"I'm sorry but we'll be closing soon ma'am," Jess was explaining to a customer, who was having an argument with her husband on the phone for the past tense minutes leaving her food untouched. When Jess talks to her she seems to finally realise where she is,and ends the call. 

  Once the customer leaves we close down the place I leave, quickly heading to my hideout in order to change. Once disguised, I go to the bar and take a seat. I sent a message to Rod that I'd arrived. 

  In a moment a guy that I had seen the last time, sat opposite me. He has long hair tied in a bun and a mustache. He has on, a simple white shirt and ripped black jeans. And also has a tattoo poking out of his collar. 

  "I'm Rod. I'm the owner of this bar. It's nice meeting you. "

  I am a little surprised. 

  "Yeah. Nice meeting you too. "

  "So, getting down to business. I'm sure you heard about Mr. Saotome in the news. I'm very interested in the carpet. Do you think you can steal it for me? "

  "The security is extremely heavy and the police have become smarter. I will definitely try but I can't give you my word. "

  "Sure, sure. The thing is I will immediately collect it and get out of town. So I will be paying you full. While you're there, you can pick up anything of value. "

  "Fine. "

  "So, you'll do it? "

  "Yeah sure. "

  "Here's the money. " He pushes an envelope to my side of the table and says " I'll be in contact with you. If you need anything just ask me. " And he leaves the table.

  I leave the bar and go home as quickly as I can. I'm gonna start making a plan tomorrow. For now I need a good night's sleep. I worked like crazy today at the Street Pans. I had to do a lot of washing and cleaning 'cause Sam couldn't come and I had to do his work too, besides the normal serving job I do. 

 *****

  I woke up, not so early today. I was planning on waking up early but since I somehow remembered to close the curtain yesterday night, there was nothing to wake me up. It was already ten o'clock by the time I actually woke up. I have breakfast and tell mum that I'm going out. I need to go to a quiet place to come up with my plan. I need to be better than last time. So I decided, what better place was there than my hideout. Once I reach there I think it best to stay in disguise, just in case someone decides to drop in. 

  I look up the mansion on the internet. There are pictures of the inside as well but I can't get a clear picture of how the interior is actually designed. I don't think there is a chance for me to go in as me like the last time. I'll have to choose a perfect timing. Luckily his schedule isn't a private matter as reporters keep announcing the places he will be visiting and when. I suppose I'll keep myself updated about his whereabouts. The day he goes out at night, that time I will strike. 

  He still hasn't gone out much. He still seems to be arranging things in his mansion. 

  By the looks of it, his security system is way more advanced than anything I've ever seen. The only thing is that it's mostly electronic. The number of security guards is very small. I can't seem to find a way around it though. The best thing to do would be to disable it. That puts me at a high risk. A security guard will definitely alert Mr. Saotome as well as the police. If the security system is tripped then the neighbors will also be alerted. So disabling it will be the best option. 

  I spend a whole four hours looking at news updates, old as well as new to get a look at whatever parts of the mansion I can. Once I am done with that I can almost get a clear picture of the garden. Mr. Saotome seemed to be a very private person. He didn't allow any of the reporters inside the mansion and was also hesitant while letting them into the garden. 

  He has a lot of plants in his garden but hiding behind them won't be a good idea. There are cameras and sensors all over the garden. The question is, how will I be able to disable the security system? That is something tricky. I know there are devices that can be used and I can ask Rod for help. But that will most probably, immediately alert Mr. Saotome, which will leave me with very little time to loot the house. Is there any way, other than breaching security? If there is, I can't think of it right now. 

  Rod was the owner of the bar. He was also known in the NETWORK. He told me, if I can do this job, he will give me the level three pass. So I am determined to go through with this. I am getting close to my goal. I can't give up now. 

 I finally decide to head home for lunch since I am getting nowhere with the plan. Although I couldn't come up with a plan, I got more information about the owner of the mansion. I also got a good glimpse of where all the cameras were placed in the garden. The satellite map was of little help to me this time but I was able to get a good view of the mansion. 

  Once I am home, I have lunch and before I can go back to my room to get changed for work, mum stops me and asks me to sit back at the table. I wonder what's going on? 

  Mum and dad are seated in their places and I am in mine, at the table. Adam and Tony, keen to get their ears on some gossip, sit themselves on the stairs. Emilia is in the kitchen doing the dishes but I'm sure she's all ears as well. Gosh were they nosy! 

  Mum spoke first, " We received a call from the school earlier. "

  I am surprised. Why would they call mum? Yeah, she and dad have phones. 

  She suddenly smiles widely and so does dad. Now I am completely confused. First they act serious, now they smile. Are they trying to confuse me? 

  "Congratulations son, you got the sports scholarship. " Says dad. 

  I can't believe it. Is this real? It must be. My parents will not joke about something like this. I can't contain my excitement. I don't know what to do, so I just smile. 

  "So you're gonna have to decide what to do. The scholarship is for New Toates. It's far away. If you wanna go, you gotta live there. " Continues dad. 

  "Let me think over it for a while. " I reply. I didn't really think I would get the scholarship so I wasn't sure where I would have to go. This is something I have to think about. If I do go there, then I have to leave the Masked Bandit behind. I can't go there and be him. That will be risky. 

  "Sure. But make a wise decision. This a chance you're never gonna have again. Whatever you choose both dad and I will support it. " Says mum with a smile. I feel a sense of achievement. I really want them to be happy. It's moments like this, that I really felt ashamed of being a thief. 

  "Yeah."

  As I go upstairs to my room, both Adam and Tony congratulate me. Once I am in my room, I get myself ready and head to the Street Pans. It's easier today as they hired a new person to work since Sam was sick and in the hospital. I don't know what happened to him and don't ask. 

  After my shift, I return home early as Dan decides to close early today. Mum has just started preparing dinner and dad hasn't gotten home yet. 

  " Mum, where are Adam and Tony?"

  "They're bird watching. " She says. 

  "Since when do they do that? " I ask, surprised that they'd found a new hobby. 

  "Since a bird decided to make its nest on that old log in the backyard. " She replies. 

  "I'll just go check on them then. "

 "Sure. And call them in for me will you. "

  "Yeah, sure mum. "

  So I go into the backyard. I see them hiding behind a tree looking at the nest from a distance. Tony is looking through a camera and is ready to click a picture, while Adam is probably waiting for the bird to arrive to give Tony a heads up. 

  "Get ready…..and go. " Says Adam. 

  Just then the bird that comes, flies to a tree, nearby and then flies away. 

  "Oops! False alarm. Wrong bird. " Says Adam, looking sheepish. 

  And then Tony starts scolding him for getting him all excited. 

  "Hey guys! " I say to them, "Mum's calling y'all. "

  "Just a moment. I want a picture of the bird. " Says Adam, once again concentrating on the nest. 

  "Maybe it left the nest because it didn't like a certain nosy person. " Says Tony, clearly talking about Adam. 

  "Oh, come on. It couldn't have left already. "

  "Anyways, just come on in. If it hasn't left it will be there tomorrow. "

  "Yeah." Says Tony, looking fed up. 

  He gave the camera to Adam, who says that he'll wait for another minute just in case it comes back, whereas Tony and I head back in. 

  "For how long have the two of you been at it? " I ask. 

  "For about an hour or so. " Says Tony. 

  "Hmm."

  While I am going to bed, something about the scene I had seen was stuck in my head. I kept thinking about it. 

  False alarm. That's what Adam had said. False alarm. 

  I got it! I can use that in my plan. A false alarm!