Taking Death by G.E. Mason Page A

anyone's alarm bells. But first she had to make sure she didn't set off any alarm bells at this house.
    She picked the lock with a set she'd bought years before. The picks fit into her small hands easily as if they'd been made for her. With ease the lock clicked open. She had thirty seconds, but knew the panel was right inside the door. Her fingers moved quickly to detach the panel and attach the wire to one plugged into her phone.
    She counted to twenty. The light flashed that the system was disarmed. Thank you modern technology.
    The alarm company could probably give the owner the records that said the system had been disarmed at this time and date, but most people didn't thing about that.
    "Besides, with his collection, he might not know the egg is missing for a while."
    She thought briefly that her entry had been too easy , but she shrugged off her suspicions. No one knew that she was a thief. No one suspected an accountant would be a petty criminal.
    The egg collection sat in a locked room so Donna was not home free yet. Walking through the house to the stairs she hoped the owner didn't have a secondary alarm system. Or a motion sensor.
    No bells clanged as she slipped up the steps. The room sat in the front of the house. The owner had converted a large closet into a safe room.
    Cracking her knuckles she looked at the lock on the door. This one didn't have an alarm system. She stood on tiptoes and felt around the top of the door frame to see if a key had been left there.
    Paydirt.
    The door slid open when she unlocked it. This room had no windows so she could turn on the light. Before she stepped into it, she used the camera app on her phone to look for cameras without actually sticking her head into the room.
    She didn't see any. "I would have added another layer by putting up cameras."
    Shrugging, she decided it was her client's loss.
    The eggs were set in glass enclosed displays just like a jewelry store. Except none had locks on them. She located the one she wanted, slid it into a velvet pouch she'd brought then left the room.
    She locked the door before returning the key to its rightful place. As if she'd never been there.
    On the way out, she reattached the panel, resetting the code so on first glance the owner would not know anyone had been there.
    With the egg in her pocket, she walked back up the street to her car three blocks away.
    Hopefully the next weekend she could shop for a new car.
    ***
    The crowd at Ril ey's Pub never changed. Mostly cops which always brought a smile to Donna's face. She had secured the egg back at her house in a safe before meeting her friend and assistant.
    "You look like the cat that swallowed the canary," Kelly said.
    Did she look that guilty? "I'm just happy with the client I signed today. Well, not today, but he was assigned to me a month ago and we were finally able to meet."
    "Why? Not like you work on commission?"
    "No, but I like a challenging client."
    Donna slid onto the chair next to Kelly at the bar.  A jukebox played classic rock in the corner. This was a shot and beer bar. No fancy martinis. No drinks with odd names. Just good beer on tap.
    Donna ordered a Guinness. Kelly already had a lager in front of her.
    Kelly leaned closer. "Does he do illegal stuff?"
    Donna chuckled. "Nothing like that. Just some investments and collections that need to be considered when he pays his taxes. That's all. Nothing nefarious."
    Kelly looked down at the bar. "Oh, so you mean interesting for an accountant. Not for the rest of us."
    Donna feigned punching her. "What's going on in your life?"
    "Same old same old. Sadly. No guy, no future."
    Donna's mind wandered as Kelly whined a little. She wondered what she would steal next. But tomorrow she'd meet her fence.
    ***
    Donna strode into the pawn shop in a neighborhood she wouldn't normally frequent. The reason for doing business here was that the guy didn't ask too many questions.
    His front business was legitimate. He pawned jewelry and