THE PLAN: Anita's Plan

Anita moved swiftly through the corridor leading toward the auction hall when her phone vibrated in her pocket.

A text from her cyber specialist—the same man whose sketchers shoes she now wore.

Skechers Guy: Madam Anita, I noticed some interference with the lights, I think the external systems are compromised.

12:03 AM

Anita texted him back.

ANITA: Can you access security monitors?

Sketchers Guy: No, madam, the only thing I can activate is the motion sensors.

ANITA: Great. Do that and redirect the feed to my phone.

She slipped the phone back into her pocket and continued forward, only to come face-to-face with Kali.

Anita didn’t break her stride. “Hey, Kali what’s going on?”

Kali’s eyebrow shot up at the sight of her. “Not much, how about you?”

She stopped in front of him, tilting her head slightly. “Let’s cut the small talk. Where’s Zuri and the others?”

Kali blinked, then smirked. “Zuri? I didn’t even know she was here.”

Anita held his gaze, lips curling into a small, knowing smirk. She stared at his for a while.

Then, she chuckled, shaking her head. “Maybe you’re telling the truth. But I’ll find out if you aren’t.”

Kali grinned. “Sure, whatever you say, Muthoni.”

Anita had already turned, taking a step away, but then paused.

“Hey, Kali.”

He stopped, glancing over his shoulder.

“Nice to see the business is working out,” Anita said. “I sampled the food earlier—the Pilau was quite good. Keep up the good work… and don’t backslide because of a girl. They’re a dime a dozen, okay?”

Kali gave a small nod, but before he could respond, she added, “Oh, and Kali—by the way.”

She turned her head slightly, her voice dropping. “I don’t go by Muthoni anymore. That was a past life I don’t wish to be reminded of.” A sly smile. “Nice to see you, handsome.”

Anita moved quickly now, her phone buzzing as the motion sensors activated.

The heat signature display flickered on, mapping out the auction hall in real time.

The moment the power cuts, she hears them. Three figures—fast, coordinated—moved through the dark, avoiding security routes. They were sprinting through the hallway, slipping past confused security personnel who were still scrambling to figure out what happened.

Anita uses the torch of her phone to light her way. She follows, tracking them through her phone’s feed, keeping her distance.

Then—a sharp noise.

Something heavy hits the ground. A metallic clatter, followed by the distinct sound of a tray smashing against someone. Anita stops near the corridor wall, peeking just in time to see a shadowed figure pick up a fallen gun.

Anita stepped toward the guard now lying unconscious. on the ground, his uniform slightly ruffled from the scuffle. Her eyes scan his body—a gun tucked into the back of his trousers.

Perfect.

With a smooth motion, she pulls the weapon free, checks the magazine—loaded—and pockets it. Then she moves.

She looks at her motion sensors. The three figures are moving toward the service exit. Instead of following them directly, she cuts into a side corridor—a shortcut she’s memorized from countless security briefings.

She reached a first-floor window, throwing her weight against it. It opened just enough for her to slip through.

With a quiet leap, she landed below, rolling perfectly into a crouch. Her ponytail slightly unbundled from its perfect shape. She took a moment to carefully tie her hair perfectly again then she removes her gun and checks the sensors again.

They were coming.

She pressed herself against the corner of the alley, breathing slow.

Seconds later, the hurried sound of footsteps on pavement.

Anita moves before they even notice.

Click.

The cold metal of the gun glints under the dim alley light as she steps out of the shadows, aiming directly at Zuri, JC, and Musa.

Their bodies go rigid, realizing—they walked right into her trap.

Anita allows herself a small, knowing smirk.

“Going somewhere?”

Zuri clenches the velvet pouch in her palm. She could feel JC and Musa beside her, both tense, waiting.

“You know if you wanted to see me, all you had to do was ask,” Zuri says keeping her voice light. “Or are you too big now for the likes of us thieves, huh Muthoni?”

“I’ve been hearing that name a lot today.” Anita chuckles. “It’s nice to catch up with the old gang today, but...I'm in a hurry. Am afraid I have much pressing matters. So if you could just throw that gun you’re clearly hiding and hand over the necklace.”

“Wow, you haven’t lost a step, Muthoni.” Zuri removes the gun and handles it gently. “It was you I saw back there huh. Always hiding in the shadows, kinda on brand for you…”

Zuri then aims the gun at Anita cocking.

“…But I don’t take orders from you. Mu..thoni.”

