A Sign For Aiden

CHAPTER 1

TODAY IS A GOOD DAY.

ELIAN

Contrary to popular belief night time is the worst time to steal. The dumbass who came up with the idea was definitely a burglar. In my line of work that advice means jack shit. The advice I like to go for is; the early worm gets the fattest apple or something like that.

When the sun's up people have the illusion that they are safe that the light brings some sort of security.

They're wrong. Personally, I like crowded bustling areas where everyone is on their phones; angry about their boss, about their wives, about their messy kids. All of this brings distraction and a single second is all I need for what was theirs to become mine.

I lean back against a traffic light patiently waiting for my next victim. a lady in ridiculously high heels limps across the sidewalk. With a single glance I can tell she's using every ounce of willpower she has to not trip and fall. I smile as my eyes narrow in on her dainty gold bracelet or rather my dainty gold bracelet.

I keep a distance of at least 2 feet from her. You don't want to be too close. You don't want to stand out in any way shape or form. I'm wearing tan pants, a gray sweater and a black baseball cap. So bland, so ordinary, I even slouch a little so I look like I'm the average height for men.

Just as she takes a brief moment to adjust her toes inside the leather prison, I move. A single swipe of my hand and the pretty bracelet is in my pocket. I sigh with content as I search for my next victim. Today is a good day. I can feel it. I walk a good distance away from the unfortunate lady. When she realizes her bracelet is gone I shouldn’t be anywhere near her at all.

A man in black catches my eyes as he exits a bakery, his head bent distracted by whatever text or message he received. In his right hand is a beautiful leather wallet. I suppress a grin as I promptly follow behind him. He stands in front of a traffic light, waiting for it to turn green. I wait with him, the second the light changes I move with the crowd, with a slight of hand his leather wallet is inside my pocket.

Once the crowd is on the other side, I make a walk for it. I don’t run because that draws attention. I walk as fast as averagely possible until I’m safely out of the vicinity. I never steal from the same area more than twice. Now that the morning rush has passed, I go home to wait again for the next rush hour.

My house is nothing special, it's just a shitty combination of peeling wallpapers, worn out carpets and faulty sinks. The only good thing about it is the people who live there; my twin siblings, Martin and Mara. Ever since our parents died I've done all I can to keep them away from child protective services, they are my siblings I can protect them just fine I don’t need the help of our crappy government.

Before I get home I make sure to buy some fresh bread and a crate of eggs. If tonight goes well perhaps I can surprise them with some pizza, especially martin who would easily sell his soul for a slice. I fish out the keys from my pocket and pry open the rickety lock.

“ELI!” Mara squeals the moment she sees me, rushing into my arms.

“Hey kiddo,” I run my hands through her messy curls, “have you finished your chores?”

“yesssssss!” she replies peering into the bag in my hand “What did you Buy? I'm starving.”

“Just sit tight, I'll make some peanut butter and jelly sandwich for you.”

“but we ate that yesterday! And the day before that, and the day before that, and-”

“Alright smarty pants tomorrow I'll make something different alright? Just manage this for today.”

She sighs, “alright."

“Where's martin?”

“he’s painting.”

I hand over the groceries to Mara and go see my little picasso. Martin makes such ridiculously good drawings it makes my heart ache whenever I see them. When God took away his hearing he rewarded him with talent. He should be attending some top notch art school or something like that instead he's in this shitty apartment making art with supplies I found in a dumpster.

I find him hunched over a painting of a soon to be cat, his brows arched in concentration. I tap his shoulder gently, 'hey buddy' I sign.

'Hey' he signs back.

'What’s this one called?'

'A furry dream' he signs, paint stained hands shaking with excitement.

'Well maybe you should take a break? I brought food.'

His face lights up, 'pizza!?'

I chuckle, 'well it is made of flour…:

He grimaces all the excitement seeping out of his blue eyes.

My heart stings with guilt. He deserves better than this, better than me, 'well maybe if you’re done with a furry dream I might exchange it for some pepperoni pizza.'

The light returns to his eyes as he tackles me in a hug. I burst out laughing. These are the moments I live for, the moments that make this hell of a life worth living.

Once I make sure the twins are fed, I teach them some math, English and history. After ‘school’ they can finally have a break. I take them to our neighbor’s house who has a son their age. With the house empty I can now examine my spoils.

“Not bad.” I mutter studying the bracelet. It should be worth at least two hundred dollars so next month’s rent is covered. Then I bring out the wallet.

