A Wee bit Wicked Tale.
Baiting the Hook at Wicksford
Prologue
15 years ago.
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One moonless cloudy evening, at a secluded, hedged private garden located at an equally private club in Wales.
A lass of around 16, looking like the escapee from a formal dress event she was, cheerfully was exploring the otherwise deserted, but appealing, formal gardens she had discovered.
The sweet 16-year-old was surprisingly, very amorously dressed in a long flowing silk high-necked dress the colour of horse chestnut with a gold taffeta half-sleeve jacket. Her jewels were simple. A gold diamond set pendant and matching earrings(£9000 for the set). Her wrists held thin diamond bracelets (£1000 each) and on her left pinkie, she wore a small diamond chipped ring(£2000).
She was alone out here. Once she made that discovery, the sixteen-year-old went to a secluded area where a wrought iron neck was set in a small cove off hedges. She sat down, listening. Hearing nothing, she settled back and let her mind wander.
She placed her hand inside her jacket’s pocket as she looked back towards the private club.
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Back Inside the venue where formal dress dance had been going on, she had observed a lass of 17 whisking her way in and out of the various groups of dressed-up guests.
This charming lass appeared to be unsupervised, which was surprising considering how richly she was attired. The girl was wearing a soft blue satin gown that swirled along her figure with a satisfying fluidity. She was carrying a purse that matched her gown.
Her jewellery was also quite beautiful. A thin silver necklace set with a matched set of seven real diamonds that formed a half circle. Earrings set with a three-drop diamond stone, smaller to larger. A thin diamond bracelet and two diamond set rings.
Mesmerized, the 16-year-old wearing the long silk dress the colour of horse chestnut had begun to follow the 17-year-old around, careful not to be drawing notice.
In a secluded corner of the venue, the 17-year-old was literally waylaid, caught by two muscular suits and tie-wearing 18-year-old males. The pair of prigs had the poor rich girl between them, holding and teasing as she squirmed to get away.
Afraid that they were after her purse, the 16-year-old got involved and sent them off. She then fawned over the 17-year-old who though older, only came up to her chin. Lovingly straightened her luscious gown, stroking the girl’s long hair back in place.
With a grateful hug, the 17-year-old left the kindhearted 16-year-old and went back off to her business.
^^^^
With a sigh, the sixteen-year-old ended her reminiscing.
Looking around one last time to make sure she was still alone while reaching inside an inner pocket of her gold taffeta half-sleeve jacket, she pulled out a thin silver necklace set with a matched set of seven real diamonds that formed a half circle. She let the necklace dangle, admiring the glistening precious gemstones that were set into it. She reached in again and pulled out a pair of 3 diamond drop earrings and salivated over their beautiful stormy glitter.
It had been too easy to acquire the necklace and earrings from the young girl wearing the delicious blue satin gown.
All it took was a simple hug and lovingly running my fingers through her curly locks of hair
And the beauty of it would be that the suspicions raised over the disappearance of the girl’s diamonds would be centered around the two young miscreant lads.
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Acte One
A Gambling streak.
Present day
I was 34 when I attended what would have then been my 13th Wicksford Ball.
This was an annual autumn affair that at the time had been well into its second century(it is still being held to this day. And I still do attend it.)
It was an ultra-formal event traditionally attended to by many of society’s wealthiest families, some even holding actual titles of the realm.
It had been 5 years since the last time I attended. I figured my antics from the last time I was a guest here would have cooled down by now. Thank the lord for short attention spans.
That evening I was attending alone, for I was there on my own business and pleasures of my own making.
If I dare say myself, I was dressed up rather prettily that night in my specially fitted deep v-neck-lined plum-coloured satin gown. I was also wearing my lucky jewels. A thin silver necklace set with a matched set of seven real diamonds that formed a half circle(£10,000). Along with the necklace’s matching pair of 3 diamond drop earrings. The stones dangling went from smaller to larger(£8000)
Fitting right in with a good portion of my fellow guests. Meaning I was underdressed and underjeweled compared with the remaining ones.
