Chapter 39

The third job involved stealing something…

 

Wakako… is this going to be a theme? Problem was I had to steal something from someone rich. I parked down the street from my target at a little shopping area. Grabbed some dinner and looked at the skyscraper that my target lived in.

 

This corpo was rich, had security, and owned a weird statue that my client wanted. I read through the mission brief again, shaking my head that I was literally stealing some fancy art piece for another rich guy to crow about.

 

Problem? This was a secure building. Like Hiromi’s home, but even more fancy. There would be serious security including actual people to keep everyone out.

 

So I needed to figure out a way through all of that, into the guys apartment, find the object, steal it, and escape without any issues.

 

I could do that… Probably?

 

I walked past the entrance of the building, scanning everything inside and checking what the bottom floor security was like.

 

It was tough. A receptionist. Two LMG turrets hidden in the roof. And a camera over the receptionist’s head.

 

The building was pretty big though, it had tons of little shops on the bottom floor. Rather than rush in, I decided to actually look around, a walk around the block to scope out the area.

 

There was a little alleyway cut into the side of the building with loading docks, and garbage dumpsters.

 

But it had a security camera watching over it. Of course.

 

“This is gonna be annoying.” I muttered as I completed my circuit. I had a few options, but none of them were very appetizing.

 

So I started poking. I walked to the alleyway and did something I hadn’t used yet. I breached into the camera from afar using the Breach Quickhack instead of the direct function, then once its systems were under my control? I turned it off. With that done I hid between a few dumpsters to see what would happen. If the security system was in any way well designed someone would come out to check on the downed camera…

 

Right?

 

I breached their system, and I wasn’t elegant about it, surely it would send an alert to their security room and someone would come take a look.

 

Right?

 

An hour later I felt utterly irritated.

 

What is this security!? Their system gets hacked and they just ignore it!?

 

I got up and stomped towards the rear door.

 

It had a keypad that I poked my cord into and started breaching.

 

It popped open.

 

“Mother fucker!” I hissed. This security was fake! It was radioshack level shit that someone had screwed in place to make the security seem tighter!

 

It was like those old padlocks you could just smack with a hammer and have them pop open. The image of security more than the fact.

 

I went cold as I stepped in. Fine, they have shit security, just makes my job easier… Even if I could still smell the trash I had been sitting next to for the last hour.

 

The back room was a loading area probably for the entire building, and not just the apartments.

 

It was also thankfully empty. With a few doors leading out, I started checking them.

 

Broom Closet, Kitchen, Main hallway, I could see the main street I had first walked up to the building from. And the elevators.

 

I smiled as I walked out of the back room, no one even looking my way and the only camera in the area in the front room not even looking at the elevators.

 

I pushed the request and it denied me.

 

Ah, stupid thing needed a passkey…

 

I thought about snooping around a bit, I bet I could find a few extra pass shards, in the lobby or something, but I just pulled out my cord and plugged it in.

 

The elevator opened up.

 

When I finished this job I was going to send a complaint about this building’s security. This wasn’t even fun.

 

I pushed the eight on the touchpad, and waited as it took me up. The target had a private floor for his home, so once I was up there, security might be harder. Might actually give me a challenge.

 

The elevator opened and I could already hear voices.

 

The elevator opened into a small entrance lobby, with a single door leading into the apartment. I peeked out of the elevator, searched for cameras quickly before walking out of the elevator.

 

Nothing.

 

The door had a little code lock just like the building’s back door.

 

I frowned, sticking my cord inside I breached.

 

The door clicked open.

 

I was glad I was feeling cold right then, because that was so dumb. You live in Night city! Why don’t you have security!?

 

I slipped inside. Two voices.

 

A male and a female. Head on a swivel I kept searching for any security, There was actually an HMG turret recessed into the floor in the first room…

 

But it was off, and manually controlled from what my scan was showing. So I didn’t have to worry about it unless the owner noticed me.

 

I walked past it, started scanning everything looking for the object that Wakako’s Client wanted.

 

Nothing in the front lobby, I slipped a peek towards the… Kitchenette? No a bar. The apartment owner had company… I think that was a Doll. Or a Joytoy. She reminded me of Evelyn Parker from the game. Similar style, very neokitsch.

 

Definitely an escort. I looked away, that should keep them busy for a bit. I slipped past the open door to the long hallway and started checking rooms. First room was a small office. A laptop called me, but it wasn’t what I was here for. Next room was an entertainment room, a big couch, a large TV, even a BD wreath on a table.

 

Guy liked his fun.

 

But not my target. Stupid little statue thing!

 

I had to slowly maneuver myself upstairs thankfully just out of sight from the bar, and started checking the rooms up there. Interestingly, the first room I checked was a massive bathroom, like huge. A pool more than a bathtub.

Stolen novel; please report.

 

Instant jealousy. I wanted a massive hot tub bathtub! I pouted, I didn’t even have time to look around it, no statue, so I slipped out to the next room.

 

As I was about to open the door I heard them.

 

“C’mon Hellena, let me show you something.” I stilled waiting. Were they coming up or staying on the ground floor?

 

The moment I heard a foot step on the stairs I got my answer. I slipped into the room I was about to enter and slowly inched the door shut then I turned around.

 

“Fuck.”

 

Bedroom.

 

I glanced around, I needed a hiding spot. Bed? No it was a massive thing that was attached to the floor. Doors? Two, one definitely attached to the bathroom.

 

I checked the other one, slipping into the closet. It was a walk-in closet, practically a room on its own. Tons of clothes on hangers and shoes. It smelled like a store.

 

I just inched the door shut when the bedroom door opened.

 

Giggling and whispered nothings.

 

Oh.

 

Eww.

 

I sighed silently as I heard the bed start creaking.

 

This was going to be a while.

 

It was not a while.

 

Ten minutes later, both of them were breathless although I could tell the Joytoy was faking it, and they both got up and slipped into the bathroom.

 

Thank fuck the guy didn’t have a Mr. Studd.

 

Once I was sure they were both in the bathroom and its stupid massive pool bathtub, I slipped out of the closet.

 

The statue wasn’t here.

 

I slipped out into the hallway without a sound and looked around. Now that they were in one room, I could check around.

 

It didn’t take long. The statue was on a little cabinet in the room with the bar. I hadn’t been able to see it from the entrance.

 

I checked it for security.

 

Nothing. I grabbed the damn thing and headed for the elevator, wanting to stomp the whole time.

 

I was glad that was over.

 

—–

 

I pulled up to Jig-Jig street having cooled off a bit.

 

Seriously, how can they allow such poor security!?

 

I walked into Wakako’s parlor arms full of stuff as I walked into her office.

 

As usual she was already waiting for me, her eyebrow raised as she saw my arms full.

 

“Here is everything.” I told her placing the statue in front of her, along with the laptop, and a shard in a row. “Also you would think better security systems would be important in Night City, but people really don’t focus on it.” I vented to Wakako.

 

“Netrunners are required to stop another netrunner. Usual policy is to hire guards if you want something protected.” She offered, surprising me as she actually responded to my whining.