The Butter Thief, Chapter Three

“So?” Jenny asked. “Will you do it?”

“You know what you’re asking is insanely difficult,” the slightly obese, balding man told her in his heavy New Jersey accent.

“Yeah, I know,” she said. “That’s why I came to you.”

“Look,” he advised, “I can’t help you, but I know someone who can. They call her the Butter Thief. A thief among thieves, she is. Almost a legend, ya know? I mean, getting’ to her might be hard, but she can handle this, easy.”

“I don’t usually work with women,” Jenny said. “I find them… deceitful.”

The man laughed at this. “Well, then you’re straight outta luck. She’s the only one I know of who could do this.”

“Maybe. How can I get in touch?”

“Oh, honey,” he guffawed. “I don’t know the women! Don’t know anyone who do. Although, if you’re desperate…” He observed her.

“Fine,” Jenny resigned. “It’s a big job. Lots of money at stake.”

“Hang on,” he told her. “I’ve got to get my computer to show you.” He walked into the back room of the dusty pawn shop. A minute later he returned, holding a laptop. “Lemme just… One minute, okay? Slow internet… And there you go.” He swiveled the laptop on the counter to face her. “It’s a news thing from yesterday,” he said.

A news anchor woman stared at Jenny from the video playing. “Two weeks ago, a man, Jeremy Hendricks, who went by the aliases of Liam Johnson and Ben Warrington, was arrested for stealing a large collection of coins six months ago that are valued at three million dollars. He has since been charged of other thefts, as well as being the accomplice in a murder. The most recent theft, which also involved the murder, happened a mere sixteen days ago. The investigation into that crime unearthed a massive slavery ring. He almost always had partners to assist him, and he has turned them all in. All but one, that is. The police have released a statement saying, “He calls her the Butter Thief. He will not name her out of fear for his life. We believe that this is a valid claim because he has been otherwise cooperative. This woman is a high-profile criminal. We have been investigating into the matter, and will continue to do so.” If you have any information about this woman, please call-”

Jenny stopped the video. She glanced at the grinning man and back at the computer. “And that’s the only person you know of?”

“The only one,” he replied.

“Then I guess I’ll have to keep searching.”

“No! Don’t you get it?” he asked. “This Jeremy guy, he might be able to tell you.”

“I’m afraid that even if he did, it wouldn’t help me. The Butter Thief,” she said, stifling a laugh, “is someone who I’ve already asked. Sure, she can do it, but she’s occupied for the moment. Thanks for your time, though.”

Jenny walked along the street, thinking about how odd it was that now the whole world knew her name, instead of only the exemplary thieves the had at one point collaborated with.