I entered the party as it was well underway.
I intend to give the older female guests, who were to be my main targets, plenty of time to imbibe in drinking and dancing.
This would help ensure the likelihood of their guard being lowered.
Upon my arrival, the first item on my agenda was to reconnoiter the premises.
Which I did with methodical expertise. Through the ballroom up to the veranda and lastly the back gardens.
So many memories of being in that hedgerow-circled (12000 square meters) proper garden.
Perhaps more memories to be made out here this evening?
If not, it still was a good place to have a smoke and a good think while alone making plans.
But I knew for certain the ballroom proper could be counted on for being a memorable occasion.
I then swirled happily around and headed back inside.
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I headed up the backstairs to visit the powder room, where I had planned on beginning the evening's hunt.
Why not? One had to start somewhere.
As I made my way down the corridor the lady's powder room door opened and 3 delightfully clad ladies began walking out.
My fingers tingled as I saw one was an easy mark. I quickly rushed past to get just ahead of the trio before they started downstairs.
As I passed the first of the trio of ladies I found myself nose to eye with a startling beautifully attired, young miss of around 18 years of age.
She was adorably resplendent in a long slinking silken gown of pale blue. Her long silken hair was held up by a narrow ribbon that matched her gown. She was also wearing dark blue elbow-length satin gloves.
Sapphires and diamonds swung from her ears(£12,000) And flowed from the necklace(£26,000) hanging loosely from around her throat. A pair of sapphire and diamond cuff bracelets fit snugly around her gloved wrists(£15,000 each), and she wore two cocktail rings on her index fingers, one set with diamonds (£21,000), the other with sapphires (£14,000).
She didn’t notice me eyeing her jewels, she was looking back listening to the two older ladies talking behind her as the trio was leaving the room. Her mum and aunt I could easily ascertain.
They were both wearing fitted velvet gowns, one of ivory and the other plum, with matching satin gloves. The mum was wearing a brilliant set of pearled jewels (£88,000 worth) and the Auntie in plum was wearing gold chains set with diamonds(£65,000 worth) and a diminutive but real diamond tiara(£18,000)
Now to take profitable advantage of such a rare richly golden opportunity I needed to be ahead of them on the stairs, and I timed it perfectly.
My mark was on my heels as we entered. She was still looking back at her mum and Auntie. Her hand held the rail, her other held up her gown off the steps.
I turned like I had heard something. And I called out
“Here I am”
I started to go back upstairs, plowing into the young lady. We grasped hold of each other, my hand grasping the wrist of the hand holding her gown.
Her mum at the same time wrapped her arm around her daughter’s chest to catch her. Rings flashing with magnificence.
I quickly relieved the girl of a cuff bracelet and pocketed it.
We both apologized and the mum was asking her daughter if she was alright. All three were concerned with themselves. No one paying me any heed.
I place my hand on the mother’s fingers still holding her daughter up. I apologized for being so rude, as I slipped off one of Mum’s gemmed cocktail rings(£8800) from a gloved finger.
They then, with glaring looks, parted to let me pass through them before they continued on their merry way.
.^^^^^^
That was just the beginning… for over the next 90 minutes I had an unbroken streak of “gambler's luck”:
A well-placed bump netted me a gemmed starburst-shaped pendant(£18,000) swinging down from the neck of satin satin-dressed up young lady re-adjusting a spiked heel, a nice jostle netting me a sparkling diamond broach(£33,000) from a lady in too soft green satin as she was bringing helped into a long black mink coat,
Then an extremely well-positioned squeeze rewarded me with a dazzling jewelled-up bracelet(£20,000)from a taffeta-clad lady’s wrist, whose cigarette I had lit with my lighter as she sat at the bar.
Then I planned on calling it quits after a tricky slipping off of a bright white diamond pinkie ring(£13,000) from the bare sweaty finger of a young lass wrapped in tight silk as she exited the dance floor with an older male in tow.
I figured that I had by now played out my run of luck:
But I was never more wrong, for my streak was far from over.
