Despite the calendar rolling to a new year, life marched forward, and I never got the chance to calm down, gather my thoughts, and craft thoughtful resolutions. And nothing bad happened. While it’s a little pedantic to assume the world would spin out of control, my point still stands. Every year, we use January 1st to set new goals. Sometimes we make good on them and can incorporate them into our lifestyle, yet more often than not I usually fail during the year, and vow to try again when this time rolls back around. So, instead of putting that kind of pressure on an arbitrary holiday, I’ll strive to do the best I can one day at a time, and if I fail, banish the thought from my mind and focus on the next day. Who knows, maybe this way I’ll actually embed some of the failed goals into my daily life.
However, that’s all beside the point. I’m currently in the middle of an exciting process which is still stealing a vast amount of my time. It’s still a little too early to divulge those details, but I’m eager for the day when I’m ready to announce them to everyone. For now, let’s focus on the results of my latest genre poll. The first genre selected by my patrons was a crime caper, and since I was excited to return to Jessica’s adventures, it was a perfect opportunity. Unfortunately, I needed some help with the story, so I grabbed my trusty story cubes and gave them a roll. When I poked through the results, I wondered how I’d incorporate a scale, a sleeping figure, and a record or file into Jessica’s latest tale. That is, until I cocked my eyes sideways, and a tale popped out of the depths of my mind.
So, find a comfortable corner on the couch and hunker down as we follow Jessica on her latest chance to sharpen her skills as a thief.
After bypassing the target’s security, Jessica stares at the prize and debates if she should complete the job for her client…
Jessica leaned against the doorframe, crossing her arms, and stared down her nose at her goal. The soft fabric covering her slender thumb traced her lips as her gaze flicked toward the obscured security camera. While a silence wrapped itself around her limbs, a shudder raced down her spine. She pushed off the door, closing the distance between her and the solitary cabinet. Her gloved hands traced the metal box as she scrutinized every inch.
Her chest stopped moving as she opened the drawer and peered inside. Jessica’s lips curled as she withdrew a thick folder. She eased the drawer closed and laid the file on top of the single piece of furniture. She lifted the top of the folder and examined the contents of the dossier. With a sigh, she pulled a phone from a pocket and placed a call.
“What’s wrong?”
Jessica’s fingers drummed along the papers as her eyes drifted toward the camera. “Even if I retrieve the hard copy, the digital version won’t disappear. So, why are you paying me to steal something that won’t help you?”
“I didn’t think you ever questioned clients.”
Tsking, Jessica removed a portable scanner from her pouch and began creating her own copy of the file. “Normally I don’t. However, there are times when current events force me to ask some poignant questions for clarity.”
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