The Heist

The Heist

Jacque Demerrier was a well-known fashion designer. The clothes that he designed were cutting edge. The materials he used were always of the highest quality. To be invited to one of his private fashion shows was a privilege that was shared to few. 

Invitations for these events came with a day’s notice. His next one was scheduled for the following day.

Having found out the time and place of this show, Alicia knew that she had little time to prepare. She worked through the night designing the apparel and equipment that she would need. For this to work, it had to be timed perfectly. 

The show was to be held at Demerrier’s secret garden. The garden was hidden away in the backstreets of a town in Pennsylvania. It was a small patch of land surrounded by trees. The trees were so densely packed that the garden had only one way to get in and out. Or so one thought. Alicia knew different. 

All the exotic plants and vegetation that were in this garden, had to be illuminated by special plant lights. It was pitch black otherwise beneath the canopy of leaves. These lights were on a timer so that the garden could simulate night and day. Surrounding the inside outer ring of the garden were displays of some of Demerrier’s famous apparel he had created, each in a glass case, under lock and key. Demerrier’s prized possession was his cacao tree as was the dress and handbag that were displayed there. 

The night of the show began. Invitees entered through a passage to the garden, showed their invitations, and were taken to chairs located in the garden’s center. They all faced a raised walkway that came out from the trees on the north side of the garden. It was from there that the models made their entrance to display whatever Demerrier had decided to unveil that night. 

Alicia entered the garden wearing a knockoff Nina Ruched Beaded-strap Maxi dress, colored tawny brown. She had on low-heeled Saint Laurent brown 85 leather sandals. She had on a wig displaying long-stylish brunette locks of hair, to cover her short blonde true colored hair. 

She handed the forged invitation to the attendant, who barely glanced at it as he focussed on the beauty of the woman who handed it to him and let her pass. He did not even notice the small tote bag that she carried with her. She found a seat perfectly placed for the crime that was about to be committed. 

The lights dimmed as the presentation began. This show’s theme was “Cooked to Perfection” All of the apparel being modeled was based on the rich colors of different foods. In fact, the dyes used in creating these clothes were plant-based. 

Alicia looked at her watch. The time was right. She pulled out a remote control device from her bag and flipped the switch. Immediately all of the lights went out. The emergency generators failed to go on. There was complete blackness. There were some startled cries and then movement. Some people were rushing towards where they thought the entrance was. Some had small flashlights and tried to lead the way. It was way too crowded to see anything.

It didn’t take long before there was a strange sound which sounded like a zipper being pulled down, a crash of glass, and that same sound of what appeared to be a zipper being pulled up. Suddenly the lights came back up. 

There was much confusion amongst the people in the garden. Some had stayed seated. Others were all over the garden apparently having tried to find the exit in the dark. And others stared at the cacao tree and pointed up to the tree-covered branches. 

Hanging from the trees was a zip line, nothing was attached to it. Though the cacao tree was unharmed, the display of Jacque Demerrier’s prize Chocolate dress and handbag was empty, except for a Hershey’s chocolate candy bar resting in the display case. There was a note attached to the bar saying, “Loved the show, thanks for the dress and handbag. I’m sure you’ll enjoy my payment in kind.”  It was left unsigned. 

What happened to the dress and handbag? Where is Alicia now? These are all questions that are left unanswered. How do you follow a trail of chocolate in a town that is known for chocolate?