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I was still on the edge of the ballroom’s massive dance floor when the lights suddenly dimmed and dance music started right back up, not slow, but with a beat.
The dance floor at this venue is a whopping 2000 square meters, making it a very seductive patch for me to work over.
Fingers tingling, I dived in, squeezed, and squozed in and out of dancing couples looking for fresh prey.
Suddenly I was bumped rather hard from behind.
A female voice merrily chided her husband as I turned.
“Gary, careful luv, you’re using me as a battering ram.”
“I looked over Gary’s gorgeously attired wife, caught her eye, and nodded.
Then I studied “her” Gary, a handsome bearded chap in a black tux, white silk shirt, with a midnight blue silk vest and matching bow tie. Wearing a flashy, heavy solid gold Rolex with a black face with diamonds (£18,000), with gold diamond set cuff links (£6,000) and a gold pinky ring set with a flashy diamond(£12,000).
I eagerly accepted his profound apologies, sensing new opportunities at play.
Raising my wrist he took it, kissing it as he cemented his words of regret.
“Apologies, Robin’s correct, I get a bit over-enthusiastic when dancing.”
Meanwhile, I was studying his enchanting wife.
Gary’s wife Robin, was wearing an absolutely adorable midnight blue silk dress, off-shoulder with a ruffled flare just above the calf. She had her silky hair done up upon her head, Held up by a fiery sapphire-encrusted headband(£45,000). This exposed her round 1 1/2 centimeter diamond hinged earrings(£23,000). A 2-layered diamond and sapphire necklace(£28,000)lay around her throat and a stunning 2-strand diamond and sapphire bracelet(£15,000) around her left wrist.
I looked at his wife. Taking her left hand up in my right, my left hand covertly covering her wrist(and her valuable bracelet)
I squeezed her wrist as I said to her while nodding at Gary,
“I think he should be punished by having a dance with me.”
His wife smiled winningly and stepped off to the side as I released her hand, palming her bracelet as I did so.
Gary took me into his arms and led me around the dance floor. I saw that his wife was not left alone as two lads pounced on her solitary figure and asked her to dance. She soon disappeared into the crowded dance floor with one of them.
Gary and I swished and swayed in and out of the crowded floor. His right arm was around my waist, mine was around his. Our other hands were held up. I allowed myself to be twirled about several times during the music's course.
The music then ended and Gary again nobly kissed my hand, before taking off to pry his wife away from the second male dancer(a gigolo if I ever saw one)!
But as he did, my left hand rubbed against his other wrist, relieving it of his fancy, thicke gold Rolex.
Smiling to myself as I pocketed the Rolex, turned to leave the dance floor.
Then did a double take…
For an advantageously spied a young teenaged couple stumbling off from the dance floor.
Apparently, the girl had twisted an ankle on the high heel she was wearing.
I quickly went to their aid having her place an arm around my shoulder, her other arm on her male dance partner's shoulder.
As we stumbled to her table I was squealing over how unfortunate she was to have injured herself, especially considering how adorabley delicious they both looked this evening. As I gushed high praise, My eyes were glued onto the sheer front of her glossy, mock-necked satin blouse. For upon that pretty backdrop, shimmering just a tad over her snug gown-covered breasts, was a long diamond set gold chain with a dazzling pendant in the shape of a gold owl with ruby eyes, a yellow diamond-filled body, and folding wings, perched with ruby tipped claws on a white diamond embedded solid gold branch. (£42,000), just hanging so very temptingly down, delicious.
We got her seated at the table, where the couple had their belongings, allowing her to take the burden off her swelling ankle. I had also relieved her neck from being burdened by her drippy diamond pendant necklace.
As I did I told her…
“Here you go, hope this helps ease the pain.”
I scurried off, Figuring that was my jackpot for the night. I took a quick Look around as I walked off from the table, my eyes going along the wall that lined the sitting area.
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That was when I spotted “Me old mucker”, a nimble-fingered gent by the name of Sean, whom I knew from the village green pub, near where I was living for a spell.
