Chapter 23 Wright Savings Bank Heist

Kiaria

It was fun shopping, but we had to get moving, if not, we'd be stuck here forever. I bought a cute mauve pink sleeveless tie neck sheath dress that went down just above the knee. It was pink, but not too bright which I loved. I had some neutral pumps and a clutch that would match the outfit so I didn't need to buy accessories. I also got a long sleeve white chiffon blouse and a pair of beige slacks for a business yet casual look for fall. Now, I had to go buy some pajamas for my mom and dad.

"Thank you so much. I'll definitely come here again if I need to spice up my wardrobe," I told the owner. She was someone in her late twenties who moved here from Idaho. When she heard I was Winston Wright's daughter, she automatically gave us VIP treatment. Apparently, my father's bank gave her the capital to start her own business.

"Please do and if you can, tell your friends to visit my boutique," Hannah said.

"I promise, I will," I replied. Anthony or Toni with an I came to mind. Perfect endorser.

"I still need to buy pajamas," I reminded Io, before getting into the car. "There's a store where my mom always goes to when she wants new socks. It's near my dad's building."

"The dollar store near your dad's office? Sakura goes there?" Io asked, surprised.

"My parents know the owner. We've been shopping there since I was a little girl," I told him.

"Okay. Just surprised that's all. Most rich people I know wouldn't dare go near a place like that," Io explained.

"Well, we aren't most people. My parents are simple people. Nothing changed when they became rich." I hopped into the car and tossed my bags into the back.

"Where did you go to high school?" Io asked as he backed out into the street and maneuvered the car into ongoing traffic.

"Whitefish High," I answered.

"Public high school? You must have been the boss in your school then. Practically untouchable."

"Nope. I went through the usual teenage angst. I'm adopted. My mom's a skanky Asian immigrant. My dad embezzled money. That sort of thing," I said.

"Wait. The kids in your school would say that?!" Io's voice sounded shocked. "Well, they were probably jealous."

"I don't think so," I said, not agreeing with him. "I mean, why should they be? We are just like any normal family. Anyway, I'm in college now and I don't hear any of that BS anymore. So basically, I've moved on." I paused, puzzled by the loud sirens in the distance. "And now I'm getting married to a man who's practically a celebrity. Yep, I've moved on." I smiled at him.

"I'm not a celebrity. I have a feeling when word gets out about you, your face will be splashed on billboards. Anyway, is it that store you want to go to?" Io asked, nudging his head towards the direction of the store. "I don't think we can go to that store. There's flashing lights and yellow tape everywhere."

Traffic was at a standstill and a crowd was gathering. The police were parked infront of my dad's building, the headquarters of his bank. I whipped out my phone to find out what was happening when I noticed I had ten missed phone calls...all from my mom. I dialed her number and she answered almost instantly.

"Kiaria, I have been trying to get a hold of you! I thought-," she burst into tears.

"Mom, calm down. What is going on?" I asked.

"There's a robbery happening at the bank. There are armed men who have already killed three people. It's all over the news. I remembered I asked you to buy me pajamas and I thought you were there."

"Have you heard from dad?" I asked her. I could feel the anxiety and anger bubbling inside me.

"A while ago. He called to say he'll be giving into the demands of the thieves and not to worry. That was the last I heard from him," she answered, her voice filled with worry.

"I'm here stuck in traffic because the police has cordoned the whole area. I'm going to check. I'll keep you posted, Mom."

"Kiaria, whatever you do, don't go-"

"I won't, Mom. I'm just going to ask for an update from whoever's in charge. Don't worry. I'll call you as soon as I get an update," I told her.

"Okay, honey. Keep safe." My mom hung up. I looked at Io and he had a worried expression on his face.

"It's a heist isn't it? Let's park the car and see what's happening." I nodded my head meekly. I was just so angry and worried at the same time.

My hands were shaking uncontrollably. I decided to call my dad, but his phone was off. Oh, please, Moon Goddess, help my father!

"Kiaria, you can help save your father. You have powers, powers you can wield to take control of the thieves. Channel your power from your pendant and direct it to the criminals," Selene, my wolf, instructed.

"How? What do I do? Tell me. I need to save my dad."

