A slow sigh slips softly from Shady_Shin’s lips. Lounging in his small office in a corner of his apartment complex, he sets down an ad flyer he had just finished reading. The Ace Art Gallery was holding a weekend long show, boasting wide claims of exceptional creative work sourcing from not only the thriving local art district but renowned archaeological treasures from Egypt. All that meant to the man was another heist to prepare for. Taking a drink from his whiskey and pop blend, Shin leans forward to move his telephone closer to him, picking up the receiver to flick the dials accordingly to call up his superior in crime, Shini. Leaning back into his chair, the lax man stretches as he awaits for the other end to pick up.

Shini sighed when he heard the phone ring, causing him to pause his typing for a moment. He grabbed the phone before continuing his work. “Thank you for calling the Angel Bowl, how may I help you?” He responded. The short male wasn't one for reading newspapers so as usual he was unawares of the going ons of the world outside of things involving The Life.

Grinning his usual smirk, Shady_Shin loudly declares, “Oooh, there’s quite a few things that you could.” His smile slips as he sits up straight, rubbing his chin. “It’s Shin, got a really sweet job lined up, I could use your help with it. Big payday, little risk. You want in?”

Shini shook his head, realizing he walked right into that one. “Sure, sounds good. I need a break from the paperwork anyway? Want to meet up somewhere to talk about it?” He responded, stopping his typing completely so he could focus more on the conversation.

Leaning back once more, Shin sighs as he runs his hand through his hair, mind wandering for a moment before giving a clear answer. “Tiki Burger Shack.” That said, the man hands up the receiver without hearing a reply, leaping up to his feet while setting his drinking glass aside. As he was already dressed in his white undershirt and black dress pants, he slips on his tribal blue coat before he immediately departs from his apartment, taking a casual walk towards the Boardwalk. He knew Shini would beat him there no matter how fast he went, so why rush?

Shini sat at a secluded table. Well, as secluded one could get while eating on the beach. While Shin took his time, he had ordered some food for the two to snack on since he was unsure if the taller male had eaten either. Not long after he settled down at the table, he spotted a familiar figure and waved so Shin knew where he was.

Shady_Shin grins broadly as he arrives to see Shini already perched with lunch in possession. He gives a nod as he sits down, exhaling loudly as he collects one of the burgers that was left for him. “Perfect timing,” he mutters before taking a chomp, chewing the bite down before regarding the boyish male across from him. “So, you’ve been well enough, yeah? New promotion and all that?”

“Yes, though I have been a bit busier but that was expected. What about you?” He asked before he took his own bite but out of a bratwurst.

“About the same, really. New perks, new duties.” He digs a spare hand into his coat, fishing out a folded flyer to offer towards Shini, the one he read earlier about the Ace Art Gallery. “Anyhow, long story short, bunch of goodies are on display at this gallery. Including stuff made out of gold. From the little homework I’ve done on the place, it’s going to be a pretty cut and dry job. Just going to need a little bit of… Wet work.”

Shini took the flier and looked it over. “Interesting. Do you already have something in mind?” He asked as he thought of all the ways and possibilities as well as the risks. One thing he was was cautious.

“Well…” Shady_Shin begins, waving his half-eaten burger around. “Long story short, I’ve got a tip that the owner of the place is uh, especially friendly to kids. Now if someone were to take a picture of him being tangled up with one, or with someone who looks underaged, that could be used as an one time looting-buffet ticket. Not to mention putting the sicko outta business.” His eyes stare towards Shini, who filled the description as quite the youthful persona.

Shini groaned. “Of course. He had to be one of those.” He said, noticing the look Shin was giving him. “Let me guess. I'm going to be the child?” He asked, not sounding the least bit surprised. Somehow it always turned out that way. “Alright but we're taking him for everything he’s got.”

Shady shrugs. “Bingo. Obviously I'll give you the lion’s share of the cut for having to mess around with all that. I’ll tail you two until he compromises himself, take a snap with a camera and that’ll be that. He’s married and has kids, so he should buckle to the blackmail.” He takes a couple bites from his burger, clearing his throat before he speaks again. “Already got funds set aside to take care of his family after we clean him for everything, just to be safe on the moral side.”

Shini thought about it. “Maybe we should threaten to show his wife then when we’re finished with him, just give the evidence to the cops? No one’s going to want him on the streets anyway. Besides, that way we’d be doing his kids and any other potential victims a favor. Even if he doesn’t get put into prison we both know someone out there will be more than willing to put a bullet in his head.”

