After four hours of waiting the thief left her hiding place. This job was meant to be an easy in and out. The instructions were clear. Wait until the old man had locked up for the night, slip in through the back door, grab the journal, and get out. With her hood up, hiding her face, and her shoulders hunched in she made her way down the street. As if on cue, the old man turned the key, rattled the door to make sure it was locked and headed down the street.

She walked down the street past the shop a few feet and waited until the old man was out of view. Slipping into the back alleys she quickly made her way to the back door. As noted, an older padlock was on the door holding it shut. The thief pulled out her lock-pick set and carefully wiggled her tools around until she felt the locking mechanisms turn. The padlock popped open. She slipped it into her pocket so she'd be able to put it back when she was done.

Quietly, she slipped inside and made her way to the office area. The boards creaked lightly with every step that she took but nothing that couldn't be explained away as the wind shifting an older building. She made her way to a large painting of water lilies and lifted it off of the wall. Behind it was a safe that was supposed to contain the journal. She looked at her hand where she had written the combination in pen before heading out for the job. She whispered the numbers under her breath as she turned the dial to the numbers.

"Thirteen, forty-seven, twenty-two."

She heard the lock give and opened the safe. It was empty. She felt inside for any indication that there was a secret compartment in the safe but didn't feel one. A sharp creak sounded out behind her. Startled, she froze in place. She was positive no one had followed her and that no one had been in the store.

"Hello, Livvie. It's been a while." a familiar, deep, masculine voice said.

She whipped around to face him. He looked the same as he always had. Tall, muscular, and devilishly handsome. The only difference was a scar running along the left side of his neck. His eyes sparkled with amusement as she went pale.

"You're dead!" She choked out.

"No Livvie. They only wanted you to think that."

"Mark...where have you been?"

"That's a long story." Mark sighed.

Olivia took in a deep breath and met his eyes with a steely glare.

"You made me think you were dead for eleven years. I have time."

Mark nodded and held something out to her. It was the journal she had come for.

"Fine but not here. Finish your job and then meet me. I'll text you the address."

"You don't have my number."

"Yes, I do."

Mark moved closer and pushed the journal into her arms. I inhaled his familiar woodsy scent as he drew closer. He planted a soft kiss on the top of my head and headed for the door.

"I missed you, Liv." He smiled.

With that, he was gone.