope you enjoy it. And what do you think about the Shadow?

This will be me last update for this month, my exams are starting and I'm going to be quite busy, but if I get time I will update. I will definitely update again after the exam, in four weeks.

Thank you for reading.
Comment and Vote
~Amorie