"Focus. Think of what you want done in your mind. But first chant these words..."I AM A DAUGHTER OF THE POWERFUL WOLF PRIESTESSES OF OLD. I COMMAND THEE TO BOW TO MY WILL," Selene said.

"Okay." I glanced at Io and he was concentrating on getting to a parking space. It's now or never. "I, Kiaria, am a daughter of the powerful priestesses of old. I command thee to bow to my will," I chanted. I felt heat coming from my pendant. I looked down at my chest and picked the pendant up with my fingers. The moon was emitting a bluish-white light that spread to the stars, then spreading over the whole pendant. The light then moved to my fingertips and I felt an initial tingling sensation which gradually changed to warmth. It spread all over my body. I saw my reflection in the windshield and I saw my eyes were glowing like gold.

"Oh my gosh, Kiaria. You're glowing," Io said, stunned. I inhaled and exhaled. I felt a force radiating throughout my body. It was power. Power I thought never existed.

"For the greater good, Priestess Kiaria," Selene said. "Now, make haste. You have the power of invisibility and disguise. Enter the building. No one will see you. Don't worry, I will be with you to aid you."

I opened the door and exited the car before Io could stop me. I ran around the crowd and entered the area that was surrounded by tape. I saw a police officer standing near me. It's time to test if I can become invisible.

"Focus, Kiaria. You will not be seen if you will it," Selene assured me.

"I'm invisible," I said to myself. I took a deep breath. I walked infront of the police officer. He didn't even stop me. I waited for people among the crowd to see me. They didn't.

"Kiaria wait!" Io tried to cross the yellow police barrier tape, but the police officer I had just passed blocked his path. "Officer, my fiancé, she's there!" Io pointed at me. I waved at him and placed my finger on my mouth to shush him.

"Sir, we're doing everything we can to subdue the suspects," the police officer said, thinking Io was pointing at my dad's bank.

I left Io and Marcus who continued to bargain with the police officer and decided to enter the building through the basement parking area of the building. From my vantage point, the main entrance was barricaded and heavily guarded. But first, I needed to know how many suspects were trying to rob the bank. I needed to eavesdrop on the detectives at the scene. I saw one of them enter a white utility van which must be where they set up temporary headquarters. I walked over to the van and slowly opened its back door, just wide enough for me to hear what the people inside were saying.

"The one holding Winston Wright makes ten suspects," I heard one of them say. "Do you have eyes on each floor?"A woman seemed to be in charge.

"Not yet. Swat team is already inside setting up visuals, Ma'am."

"We need eyes and ears inside, boys and girls. Can anyone confirm where Winston Wright is being held?"

"Ma'am, on the fifth floor." My father's office is on the fifth floor. Five is his lucky number. Alright. I know where he is and how many criminals to expect. Time to head inside.

There was a utility elevator in the basement parking. Not a lot of people knew about it so I felt it was safer for me to get inside the building that way instead of waltzing in through the main entrance like Selene said. I'll go help my father first before I go downstairs to the ground floor.

The utility elevator opens to the utility area of every floor so my father's cleaning staff can come and go without having to share the elevator with any snobby clientele. My father disliked the whole idea of having a utility elevator, but after one his clients made a scene, he decided his cleaning people should have their own elevator to avoid all the hurtful things high society pricks say.

I took the elevator and exited the fifth floor. The utility room was empty.

"Open the door and take a sniff to see if anyone is on this floor," Selene said.

"Sure thing," I said, agreeing with her. I opened the door, just a tiny bit, and sniffed. "I think someone needs to take a bath. It smells awful, Selene, like garbage."

"Characteristic rogue scent," Selene said with certainty. "Since rogues have been banished like used trash, they have a certain scent. However, there is an elixir that hides the rogues' rancid stench. I think the ones stealing from your father either forgot to wear the elixir or they are so nervous, the effectiveness of the elixir diminished. Anyway, we are dealing with a team of rogue wolves, Kiaria. They are not bound by rules or laws. They will kill even if it is unwarranted."

"So, what do I do now?" I asked.

"Knock him out or is it knock him down?" Selene said, trying to lighten the situation by a joke. I rolled my eyes. "Just hit the poor wolf with his gun."

I opened the door and saw two men standing beside the door to my father's office.

"Selene, it's knock them...them. More than one." I shook my head in utter disbelief.

This wasn't going to be easy. Not one bit.