“Had the same idea, I wasn’t planning on letting him go on like nothing ever happened. Don’t worry, the cops will throw him in prison. Then he’ll get to experience jail justice, those men in there know how to give a warm welcome.” Shady finishes off his burger with a few last bites, brushing off his lips as he stands. “He should be at the gallery now. Do what you need to, I’ll be in the wings with camera at the ready. Let’s get to it.”

Shini sighed as he walked into the gallery. He took a moment to appreciate the art as he prepared himself. It didn’t take long for Shini to spot the museum owner. Taking one last moment to put on his mask, he walked up to the man. “Hey, Mister? Are you the owner of this place?” He asked, knowing the question was pointless but was initiating conversation. The question got the owner’s attention which is what he wanted now to make sure he took the bait. To make sure he had his attention, he moved in front of the gallery owner to look up at the nearby picture. He could practically feel the owner staring at his behind, which made him mentally roll his eyes. Why were these things always this easy? He bent over to ‘tie’ his shoe to make sure the man was definitely interested. It wasn’t hard to tell from his new position they he did. In fact, it seemed that the other male was debating something before suddenly grabbing his behind which caused him to jump up and spin around. The man just smiled and apologized, saying he accidentally bumped into him as if he wouldn’t notice the difference  between getting felt up and bumped into. He pretended he didn’t notice the difference and walked on, the man following close behind him. Well, that wasn’t creepy. As he walked around, he kept an eye out for Shin. When he spotted the other to the camera, he gestured towards the men’s bathroom before turning to the man with a look of surprise as if he hadn’t noticed he was being followed, which made the man chuckle. He waited for the man to stop laughing before he asked another question. “Mister where’s the bathroom?” He asked, making the man grin as the man put a hand on his back and happily lead him into the bathroom, following him inside. Shini knew that he was making things risky by going to the bathroom with the man alone, but he thought a picture shot like that would make good material considering the man had groped him again as the owner opened the door for him, letting his hand way longer than necessary to be an accident.

Shady_Shin trailed behind the two, keeping a low profile as he changed his blue blazer out for a plain tan overcoat and a matching fedora to help mask his features. Tucked inside his jacket was an Argus A, a 35mm black-and-white camera capable of getting the shot required for the blackmail scheme. His lips contort into a distasteful frown as the owner, Jimmy Larz, approaches Shini and begins his ‘accidental’ probing. He hovers around, carefully taking a single snapshot of the two entering the bathroom from the outside, before quietly striding over to the door, catching it just before it closed to keep it cracked open enough to listen in for a cue or signal to take the prime photo.

Shini walked into a stall and locked the door, a thin layer of protection against the man that now wanted a piece of him. He looked down and noticed the man was standing right outside the stall door the whole time. After a moment, he flushed the toilet and walked out and noticed the man was standing close enough that he had accidentally hit him with the door. He then continued over to the sink where he quickly found himself pinned down between the counter and the owner as he leaned over to whisper something into his ear, squeezing his behind with both hands. Shini released a surprise squeak both to alert Shin and to hopefully get the man off him.

At the sudden noise, the tall and dark man slips into the bathroom, steadying his camera to take another incriminating shot that would surely condemn the gallery owner of his heinous desires. Jimmy, lost in his advances upon Shini, only had time to turn his gaze to the bright flash of the Argus A, breaking away from the boyish mobster as he tries to distance himself from the scene of the crime. But in the cramped bathroom, there was nowhere to run and his intentions were quite clear in the matter. Tucking the camera safely away into his coat, Shady chuckles darkly as he instead withdraws a stiletto blade, keeping it sheathed for now to simply put it on display. “My my, Jimmy. To think such an upstanding member of the artistic community would stoop so low to prey upon the youth of our society. What will the people say when they find out?”

Larz stammers in protest, quickly claiming it wasn’t as it seemed, but that was quickly silenced as Shin presses the release button on his blade, flicking the sharp metal edge out at full length. “Oh, I think I know what I saw, and it’s tucked away on my little camera friend here. I bet I could get an interview with the local paper, they’d love to cover a hot topic like this.”

Shini stood and turned frowning at the man. “Do you seriously think a kid wouldn’t notice the difference between getting bumped to and being groped?” He asked, leaning against the counter with his eyes crossed. “Give children some credit.” He tsked before glancing and Shin. “I’ve done this twice. This one here is the first one to actually grope me. Speaking of which, you sir are disgusting.”

There was little response that Jimmy could offer, his actions left him in a tight corner. Shady waves the knife around, sliding up to the man with a broad, disarming grin. “But hey, look. My friend here and I can very well forget all this ever happened, we are quite merciful people, ask around. But, all we’re going to need is you is to do yourself a favor.” The man stares back at Shin, switching his gaze between the two as Shin continues. “You and your people are working too hard, close down early today and send everyone home. Then, you go home to your family and leave those master keys of yours at the door. We’ll uh, lock up for you. How’s that sound?”

