Casey Larson's POV
2 years later in Los Angeles
New mission, means new car. I know what you're thinking. How does that work? Well, that's what happens when you're the best car thief in the country. Oh, right. You don't know who I am. My name is Casey Larson. Most people call me Shadow Rider though. My boss, Phantom, gave me that nickname when I first started working for him. Since I work in the shadows, and I never get caught. Also, from time to time, I race in an illegal street racing circuit - not like there are many out there that are legal.
Anyway, today, Phantom asked me to steal a Bugatti Chiron for our car ring. Yes. Our. I am the underboss of Phantom's gang, which also means I am the only one who knows his real name. Not that I would tell you that information anyway. So that's where I'm headed. To the busiest corner of LA, Rodeo Drive.
In my Toyota Corolla - don't judge, I need to make sure I don't attract any unnecessary attention - I listen to rock music to get my blood pumping. The more adrenaline I have pumping through me, the better the outcome will be. Looking at the time, I see it's already 10:37pm. Good, the later it is, the better. My thoughts get interrupted by my personal phone's ringtone. Looking at the caller ID, I see it's Phantom. calling. With that in mind, I pick up the phone, not expecting what's going to come out of his mouth.
"Rider, be careful tonight. Those fuckin' cops are out looking for you. Apparently, someone in the gang tipped them that you were out tonight, Thank fuck they don't know what you're going after or you would be a dead man walkin'," Phantom says frantically. "Wait, who the hell tipped those rodents? Did you get them?"
Phantom sighs into the phone. "No, not yet. I have Blaze lookin' through everyone right now, but no news yet." Shit man. Well, whatever. I have a job to do, better not get distracted. "'Aight, keep me posted through the burner Boss. I got a job to do." With that, I hand up the phone and pace the car back to the speed I was driving at before the phone call. I didn't even realize I sped up... or that my hands were shaking. What the fuck?! Why are my hands shaking? It's just a stupid job. One that I've completed over a thousand times before. So, why the hell am I nervous? Sure, the cops are out for me tonight, but I mean, they always are. I don't know.
Gripping the steering wheel as hard as I can in hopes of getting rid of these jitters, I steady the car and focus on what I have to do tonight.
Okay. Get to Rodeo Drive unnoticed. Park in the underground garage four blocks away from the one the Bugatti Chiron is in. Get rid of any fingerprints possibly left behind in the car - since I'll be leaving it behind. Grab my duffle bag in the back. Change into the black clothes I packed in it, and put my leather gloves on. Wipe my fingerprints from the duffle bag. Grab my tools I'll need for tonight - pretty much the entirety of the duffle bag's content - and throw the duffle away. Hack the security cameras from both underground garages and replace the live feed with an image identical to it, but that will not move at all. Make sure to stay in the shadows on my way to the underground parking where the Bugatti Chiron is parked. Use my tools to get into the car without triggering its alarm. Hot wire the car and -
I am shaken out of my thoughts by my personal phone's ringtone. Thinking it's once again Phantom calling, I pick up the call without looking at the Caller ID. "Yeah?"
"Hello Casey," the voice that is sure as hell not my boss says on the other side of the line. "What the fuck?! Who the hell is this?" I ask in hopes of getting a response. "How's Jamie?" At the mention of my dead twin sister's name, all rash thoughts stop. "How do you know that name?" I deepen my voice to add more strength to my voice. "Ah it's good to know you haven't changed at all Case," the voice says in a reminiscing tone. "To answer your first question, you will have to figure that out on your own in due time. To answer your last question, of course I would know that name. I still remember how your sister screamed when she was bleeding out and taking her last breath, since I am the one responsible for her death after all."
"What - I was interrupted by the condescending voice on the line. "Ah, ah, ah. Let me finish. As I was saying, your sister's scream was by far the best sound I've ever heard. The fear she was letting out fed my inner demon, which was very satisfying. Also, before I forget. Good luck on your mission tonight. Stealing a Bugatti Chiron is hard work you know, and I wish you the best of luck to complete your task successfully. Well, I've gotta go now. I've already taken up too much of your time. Good luck again," the line cuts off with that.
What the fuck was that? I thought Jamie died in a house fire, but then that guy goes and says that he's the one responsible for her death? What am I supposed to think about this now? Whatever, I don't have time for this. I have a job to do.
Arriving at the underground garage, I make sure to park the Corolla in a corner, out of sight from the security cameras. Carefully grabbing my computer from the passenger seat, I turn it on and start hacking into the security cameras of both parkings. Once the identical image to the live feed from before the Corolla was parked was in place, I get out from the car and make my way to the trunk. Grabbing the duffle bag that is in there, I put my computer away in it before closing the trunk and locking the car behind me. I will be leaving the car behind, so I make sure to wipe down any fingerprints on any of the surfaces I may have touched. Carefully, I put my black hoodie on, and bring the hood down to cover my face in the case of possible onlookers, as well as put my leather gloves on. I should be good to go now.
Making my way out of the parking lot, I look both ways to make sure no one is looking at me suspiciously, but I guess it's also because Phantom's warning is still lingering in the back of my mind. I'm not scared of getting arrested no, what I'm scared of though, is the other phone call. It's making me paranoid for some reason. Maybe, it's because he knew exactly what I was planning on stealing tonight, or maybe it's because he said that my sister's death, isn't what it was made out to be. I don't know what it is, but I have to focus if I plan on getting out tonight unscathed.
Trying not to attract any unnecessary attention on my way to the Bugatti Chiron's underground garage, I stuck to the shadows. Looking at the outside of the parking, it read in big red letters "Hodes Parking". "Shit, this is one of the most famous underground parkings in LA," I muttered under my breath. There's always a bunch of luxury cars parked in this garage. Thankfully, they shouldn't notice that one is missing.
Walking into the garage, I see most of the lights are shut off. That's good. I mean, that's not something I was responsible for, but the less light the better I guess. Once I've arrived in the section the car is supposedly parked in - section E - I look around for the Bugatti Chiron. Uhhh... there. Alright let's get to work. Dropping my duffle to the ground, I unzip it, grab my tools and make my way over to the driver's door. First I have to disarm the car. Okay, slim-jim, slim-jim... got it. Alright, putting it down the window crack, I move it to hopefully dislodge the lock. And - Shit.
All around me I hear police sirens. Cars are approaching fast. Damn it, they're surrounding me. Officer after officer get out of their cars and point their guns at me. "Get down on the ground! Put your hands above your head!" An officer yelled out. Looking around, I see there's nowhere for me to go, so I reluctantly put my hands up and get down on the ground. As soon as my knees touch the ground, my arms are pulled behind me by an officer, and my face is shoved to the ground while they handcuff my wrists. "You're under arrest for grand theft auto. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be provided for you. If you decide to answer questions now without an attorney present, you will still have the right to stop answering at any time until you talk to an attorney," the officer said.
Well damn, I guess I'm going away for a bit. All because of that stupid phone call that caused me to have a breakdown, my plan was turned to shreds.