Stealing the Wrong Treasure

"I was the top bounty thief in the organization. The best they had.After turning in my final score, I announced on the spot that I was done for good.Then, I stood in my studio, blending paint.A single photograph was pinned to the wall before me.Black Viper filled the doorway, the light behind him casting his face in shadow."What's it like," he asked quietly, "pretending to be an artist?"He stepped further inside."Does paint smell better than blood?"I placed the palette knife down and wiped my hands slowly. "I'm done. I walked away.""Old Fox didn't approve of it.""That's not my concern."Black Viper crossed the room and tapped the old photograph on the wall."Are you certain?"I did not want to look. I told myself not to.However, my gaze shifted anyway.A young boy stared back from the photo."The blind kid?" I had spent ten years searching for him."Where is he?"I moved toward the wall, reaching to rip the picture down."One last job," Black Viper said, pressing his palm against the photo.My hand stopped in midair."What's the target?""The final lot at next month's auction that the Gilbert Group will be holding."It's called Mermaid's Tear.""