His detective girlfriend

Chapter one: Andy invited three of his acquainted connections over to his ranch-style concrete-tiled home in Buffalo, New York. Enthusiastic to reveal his collections, especially his newest creation. "Come, my friends." He took the lead, and they followed closely behind him, a plump, a blonde and a Mexican American. He wondered what occupied their minds at the moment; they must be anticipating all his hype about his hand-made collections. "This way, friends." He stopped and took a turn in the corridor, and they followed. As they continued, Andy's wife came out of one of the rooms in the passage. She greeted them, and they responded politely. She then shifted her gaze to Andy with a lovely grin. "Barbara, your timing is explicable.” Andy waved at her. “I was just about to reveal my masterpiece to my friends here.” He gestured. "Someone has to do a review." One of the guests ruefully said, and they all chuckled. "I guess I am also invited then." Barbara grinned at Andy. Andy took her hand and continued through the corridor before finally arriving at a steel door that was strictly shut with several locks. "Okay, whatever is in there must be very precious.” the bald headed plump gestured, considering the sets of locks fastened to the door. “Let me guess, you've got gold in there?” Jefferson the blonde joked, and they all burst into laughter. With excitement in the air, Andy proceeded to undo the locks with his special key. It took more than a minute before he was done unlocking the last one of them, while his guests kept humming, making jokes, and laughing at the same time. He opened the door, and there was yet another strictly closed steel bar. “I think I've got this.” He grinned before he unlocked the door. “Behold!” He gestured with his hands stretched wide. They walked in, one after the other, and were dazzling at his exhibition space, taking in the view of the paintings plastered and framed across the walls and also the sculptures arrayed around in different positions. For a second, he took pleasure in their awe, knowing full well they were lovers of arts. He had become acquainted with these pals over the years, and he thought it fair to take them around his private gallery. Anyway, his darling wife, Barbara, and his children frequented this special artistic room, but even Barbara was never familiar with it. She joined his guests mouth-agape, to stare as though it was her first time at the gallery. Andy grinned. She must be wondering how lucky she was to be his wife, an award-winning painter and sculptor whose honours kept adding up over the last two decades. Meanwhile, he let the gazers wander in amazement, feeding their eyes with his creation. “Well, I think you should see this one.” Andy walked towards a side of the wall covered with a red and gold embroidered curtain. This was the major reason he brought them here in the first place. Just like Eddy had joked about a review because he was going to share it with the world soon, even his wife had not set her eyes on it yet. “Behold, Lionel Messi!” Andy shifted the curtains to reveal what was behind it, and the rest of them wowed. “Wondetful!” “Spectacular!” the exclamation and the overwhelmed shouts kept coming from the men in suits while observing the metal-made sculpture. A sculpture of the soccer player, Lionel Messi seated with arms wrapped across his knees Gonzalos the Mexican, drew closer to touch it. “Oh no, no touching, not yet,” Andy gestured at him. “I think it's perfect.” The bald chap complimented, nodding. “You truly are a genius.” The blonde added Andy smiled at their compliments, exchanging a satisfactory glance with his wife. ____ _____ ____ At midnight, a van slowed down around Andy's home. The driver halted the van at the back side of the house and quietly exited the van. Walking beside the building wall, his step was that of a tiger, his shadow cast on the wall, but he didn't pay attention to that. He glanced around; there was no one in view. Even though he was dressed in black and wearing a mask, he couldn't take any chances. He approached a glassy window at the backside of the house. This was supposed to be his entrance into Andy's home, but it was closed from the inside. That won't be a problem; he is a pro. He took off his backpack, unzipped it, and grabbed a glass cutter. Cautiously and quietly, he drew a circle at the window, and then with a little push, he took it out and then slid a hand through, unlocked the window from the inside, and opened it completely. He entered the house; it was dimly lit, but he knew how to find his way around. Award-winning sculptor Andy would not be expecting any thieves at his house, would he? He nodded and took the passage carefully and consciously. Of course there were no securities, without and within; this was just a simple family house, yet he had to be extra careful. Andy must be smart enough to keep his art work vulnerable. Finally, he arrived at the steel door, and he counted three locks. Whatever is in there must be priceless to Andy. He cracked his neck and went back to his bag, took out a master key, and penetrated the smaller lock. In the next couple of seconds, he was done. He quietly opened and nodded at the last door leading to his quest. Unlocking the bars, he went in and turned on his touch light, and wowed. He slipped off his mask into a head warmer, pointing his torch at the fine arts, but anyway, he was not here for that; he was here for the Lionel Messi sculpture. And there it was, he supposed, a red curtain hanging on one side of the wall. He walked towards it, unveiled it, and grinned at the sculpture of Lionel Messi that was sparkling on top of the table. Thank goodness, it wasn't a massive structure; it's portable, but it won't fit into his bag. He carried it gently and kissed it. Taking the same route back to the van, he placed it nicely on the empty seat beside him. “Oh damn!” He exclaimed that he had forgotten his tool bag back in the art gallery. He went back and found it right there on the floor. He exhaled before grabbing it and continuing through the corridor, when unexpectedly a lady appeared in front of him. “Oh my God!” She exclaimed at the stranger in her house. “What, wait.” He pushed her to the side to run, but she gripped his arm and struggled with him. She must be a daring lady; he was not supposed to hit a woman; he just blew off his cover. “Andy!” She screamed and maintained her hold on him; enough already. He broke free from her grip and pushed her down before taking off. “Barbara! “ Andy arrived in the corridor and found his wife on the floor. He made haste and helped her up. “Are you alright?” He stared at her. “What happened?” She showed him the glove she managed to pull off the thief's hand. “He is gone.” Andy stood speechless for a while before turning around and rushing down to his art gallery. Barbara joined him shortly while he stared at the empty table.