Avoid if triggered by misplaced apostrophe's. (essayel) wrote in morningstar_mnr, @ 2010-06-01 08:18:00 |
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Entry tags: | au, chas, npc |
AU - Just after midnight, City Airport.
If you were fast on your feet and knew your way about, the airport could be a really good place to hang out at night. Most travellers were careful of their belongings but some weren't and some, and especially the long haul passengers, were tired enough to be careless.
Sean Fletcher knew all this and had put the knowledge to good use already once tonight in stealing a purse that had been left hanging on the back of a chair. The lady hadn't even noticed him hook it as he had brushed past and he had been across the concourse with the purse safely tucked inside his jacket when he had heard her scream. A brisk walk to the john on another level and he had emptied the purse of valuables. There had been credit cards, an iPhone and quite a lot of cash and he was contemplating calling it a night. He knew where he could find a buyer for the ID and the phone and then he could score. But he hung on for a while because he was hungry.
It was while he was taking the last bite of his burger that he spotted his next mark. Sometimes they were so obvious he was astonished that security couldn't target them as easily as he could. This one was a man, but that was no problem. He was lightly built, medium sized and had that glazed look that suggested he had been travelling for a long time. He also looked far too hot in the thick rather hairy tweed jacket and corduroy pants he was wearing. As Sean watched he put down his suitcase and took a handkerchief from his pocket to mop his top lip. He checked his watch, a flash of gold, then looked around and picked up his case and began to look for the exit.
Sean took a final swig of Pepsi and dumped the can and the burger wrapper in the trash then followed. Then man looked at his watch again and stepped out into the heat of the night. Outside was the usual scrum of people grabbing cabs but the traveller didn't join them. He looked around, obviously hoping to see someone waiting then gave a visible sigh and walked along the front of the building to the bank of pay phones. He set his case down and studied the phone then took his wallet from his pocket, picked up the receiver and began to dial.
Sean stepped forward quickly, grabbed the case with one hand and snatched at the wallet with the other.
"Hey!" the man said, shocked and dropped the wallet as he began to turn. Sean gulped, unwilling to be seen and gave him a shove. His head cracked against the housing of the phone and his knees crumpled. Sean saw the blood begin to flow and took to his heels, damning the luck and hoping he hadn't been seen.
But nobody shouted, nobody gave chase. He just loved living in a place where people minded their own business.