“What the fuck!?” I gasp in disbelief. Ten one hundred dollars stare back at me, fresh and new, Not a speck of dust or a single crinkle. I count them again to make sure I’m not in some fucked up dream fortunately I'm not, “whooooohooooo!!!!” I cheer. I can't wait to see the look on Martin's face when I bring home two large pepperoni pizzas tonight.

I halt my mini party when I notice a folded up piece of paper nestled inside, curiously I open it. It reads; “Dear Elian Carpenter, do well to meet me at the clock tower at midnight. I have a job offer you may like. P.s I know where you live.”

My heart drops. What the hell!? How did this person know my name? Maybe it’s not me? I mean there are millions of Elian Carpenter right? I can’t be the only one right?

“Fuck Eli how could you be so stupid!” I throw the bills across the room. I should have known, I should have known it was too good to be true. I read the note over and over again searching for any hidden clues or anything I may have missed but it’s a really straight forward message; come or you’re fucked.

I don’t bother going for my evening shift. My head is anywhere but in the right space plus I can’t stop trembling like a leaf in spring. If I go out like this I’ll be caught in a second. The moment I tuck martin and Mara in I run to the grocery store to purchase a pocket knife. If they were going to take me down the least I can do is make it a little difficult for them.

Midnight rolls around too quickly. I put on my big boy pants and head over to the clock tower making sure I stay close to the shadows, my eyes peeled all around me. Suddenly a car zooms down the road parking right in front of me. I swallow nervously, my hands gripping the knife in my pocket. The wind shield rolls down and an old woman peers at me.

“Ah Mr. Carpenter, come in.” in the dark night I can see the string of pearls around her neck.

I look around the street but there is no one in sight. “w-what do you want?”

She smiles, “I don’t think it's appropriate for us chat on the road like barbarians."

I take in a shuddering breath as I enter the jeep. The interior is all dark polished leather. it looks exactly as I imagined.

The old lady stretches out her perfectly manicured hands, “quite lovely to meet you mr carpenter I’m Cecilia smith.”

I cautiously take her hand in mine, “how do you know my name?”

She gestures to the passenger’s seat, “I had Mr. Cradle go through the trouble.”

I look towards the passenger’s seat. The man whose wallet I took this morning is comfortably seated, a smile tugging at the edge of his lips, “hey there buddy nice to see you again.”

I swallow nervously, hurriedly reaching into my pocket to take out the wallet, every single bill intact, “I’m sorry for stealing from you,” I say trying to keep the fear out of my voice, “it was wrong of me, please take it back.”

Cecelia chuckles, “it’s yours darling you need it more than we do.”

“but-“

“That's not why I called you all the way out here at such an ungodly hour Mr. Carpenter, I would very much like we get to the point.”

I nod.

“You are a very smart man, Mr. Carpenter, and I'm in need of one of your skills.”

I cock an eyebrow, she must be joking right? “ok?”

“If you accept my offer you will receive the sum of two hundred and fifty thousand dollars and then after the job is done properly another two hundred and fifty will be yours.”

I gape at her, did I just hear correctly? “f-five hundred thousand dollars??!!”

“Yes.”

This can’t be real. This can’t be real, “what do I need to steal for you l-like jewelry or something?”

She winces, “I don’t quite like that term Mr Carpenter obtain or collect will be more suitable.

“Alright, what do I need to collect for you?”

She looks towards Cradle, “Mr. Cradle please.”

Cradle passes me an envelope. Inside are pictures of the most magnificent house I have ever seen, straight out of a magazine, I stare at the pictures in awe, people actually lived in a place like this? Incredible.

“Do you recognize that house?” Cecelia asks.

“No I don’t.”

“That mansion belongs to the stone family, the famous creators of Stallion automobiles. I suppose you have heard of them?”

I look around the stunning interior of the car, “I mean they made this car right?”

She smiles, “You are a lot smarter than you look Mr Carpenter.”

I genuinely can’t tell if that is a compliment or an insult, either way I’ll take it.

.”You see,” she explains, “the former head of Stallion automobiles was going to launch a very...special car that could potentially change the course of technology as we know it. Only problem is that car isn’t his to launch or his family’s for that matter.”

“So you want me to obtain the car?”

“No, I want you to obtain the blueprint for the car. It’s sitting somewhere within that giant monstrosity of a house. Find it, give it to me. Plain and simple.

“What if I get caught?”

“Don’t.”

“And if I refuse your offer?”

She grins causing a shiver to run down my spine, “then I may have to call our friends at the police station. I wonder where your lovely siblings will go if their dear big brother is gone.”

My heart stutters, “So basically I don’t have a choice?”

“Bingo.”