The Missing ‘Diamond of Destiny’
iView Author: Yash Balaji (Princeton, USA)
Email: withheld
11 a.m. June 17th, 2007. Caf'© Roma. The four men sipped the last of their cappuccinos, shook hands and walked away.
The mornings in Rome are almost always bright and sunny. Caf'© Roma, a busy coffee place during the day, transforms into a quiet cyber caf'© at night. It is popular not only because of its famously good coffee but also because the tourists that visit the ‘National Museum of History, Italy’, which is right across the street, are always hungry.
The four men had a special reason to be at the caf'© this morning. Jean Pierre had called this meeting to discuss the plan one last time. He was the brain behind the operation. Tall, dark haired and handsome, Jean Pierre had masterminded the famous Van Gogh heist and the Tuten Khamen ring robbery. Trey, a soft-spoken, short young man with thick glasses, was the tech wiz. Luca, a natural born athlete, was unbelievably flexible. He used to be an Olymic medalist who had been disqualified on steroid use allegations. Lastly, Dante, a short skinny blonde man, was the ’supplies’ guy. He got whatever needed whenever.
They were all here for the ‘Diamond of Destiny’, the largest diamond in the world. It was on display at a special exhibit on gems, only for this week, at the National Museum of History. The security was tight. Surrounded by infrared beams, in a bulletproof case…………this was not going to be an easy job.
12:30 a.m. June 19th, 2007. Jean Pierre, Luca, Dante were all dressed in black waiting in shadows near the Museum entrance. At the cyber caf'© Roma, Trey was fidgety as he set up his laptop and other gadgets. At 12:45 a.m., Trey gave them the ‘Go’ through their earpieces. They had only 10 minutes to do this. The guard’s 10 minute break started just about now. Trey froze the images on the video cameras, shut down the motion sensors, and unlocked the museum doors, all while sitting in the caf'©.
They were in. They knew their way around. They had practiced their routine several times. They entered the ‘Egyptian Exhibit’, which was right under the diamond exhibit. The exhibit was filled with Egyptian mummies and riches. They hid a bag of clothes right behind a big Egyptian treasure chest, filled to the brim with gems and jewels (all fake obviously). Within a minute they were in the air vent right above the ‘Diamond of Destiny’ exhibit. Jean gently unscrewed the air vent cover while Dante strapped the bungee cord on Luca. Jean handed Luca a replica of the ‘Diamond of Destiny, and a laser cutter.
7 minutes left. Dante and Jean carefully lowered Luca. Luca was hanging upside down with the infrared beams inches from his face. One mistake and it was game over. He carefully attached the laser cutter on the bulletproof glass case and cut a hole in the glass. He gently picked up the real diamond and swiftly replaced it with the replica. He slipped the real diamond in a pocket specially stitched on his sleeve. He signaled jean and Dante to pull him up. Luca handed the diamond to Dante as climbed up. The diamond slipped from Dante’s hand and into the bag of his equipment that lay on the floor of the vent. For a split second their hearts stopped beating. Jean and Luca glared angrily at Dante as they all scrambled to recover it. Jean pulled his hand out of the bag and nearly cried in agony. Something sharp had slashed his hand through his glove and now it was bleeding furiously. But there was no time to waste………..they had 2 minutes to get out.
Dante handed the diamond to Jean as they started to exit. “You need to put something on that gash. We don’t want to leave a trail”, Dante said. Jean pulled out a handkerchief from his pocket as they entered the Egyptian exhibit room. He picked up the bag, which lay near the chest and they sped towards the exit. 30 seconds left and counting.
They changed out of the black masks and outfits into street clothes. Trey got his signal to pack up and move.
Luca, Dante and Jean walked slowly towards the National Bank of Italy. Trey joined them. They nodded at each other. They walked into the Bank’s vault. This was the only 24 hour open bank at this time of the night, it was nearly deserted.
They each pulled out a key and put it in the keyhole. When all the four keys were turned, the safe deposit box opened. Jean took the diamond out and handed it to Trey. Trey smiled looking at it and so did the others. They were successful. He put the diamond in the box and they each turned their key and locked the box. Dante said, “For that prize…………….it was worth it! Now take your keys and we will meet here in exactly one year. No one can open the box without all the four keys. So make sure you keep them safe.”
3:00 p.m. June 19th, 2008. The National Bank of Italy. Trey, Dante, Luca and Jean put their keys in and unlocked the box. Trey put his hand in and pulled out the Diamond of Destiny, or was it? This couldn’t be the Diamond of Destiny. It was dull and grey and it had a mirror finish, which was peeling. They all looked stunned and eyed each other suspiciously. The Diamond of Destiny was gone…………………who had taken it???
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4:00 p.m. June 21st, 2007. The National Museum of History, Italy. A man walked in the museum with a small boy. They head directly to the Egyptian exhibit. The special exhibit on ‘Gems’ was now closed and under investigation. They looked at everything, the mummies, the pottery, the models of the pyramids. Lastly they came to the treasure chest. The man called to the museum worker and said something to her pointing towards the little boy and the treasure chest. The worker smiled and nodded. The man pointed to a large gem lying at the foot of the far corner of the chest. She bent over the guardrail and picked it up and handed it over to the little boy. He looked happy, thanked her and promptly put it in his brown paper ‘Museum Gift Shop’ bag. She asked the little boy his name. He replied, “Jean Pierre Junior”.
The man smiled as they walked out of the museum. They had the Diamond of Destiny. It was almost too easy.
12:53 a.m. June 19th, 2007. He had had a second replica of the diamond hidden in his pocket. When he pulled his handkerchief out he also grabbed the replica. He then tossed the real diamond among the scattered ‘fake’, at the foot of the far corner of the treasure chest, when he picked up the bag of hidden clothes stowed behind it.
It was too easy!!!
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nice little heist! and loved the way it’s narrated – zap, zap, zap – bullet speed. are there more… where ever this came from?
i will reveal a shocking truth about the writer and where this came from after some more ppl have read and/or commented.
So dhoom2ish!
dabba – i think i know what that truth is. having read similar stuff from another source close to me, i could *feel* it.
sagarika – dhoom 2? i thought this is more of a rififi or the score…
u got it!
is the writer’s name really yash balaji or is he taking a jab at yashraj and balaji productions?
Cool :D
It’s written by a 9 year old for a school assignment.
Wb,
This kid is amazing. He built a hovercraft slash batmobile out of lego blocks and it would have kicked Nolan’s ass. And he hasn’t watched the Batman movies. His parents are bollymaniacs. I hope he goes to film school.
Yash tis is amazing, loved thje story.