I don’t look at him as competition, for he believes picking pockets and purses of wallets to be the addicting thrill, unlike myself who is more into the lifting of jewellery to achieve that type of euphoria.
He was working a corner table, chatting up the happily liquored occupants.
He had picked a winner. For at that table were seated men and ladies that were of the class I would call “servant rich” by the manner they carried themselves, the way they were dressed, and certainly by the jewels they were flaunting.
Keeping an Eye out on Sean I moved to a side alcove and took a quick inventory of the occupants of the table where he was hovering.
I quickly realized there were two tables occupied by that class.
They say a Picture is worth a thousand words), at those two tables seated was a picture that was worth more like a million!
Now some may ask why I hadn’t noticed these guests myself beforehand. Truth is I may have. But these ladies were not the only fish of their class in the pond. There were so many that fit this mold, and from experience, though very lucrative, usually are too hard a nut to crack, that I usually only give the guests like these a cursory look over.
But seeing that Sean was targeting them, told me that there was something he saw about this group that made them game for a bit of trimming.
So consider myself now interested in finding out what that “something “ was.
I positioned myself for a better look, finding a spot where I would not be noticed.
Three ladies and two gents were seated at what I considered the “adults” table.
The three late thirty females were dressed up royally, which for all I knew they may have been wives of nobles.
The lady I liked most had her long brown hair up in an elegant bun, held by a thin ruby gemmed tiara(£53,000)
She was wearing a solid emerald green taffeta dress that shone with a tight sleekness along her still beautifully svelte figure.
The gown’s skirt I could see was higher in front(below knees) than in the back where it was just above her ankles. The neckline of the dress was an open low scoop with the straight sleeves coming down to her elbows.
Three-quarter-length velvet gloves of deep green elegantly completed her attire.
Her jewels ( including the tiara) were of the type that makes some people ask: “They cannot be real, right?”
But my practiced eyes saw they indeed, were…
The silver diamond set consisted of pierced earrings, set with a string of five 4-carat round stones with a full 8-carat pear-shaped larger stone dangling at the end((£28,00)The necklace was three silver chains with at least 13 round 5-carat diamonds in v pattern per chain. Hanging from the bottom chain, from each of the 13 diamonds were 8-carat pear-shaped diamonds, the same size as the ones swinging from her earrings(£60,000). Around her right wrist dangled a wide emerald and diamond bracelet(£40,000)There was also large, very large, pear shaped diamond ring on her right pinky(£50,000)She also was wearing an extraordinary set of diamond engagement and wedding bands(£75,000)
The Second Lady was wearing a slick silver silk gown with a cowl lick top, tantalizing rolling just above her still full plump breasts. The sleek gown fell to her feet In a sheet of material that shone vividly.
Her diamonds were breathtaking.
Her soft long blonde hair was up, holding in a real diamond tiara(£90,000). Extra long diamond earrings with 3 strands of diamonds each.- the outer two shorter than the longer middle strand(£65,000), a wide old style “princess” shaped necklace set with a brilliant collection of large diamonds(105,000).
On her right white satin glove, her wrist was encased in a diamond bracelet with 10 sparkling rows(£58,000). A large cocktail ring was on that hand's index finger(£38,000). Her left wrist was bare, but two fingers had rings with quite large diamond stones(£45,000, £25,000).
The 3rd lady is wearing a thin blood-red satin A-line gown. Her brown hair was short. From her ears dangled long wide ruby and diamond encrusted earrings (£38,000). Her ruby and diamond necklace that matched her earrings sparkled with so many stones that one really needed sunglasses to watch as they hit the light(77,500). A diamond broach was set on the right side of her gown’s ribbed waistline(£85,000). She wore elbow-length red satin gloves. A matched set of wide bracelets set with rubies and diamonds(£29,000 apiece) wrapped tightly around each wrist. She also wore matching cocktail rings on each little finger, (£15,000 each)…
The two distinguished-looking males sported neatly trimmed beards and were wearing formal tuxes with fancy vests. Old-fashioned Gold watch chains hung at their waists. They both were lacking the top hats that would have made them look like they had stepped out of parliament. But I doubt either of them would lower themselves to work at that level.
