Bob heads into the vault

Being Bob is just so comfortable. His whole body is so relaxed even if out of shape. He really doesn't have a care. Talking at the conference is something he's done his whole career. In fact, that's the best thing going for using him - he can easily talk to anyone with great ability of persuasion. Just what you need to get info and find the box with the Scarlet Bloom.

The probability of swapping with the bank manager or the Sheriff is rather low considering what you'd have to do. Assuming Ms. Wendel is even at home, getting her alone to zap might be difficult. You might even have to expose Bob which would be a downgrade on your test having anyone you assumed be recognized. And what of the Sheriff? Is he out roaming in his cruiser or sitting behind his desk with other officers around. He could be out fishing in a number of secluded spots or watching a ball game with a bunch of other beer-belly ex-high school jock has-beens.

Lastly, there's no guarantee that the security company will know to check the bank. The Van Lewens may not want to alert the authorities and have it widely known that they didn't trust the Vincents and their daughter to let her wear the real Scarlet Bloom and provided a fake. More than likely, they would just quietly check the safe deposit box not involving either the manager or Sheriff. Then you would totally have blown it and get a failing grade, possibly busted down to a Type 3 which would be worse then stuck in a green-slime suit and lose your personal identity forever.

Yep. Staying Bob is really the best chance at success; and if you play it right, you might not even have to switch to make the switch. The last thing you want is to step into another of the organization's screwy setups that would continue or start a new soap opera of personalities.

"Young man," you again address the greeter. "I will be in need of setting up a safety deposit box. Could you direct me on what I need to do?"

"Certainly, sir," he replies with a smile and standing. "Please follow me. The person who handles this is Miss Charlotte. She will help you with the forms and walk you through opening the box and how the keys work."

You approach a desk just outside the vault area where sits a young woman, twenty-five at most, who is immaculately attired in a blue blazer over a white blouse that is stretched to its maximum across her chest, You would think if she breathed that the button would snap. She has a mousy face accented with a button nose supporting large round glasses that magnify her hazel eyes which are expertly lined and shadowed. Her auburn hair is pulled to the back in a barrette rather than a pony tail so it hangs evenly spread across her neck reaching just inches below he shoulders. Bangs come down in front exposing just a half inch of forehead above her neatly plucked eyebrows.

"Miss Charlotte, this is Mr. ... I'm sorry. I didn't ask your name."

"Foxworth. Bob Foxworth. Well, really Robert but everyone calls me Bob, so please do, and ..." Noticing her name tag on the blazer, Abigail B. Charlotte, you add, "May I call you Abby?"

She slightly blushes and smiles demurely as Bob's charm starts to work. "You can, but everyone calls be Abs," she offers standing to shake your hand. As you do, a quick glance reveals that she definitely has trim abs when her blouse billows open at her waist.

You thank the young man before sitting and then repeat your request to Abs. It's only about five minutes of paperwork and your flattering repartee before she has you wait while she enters it all in a computer. You banter about the double work of it since you could have entered the info directly. She agrees but states the bank likes to use their old process. She reads the paper form moving her glasses back and forth like a telescope as she types things in, stopping several times asking you for clarification. When she turns the screen for you to confirm, there's a couple errors you point out making her blush again. The color in her face makes her quite attractive.

Once done, she spins the monitor for you to confirm and pushes over the keyboard for you to type in your passcode and check the acceptance boxes of the long description of terms.

"May take me a bit to read this. Hope you don't mind. Just an old habit."

"Of course, Mr. Fox ..."

"Please, Bob," you correct with your best sales smile.

"Of course, Bob. While you do that, let me get the keys."

You stand as she does being very old-school polite, and she blushes again. You can tell you've made a solid contact and should be able to sell her on helping you when needed.

When you sit, you notice that there is another tab open behind the Terms of Agreement which just happens to be a list of deposit boxes showing which are available. Obviously, she checked that to know what one she could get for you. Little did she realize that it also shows the Van Lewens boxes. They have two, unfortunately, both of the right size to hold the Bloom. Your name is on the next sequential box to theirs that is listed as just having gotten in the past two months. The other is years old. Hopefully, that means it was recently acquired just for the Scarlet Bloom

Your training allowed you to flick the screen quick enough that no one could tell. You were also fortunate, that cameras were not focused on your back and could not see the screen, probably for customer privacy when entering their bank passcode. Bob seemed to be good luck, and you were now fully committed to staying with him as long as possible.

The only thing now would be how to cover your opening of the the Van Lewens box. You know it takes two keys to release it - yours and the bank's that Abs carries that works in all the boxes. Each customer's key is unique. Of course, your lock picking is unlikely to require either.

As she leads you in, you're the only two in the vault having passed through the big gate using Abs and the vault guard's electronic security cards. As you go in, you chat to Abs about why the boxes don't use cards in this technology age. Again a blush and roll of her eyes as she explains the old mentality of the bank's management. "So old and cheap," she whispers in confidence, "that they don't even have camera's in the vault, only coming and going."

Bob's sales pitch is working well on your behalf as she continues to divulge information. Now all you need to do is get the Van Lewens box and switch the fake Bloom in your pocket with the real one and leave that in Bob's new box.

(Author: Wordsmitty)