Anita smiles. “You’re a big girl now.” She aims the gun toward Musa who was on the left side of Zuri. “But I don’t give a flying fucking fuck who you answer to.”

Anita tilts her head slightly. “Now, here’s what’s going to happen. You’re going to hand over the necklace, and I’m going to pretend I didn’t just watch three amateurs botch a museum heist.”

Musa scoffs, shifting slightly. “We got out, didn’t we?”

Anita smirks, unfazed. “Barely.” She gestures with the gun. “Necklace. Now.”

Musa scoffs, shifting slightly. “And why would she do that?”

“You’re a smart guy Musa, why do you think? So I don’t blow you to bits.”

Zuri’s breath hitches. She is lost in thought.

The alley is too tight to run. Musa might be fast, but not faster than a bullet. JC could have a trick up his sleeve, but Anita is sharp—she won’t be distracted so easily.

Her best bet is stalling.

“You don’t even care about the necklace do you? You just want to protect your image.” Zuri chuckles. “It would be bad for business if things go missing on your watch, wouldn’t it?”

“Maybe, maybe not. Either way, I want it back.”

“Sure,” Zuri says, stepping just slightly to the left, angling herself so Musa and JC have better positioning. “But if that were true, you’d have already shot us and taken it.”

Anita’s eyes flickered ever so slightly, catching the movement. “Nice try.”

Then—

Click.

The unmistakable sound of a safety being turned off.

“Drop it, Anita.”

Anita didn’t turn, but she knew that voice.

Slowly, she exhaled through her nose. “Well, well.” A small smirk played at her lips. “Took you long enough, Eazy.”

Eazy stood at the mouth of the alley, gun trained directly on Anita. His eyes were calm, but the tension in his stance told her he wasn’t playing.

“It’s a good ol fashion reunion now.” Anita laughs maniacally. “This aint your fight, Eazy.”

“You sure about that?” Eazy took a slow step forward. “Because from where I’m standing, it looks like you’re about to make a big mistake.”

Anita’s grip on her gun didn’t loosen. “And what? You’re here to stop me?”

“No. I’m here to give you a choice.” His voice was even, steady. “You shoot one of them, and I shoot you. You walk away, we all pretend this never happened.”

“Come on Eazy, you know it aint that simple.”

JC let out a slow breath. Musa shifted, his fingers twitching. Zuri stayed completely still, eyes locked on Anita’s.

For a moment, nobody moved.

Anita chuckled, shifting her aim toward Eazy.
“Looks like we’re at an impasse.”

“Looks like it,” Eazy agreed, his voice level, but his finger firm on the trigger.

The alley was suffocatingly still. Nobody moved. Nobody dared to.

Zuri’s grip tightened around the velvet pouch. JC’s jaw clenched, his muscles coiled, ready. Musa’s fingers twitched—calculating, waiting for an opening. But Anita wasn’t some low-tier enforcer. She was calculated, lethal. Any wrong move, and someone would hit the ground.

A slow exhale escaped Anita’s lips. Then, with a sigh, she eased her stance, lowering the gun. The moment stretched, thick with silent threats, before she finally tucked the weapon into her waistband.

“It doesn’t matter anyway,” she said smoothly, brushing invisible dust off her sleeve. “I’ll get it back soon. I was just getting bored of looking at screens all day.”

“In your dreams, Anita,” JC muttered, his smirk sharp.

“You’re still too young to understand how these streets work, JC.”

 She tilted her head, gaze flickering toward Musa and Zuri. “But they do.” Her voice dipped lower, colder. “You don’t just steal wherever you want in these streets. If it were that easy, you’d be millionaires by now.”

Musa met her stare, unflinching. “We’re prepared to pay the toll.”

Anita’s lips curled slightly. “That’s cute.” Her eyes landed on Zuri. “You owe me.”

Zuri only smirked. “You say that now.”

Anita lingered for a second longer before turning to Eazy. “You really willing to go this far for them?” She cocked her head slightly. “This is a declaration of war.”

Eazy didn’t flinch. “They’re my people.”

A slow, knowing hum left Anita’s lips. “Loyalty’s a dangerous thing. You, of all people, should know that.”

She walked towards the service exit they came from her hands in her pocket. “Let’s do this again guys…real soon.” With that she disappeared inside.

Zuri let out a breath she didn’t realize she’d been holding. She slid the gun back into her purse.

JC raked a hand through his hair. “Well, that was fun.”

Musa scowled. “Speak for yourself.”

Eazy sighed, lowering his gun. “Let’s get the fuck outta here. Car’s out front.”