Gentlemen of the private clubs and leisure sort I suspected.
Now, next to the adult's table, to the right of the alcove, I was hovering in.
, was the table occupied by their gorgeously attired whelps.
One fortunate lone male sat with 3 young deliciously attired and jewelled-up girls of privilege. All appear to be between 18 to 20. I quickly, if not inappropriately, coined this as the “children’s “ table
The lone male was very dapper in a solid black tux, black satin vest, and crisp white silk shirt. He had the beginnings of a beard, as red as his hair. A chrome Rolex watch (£16,000) was worn on his tight wrist. A school ring from Cardiff College was proudly displayed on a finger, while on a little finger was displayed a solid gold signet ring.
All of the females surrounding him were wearing heavy eye makeup and glossy lipstick and blush that added a movie actress aire to their presence. The silk and satin gowns the three were wearing were elegantly pouring over their youthful figures, forming out their fetching bumps and curves nicely
Their jewels sparkled with the type of enticing enthusiasm only the best-cut ones can achieve.
Immediately to the lad’s right was a long red-haired girl adorably clad in a sleekly long midnight black spaghetti strap thin silk gown with a rather plunging neckline. Her dazzling jewels were all diamonds. Long dazzling earrings(£33,000) that played a fine game of peek-a-boo in and out of her recently washed hair. Her heavily jewelled necklace poured down her throat like cascading diamond icicles. (£65,000). She was wearing black satin elbow-length gloves. From her left wrist dangled a bracelet that should have been under glass In a museum(£44,000). On her left index finger sparkled a huge diamond cocktail ring that was just mesmerizing(£55,000)
On the black satin beauty’s right side was a girl in a thin emerald green satin A-line gown that perfectly matched the red gown worn by the lady at the “Adult’s” table. She was also wearing jewels set with both rubies and diamonds.
I wondered if both were born in July.
Like the one in red, this young chick’s jewellery almost matched the older one’s in abundance and brilliance.
From her ears dangled long ruby and diamond encrusted earrings(£25,000). Her ruby and diamond necklace that matched her earrings sparkled with blinding vibrance (55,000). A ruby broach was set on the right side of her gown’s ribbed waistline(£45,000). She wore elbow-length green velvet gloves. A wide bracelet set with rubies and diamonds(£20,000 ) wrapped tightly around her right wrist. She also wore matching ruby cocktail rings on each little finger, (£15,000 each)…but stealing the show was her ruby-tipped tiara(£66,000)with diamonds that were sparking from her head
Directly across from black satin beauty sat a pretty raven-haired lass encased in a sleek silk gown the colour of deep rich chocolate. Like the other two girls, the gown hugged her figure with a tight shaping hold. Hers was adorned with rhinestone trimmings around the perky breast-holding bodice and thin waistline.
She was devilishly pretty this one, wearing a sinful amount of diamonds.
Her long raven hair was up. With a small tiara of sparkling diamonds(£23,000) keeping the bun in place. A long very wide necklace of diamonds(£24,000)hung in a v down her bare neck flowing down like a sparkling mountain rivulet. Matching diamond-filled earrings(£44,000)dangled from exposed earlobes. She wore long brown satin gloves. Both wrists sport thin diamond bracelets)£12,000 and £16,000). Two rings flashed out on the fingers of her left hand, 3 more on her right (£53,000 total) but what stole the show was her diamond broach(£30,000) that glittered from its perch, off to the side of her gown's sash wrapped waistline
My fingers were tingling up a storm as I took careful inventory of all this. My mind raced with delicious ideas.
And as far as that “something “ I mentioned earlier. Well, the darling dazzling occupants of both tables were all “Three sheets to the wind”.
I watched Sean working the “adult“ table. Making merry conversation he placed his hands upon their figures with innocent-appearing accuracy. I saw him lifting a fat wallet from green taffeta’s matching purse, (good choice!) then the thin billfold from the calico vest pocket of one of the males as his head was turned talking to red satin.
