CHAPTER 13

Sitting in his study, Tom reviewed the information sent to him by Leonard. The next heist was a 'hit and grab' mission in which precision was crucial. Leonard did not provide detailed information on what was going to be stolen, but he mentioned that it was not a personal job, and more like a contract to steal the goods and deliver them without any questions being asked.

From the looks of the security detail, it seemed like whatever was going to be stolen was either extremely valuable or needed to be kept secret from the public. Tom wondered how Leonard had obtained the private security detail and schedule, but he knew there was no point in asking him as Leonard likely had his ways.

The job involved an inconspicuous truck that would head to Central City in three days. It would be heavily guarded and the experimental project being transported was developed at Ivo Laboratories located in Keystone City. The guards would be on high alert and could be one call away from the police if anything suspicious happened during transport.

Damn! 

Tom needed to think of every possible scenario the heist could take. He needed to run simulations and pick the one with the highest rate of success. There was no room for failures or sloppy miscalculations because one mistake could jeopardize the operation.

It was a tough job considering they needed to deal with security, stop the truck, ensure the police would not be contacted and even if they were, it would be too late when they arrived. A perfect exit route was a necessity. That part would be left to Leonard, a criminal mastermind who would already have an escape route and appropriate vehicles for such a heist.

The presence of the Flash and Kid Flash in that city wasn't helping matters because those speedsters could be there in a flash.

'Yeah, pun intended,' Tom soliloquized the thought as he paced from one end to another within his study, stroking his chin as if an imaginary beard was present, which might help him think deeper and result in better insight on the matter at hand.

"Time. Time. Time!" He muttered.

Everything concerning that job depended on the timing of the attack and the amount of time spent on opening the truck without the source being traceable. Also, the time needed to grab the item and then disappear from the scene before the cops or the speedsters showed up also had to be deliberated upon.

On getting to a suitable and reasonable conclusion, he called Leonard on his burner phone.

"That was fast. I wasn't expecting a call from you so soon, at least not till another twenty-four hours," Leonard's deep but ever-calm voice vibrated through the phone.

"Sorry to wreck your expectations, but I have developed a suitable plan with a high success rate and close to zero loopholes, supposing your crew members are capable and act according to plan," Tom replied frankly.

"Nice, a well thought out plan which comes together earlier is easier to digest and perfect than one made in celerity. Also don't worry about the efficiency of my crew, those are men I hand picked myself because of their expertise and productiveness. 

Meet me at the old factory located a few blocks away from Carmichael Elementary by morning."

"Okay, I'll be there." Tom hung up the phone and readily freshened up, before heading straight to bed.

… 

Tom and Leonard were sitting in a dimly lit room at the far back of the abandoned factory, discussing their plan for the upcoming heist.

Tom explained to Leonard the importance of timing when it came to the response time of the police, something Leonard was well aware of.

"Leonard," Tom said, "You and your crew need to be in and out of that place within 152 seconds upon contact with the truck. Not a second more, you should be on the move before the next."

"That's the average response time for the police in this area. Any longer and we're risking getting caught." Leonard nodded, taking in the information. "But what if something goes wrong and we need more time?" he asked. Tom thought for a moment before responding.

"That's why we need to have a solid escape plan in place, just in case. We can't afford to get caught." Leonard nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation.

"As for the opening of the truck's locks neatly and without a trace, I would recommend getting a laser with high heat intensity for the job." Tom suggested an impeccable solution in order to avoid a messy operation.

"I don't mean to be nosy or skeptical, but how did you get this job anyway?" Tom asked with a curious tone, but no change to his expression as he looked at Leonard, awaiting an answer.

"I don't know the identity of the client, but I got the call from his secretary. I had no need to know who I was doing the job for because that wasn't important, as long as I get paid and enjoy the thrill of the steal. Once the job is done, I will transport the goods to a private hanger, where they will be transported to the client in Metropolis." Leonard answered with an honest but questionable reply.

They continued to discuss the details of the heist, ensuring that every aspect, especially the escape route, was planned to perfection.

"Also Tom, enough with calling me Leonard. I think we're way past formalities. Call me Leo." He said before getting back to the discussion at hand.

…

Captain Cold stood at the front of the room, his icy gaze sweeping over the assembled members of his crew. He was a tall, imposing figure with a distinctive suit that was covered in blue and white accents, each one representing a different element of his powers. His cold gun, an essential tool for his heists, was slung over his shoulder. Although this operation had to be clean and not traceable back to anyone, he knew that a man could never be too cautious or prepared for the unknown.

The crew, all seasoned criminals and experts in their respective fields, were gathered around a large table in the middle of the room. Maps, blueprints, and surveillance photographs were spread out across the surface, each one meticulously examined and studied.

"Listen up, everyone," Captain Cold began, his voice deep and commanding. "We've got a big job coming up, and I need you all to be at the top of your game. We're going to hit a police truck that will be transporting a very valuable project. It's going to be tough, but I know we can pull it off if we work together."

He walked to the table and picked up a blueprint, holding it up for the crew to see. "The truck will be traveling along this route here," he said, pointing to a line on the map. "It's heavily guarded, and the truck itself is a fortress on wheels. But we have the advantage of surprise, and that's where we'll strike."

The crew listened intently as Captain Cold began to detail the plan. He explained how they would use a series of diversionary tactics to draw the guards away from the truck, allowing them to strike at the most opportune moment. He also explained how they would use an easily transportable EMP, which works within a certain range, to disable the vehicle, and how they would move in quickly to take control of the merchandise.

"We'll also have to take out the guards, but I've got that covered," Captain Cold said, a hint of a smile on his face. "We'll take them out with precision and speed. We'll also have our getaway vehicles ready, so we can make a quick escape with the target."

As he spoke, the crew began to nod in agreement. They knew that Captain Cold was one of the most skilled criminals in the business and trusted his judgment and expertise, as well as that of his new consultant with a great deal of expertise.

"This is going to be a risky operation, but the payoff will be huge," Captain Cold concluded. "Are you all with me?"

The crew looked at each other, then nodded and shouted in agreement, ready to follow Captain Cold's lead.

"Good," he said, a cold smile spreading across his face. "Let's get to work."

The crew spent the next few hours going over the details of the plan, discussing different scenarios and potential complications.

Cold assigned specific roles to each crew member who would be involved in the upcoming operation. He carefully selected only a handful of men, as he believed that too many participants would lead to a sloppy and messy execution. However, with just the right number of people, the operation would be swift and efficient, with easier means of disappearing afterward. 

 They made sure that everyone knew their role and had the equipment they needed. And when the time came, they were ready to strike.