Chapter 392: Be Bait.

Arnie fast forwarded to the second scene, at a gourmet chocolate shop. The old man coughed loudly, distracting the cashier. Meanwhile, the old woman slid two boxes of chocolate truffle bars into her oversized handbag. She replaced the stolen boxes with similar looking boxes.

"What’s in the boxes?" Mija asked.

Arnie and Grace shrugged. Mija quickly summoned one of the guards, gave him a card and requested that he purchase the fake boxes, if they were still available.

Sienna muttered, "They obviously did their research on what is sold in the shops of the resort mall. They came prepared."

Grace laughed. "In another life, I think I would have liked them. In this one, they are an obstacle I need removed."

Arnie moved to a third scene. At a wedding jewelry counter owned by the resort, the old couple posed as wealthy guests. The old woman claimed she was buying a gift for her ’daughter’s wedding.’ While the clerk wrapped a diamond bracelet, the old man swapped the real bracelet with a fake one from his pocket.

Not one guard or the other clerks and shoppers noticed.

Arnie chuckled. "Classic sleight of hand. They should livestream this and teach a class."

Sienna thought they were done but Arnie moved to another scene. At a toy store, the old woman distracted cubs by handing out free candy. The lights exploded, sending everyone into a panic. The old man used that chance to steal five triple foldable hoverboards and replace them with similar looking fakes.

"Toys, jewelry for a daughter....is it just me or...." Mija started.

"Don’t go there yet, Mija." Sienna cut in.

Mija nodded. "But I must say, their teamwork is impressive. Almost romantic."

Sienna snorted. "Romantic. That’s felony romance!"

Arnie looked at the two women and said, "They have stolen from at least six shops already. The cameras in all those stores were hacked. The fakes they used must be of high quality too, because nobody has caught on yet.

Grace sighed, "And they are just warming up. The couple always starts with small things before pulling off a big job. This is basically the appetizer."

"So what’s the main course?" Sienna asked, grabbing the holo-pad from Arnie. She scrolled through the list of stolen goods, muttering under her breath like an accountant at tax season. "Silk scarves: 120,000 beast coins. Jeweled hairpin: 300,000. Truffle chocolates: 50,000. Diamond bracelet: 2,500, 000. Hoverboards: 1,200,000. Perfumes, cloak and watch: 3,830,000."

Sienna’s eyes widened. "Eight million. In just three hours, they have stolen eight million worth of goods."

Mija clapped her hands. "They are the champions."

Sienna snorted. "Of crime."

Lord Grace leaned back smugly. "I will finish what Mija did not finish. It looks to me like they are planning a family reunion. Everything they have bought is for women your mother’s age. Or your age, and the grandkids. The question now is what do you plan to do about it?"

Sienna stared at the holo-screen, frozen on the image of the old couple, grinning like mischievous foxes as they strutted through the resort mall. She rubbed her temples. "A family reunion with stolen goods! Are they trying to make us accomplices? At the rate they are going, they will own the resort by midnight."

Mija chuckled nervously. "They are certainly creative and efficient."

There was some silence, as Sienna contemplated.

Lord Grace broke through the silence. "Let’s be realistic. Their final prize must be Missy or you, Sienna. Their goal is not your mother’s hacking skills or a family re-union. If they wanted to see their daughter, they would have reached out a long time ago. As a hacker, her father could have easily sent her a message.

But, nothing of the sort has ever happened. And now, they suddenly want to see you all? I think they plan to hack into your gadgets and steal your money. Maybe, they are even targeting the Veythar coffers."

Sienna stiffened. The thought of her family being targeted made her blood boil. "Then we don’t wait for them to make contact. We make me the bait."

Mija gasped. "Now, who is the crazy one?"

Sienna sighed. "We are fishing for experienced thieves. They won’t fall for any simple tricks."

Arnie raised an eyebrow. "You? Bait? You are too obvious, they will smell the trap."

Sienna crossed her arms. "Not if I play the role right." She stood, her cloak sweeping dramatically. "Here’s how we do it. I will parade through the mall with ridiculous purchases. Soren will go with me, whining about carrying everything. Ali will demand toys like a spoiled brat. I will look like a wealthy, overwhelmed mother in need of help. The perfect mark. If the target is me, I am sure they will kindly offer help eagerly and strike a conversation."

Arnie smirked. "And when they approach?"

Sienna’s eyes gleamed. "We capture them and ship them off straight to a prison where they will never be heard from again. My mother does not need to see them or ever know about them."

Mija clapped. "I approve."

The guard that Mija had sent returned with the two boxes of fake truffle boxes. Mija unwrapped them so quickly, smiling with glee. Inside, were truffle chocolates, sixteen in total. She sniffed one and took a bite.

The look on her face changed into disgust, and she spat the chocolate out.

"Pah, pah, pah. It tastes like mint toothpaste with lemon. The chocolate layer is licorice!! And not even the expensive kind, but the cheap dregs that are thrown out. This is a crime. A crime against all sweets!"

Sienna burst into laughter. "What were you expecting? They are replacing real stuff with fakes."

As she searched through her bag for a real candy that could wash away the abominable taste on her tongue, Mija replied, "I don’t know what I was expecting. But it definitely wasn’t that. For this alone, I support their arrest with all of my being."

After Mija’s tongue was cleansed, they focused on making a plan to entrap the old couple.

Lord Grace leaned forward and looked at Sienna. In his eyes was genuine worry. "Remember, the old couple is cunning. They have survived decades by tricking nobles. Don’t underestimate them."

Sienna’s eyes hardened. "I don’t. But I have a better understanding of them now. Their arrogance is a weakness. They think age makes then untouchable. I will prove otherwise."

The holo-screen flickered again, showing her grandparents entering a luxury hair salon. When they stepped out, an hour later, they didn’t look wealthy. They looked haggard. Their faces reflected the vicissitudes of life, etched in every wrinkle.

From the looks of things, they planned to approach her mother using the image of suffering. And given her soft heart, Missy Miller would open the door for the wolves.