Then Sean, on purpose I believe, knocked over the water glass at Red Satin's arm.
She rose as Sean gave her his handkerchief, apologizing profusely. She moved off from the tables to a nearby alcove as she was whipping herself off.
The commotion that ensued gave Sean a chance to do some more lifting. But I never saw if he did, for my fingers were tingling. She was heading to the same alcove where I had moved to watch the tables.
She walked in as I was walking out, my head bent as my fingers were straightening my bra.
We “bumped” into one another and my hands flew to hold her steady, fingers digging into a luscious feeling satin gown. As we giggled while disentangling ourselves, my left hand slipped along her scintillating gown, down to her waist, and carefully pried off the diamond broach she had been showcasing there with my fingers.
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I now had her a quite valuable broach In my possession…
At that point, as I was waking away, I continued on my way, out… Feeling my run of luck just may now be finally over.
I went back along the opposite way of the mezzanine and reaching the back stairs went down and out into the outside patio.
I was too excited to just leave. I really needed a victory smoke, and to admire in private, the ample takings I had successfully lifted this evening.
I’ll admit to that being a fallacy of mine, not wanting to wait until I’m safely away to look over my ill-gotten gains.
I went just inside the garden gates and stood off in the shadows of the hedges. I had a clear view through a hole, of the exit door I had just come out of.
No one else was around, which this late in the evening no one should be, even the younger ones who liked to sneak out for a drink or a smoke should have had their fill by now.
I lit my cigarette and let out a few satisfying puffs before lifting the owl-shaped pendant I had lifted from the limping lady with the sprained ankle.
As I admired its sparkle I thought of the two tables I had just left.
Sean is a luv, but I didn’t want a run-in with him this evening. I knew that he would keep the cash from the wallets, but would leave to hand off the rest to his accomplice Emylee, who would be outside lurking in the shadows.
Em would use the info contained in the
wallets to burgle flats or houses… She also may just lay in wait to rob the unlucky victims as they left the venue if Sean told her it was worth it.
I knew those at the tables would be worth it. And I did not want to get caught up with that storm if it ever broke.
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I had let several more satisfying puffs out when I froze. … buggers, someone was coming out the exit door.
I put out the cig, pocketed the necklace, and moved further back into the shadows.
I did a double, no a triple, take….
For emerging out onto the patio, just oozing excessive wealth and privilege, we’re the four wealthy inhabitants of the “children’s” table.
I watched from my secret spot mesmerized, as the girls swished up along the patio, jewels glittering up like a lightning storm creeping up from the darkness.
I see that the male is drinking from a flask, holding a bottle that must have been somehow pilfered from the bar.
Had Sean had his quick fingers in this pie?
He passed the flask off to the girls, his fancy Rolex flashing.
The now giggling young ladies followed as he led them through the garden gates, like some pie-eyed piper.
I was not far behind.
^^^^^^^^
I kept my distance while tailing them. It wasn’t hard, just followed the flashing jewellery.
Also trio of girls and their sole male escort were anything but on their guard.
Even the lad, who should have been watchful escorting outside these heavily jewel-laden ladies, was as oblivious as he was tipsy.
With every step the group took into the secluded reaches of the otherwise deserted gardens, my heart beat a wee bit faster, my fingers tingling grew more intense, my interest that much more wicked.
For I had decided that it was quite possible that once they stopped and took roost, I could “bump” into them with enough finesse that I could relieve the girls of one of their expensively flashy baubles.
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They finally stopped at a bench with a high hedge at its back. A tall water fountain gurgles off to one side.
I circled around and from the shadows given off by a patch of crooked-limbed fruit trees, watched the rich young whelps at play.
The 3 girls lit cigarettes, and the lad lit a fat cigar. They all puffed away and drank from the flask and the bottle. They laughed and made merry.
Still unaware that any type of jeopardy would be present, let alone lurking mere meters away.
They appeared to be settling in for a long haul.
I was rather miffed that the girls had brought the boy along. No matter how drunk he was, I felt he would naturally become guarded if a stranger entered the picture.
End Acte One