The protesting that nearly exploded from Jimmy was quelled as Shady raises his stiletto blade wearing a mocking expression. “Or I could slide on out of here and beat you home to your wife, show her how you lust after the little ones. You have kids, don’t you? She’d never let you see them ever again. And if word got out, oh man. This place would be stormed with people looking to tear you apart.” Shady steps back, offering a faint shrug. “Your choice, play ball or we’ll expose you for who you are. Also, touch Shini again and I’ll personally slice off every single digit you have. One at a time.”

The owner’s face faded from enraged and flustered red to ghastly pale white. Left with little choice, he shook his head up and down and left the bathroom in silence. Shady exhales loudly, clicking his switchblade to send the edge back down to the hilt.

“Well, the messy part is over. Let’s swing back around later tonight, see if our guy makes the right call.”

The pair slips out of the museum, taking slow strides to admire the expensive and rare artwork on display, making notes of which ones they wanted to take first later on. Venturing out for a couple of drinks to kill time, it wasn’t until dusk when they arrived back to the gallery. As fortune had it, the entire place was closed down, all employees and security guards told to take the evening off without doing any of the lock-up duties for the pieces of work. Furthermore, upon arriving at the entrance, Shin looked around and spotted something in the entry garden along the pavement, squatting down to pluck up a massive keyring with over two dozen unique keys. “Jackpot,” he mutters, going through multiple keys before finding the right one to open up the front door. He holds it open for Shini, giving him a smirk. “After you.” As the pair returns to the now vacant gallery, Shady stretches his arms above his head with a chuckle, glancing all around at the treasure cove of soon-to-be stolen goods.

“Well, everything turned out rather well, don’t you think Shini?”

Shini nodded. “And both of us got out unscathed despite someone being touchy feely.” He said as he looked at the paintings. “Shall we start from the front and work our way back?” He suggested before he locked the front doors. The last thing he wanted was someone walking in on them.

Shady laughs, nodding his head. “Yeah, let’s just take everything. There’s enough space in the cargo truck for just about anything we can carry. Got a contact from Asia who’s already lined up to melt down most of the gold we’re able to snatch, the other art work we’ll just pass around the blackmarket.” As the man begins to approach one of the Egyptian artifacts, a golden burial urn locked behind a glass display, he looks back towards Shini.

“So, those photos will be developed in a few days. I’ll let you do what you will with them.”

“Sounds good to me.” Shini said then looked at the urn. “If you see anything like that. It goes to the market, not in a smelter. I don't need anything following me around. I might be young but I know better than to mess with the dead.”

Shady_Shin twists his lips into a frown, staring over the container of ashes, observing the ancient engravings. “... Riiight.” He opts to leave it behind at that, moving on to the other works of art and long lost treasures. The pair pillage almost the entire gallery, taking their time and debating the pros and cons to each piece. Shady even brings out a cart to simply pile their ill-acquired goods aboard, making trips to and from the delivery truck they drove to the gallery. After a few hours of looting, Shady finds himself behind the wheel, drumming his hands excitedly against the rubber grip. “Payday must be a few millions dollars, huh? What you think? Surely people will pay top dollar for the stuff they dig out of those pharaoh tombs.”

“I’m sure they will. It’s not like they’re easy to get.” Shini said, making himself comfortable. “Kind of wish we would’ve taken a couple of fingers or even a hand from our friend. Oh well.” He said, watching other vehicles go by. “I think some of those pictures were rare pieces too. That Van Gogh piece will fetch more than a few pretty pennies.” He said as the drove away from the gallery and to a nice paycheck.

~

Celebrating a successful heist a couple weeks later, Shady_Shin and Shini met up at Pour Judgement for a few drinks, which led to much more on Shin’s part. Getting a little too carried away with mixing a variety of uppers and alcohol, he soon excused himself to have a bout with the toilet in the washroom, leaving his comrade behind while he purged his stomach in a most ungraceful manner.

While Shady went to the bathroom, Shini was listening to the radio when the local broadcast was interrupted by breaking news. Apparently, a Jimmy Larz had been convicted of being a pedofile and was gruesomly murdered in his cell two days after his conviction. The murderer happened to be Jimmy’s cellmate, who was ironically in jail for murdering the man who molested his eight year old son. Shini couldn’t help but chuckle a bit at the news. Well, karma really is a bitch, isn't it?.