I don’t even remember the theft - I think some integral part of my brain was so determined to block it that my mind is a complete blank for that time. The only thing I remember was relief that I would be reunited with my family as I’d done what they asked. I was in the car escaping from the Eiffel Tower. The police sirens were wailing and shooting past us, towards the crime scene. The news reporters were interviewing the guests who were at the Eiffel Tower, trying to figure out who had stolen the gems - little did they know that I was already racing far away, having deposited the gems in a dustbin for the con artists to collect.
The swindlers had promised a great sum of money as a reward, along with the safety of my family. All I had to do now was to go to ‘The Musée Rodin’ to retrieve my family members on the 20th of the next month. As I was tired and terrified of what I had just done, I went to the nearest hotel to have a drink or two. On arriving there I noticed that there were only two people there- me and a young beautiful woman of around my age. Mustering up courage, I decided to talk to her to take my mind off things. Amy was wonderful, sweet and kind - soon we became friends. I quickly begin to fall head over heels for her. She seemed like the most wonderful thing to ever happen to me. As days passed we became closer but she left me puzzled. She used to leave at random times for her work, which she never told me about. All I knew that these days she had more challenges, as she started going more frequently.
On the 19th, I decided to tell her about my wrongdoings. I was sure that she would keep my trust and come with me. So I told her everything about the time when we were attacked by a con organization and how they had blackmailed my family and me. They had agreed to free my family only if I stole the gems that would be presented at the Eiffel Tower. They had threatened to kill my family and me if I had not done so or if I had gone to the police for help. They had given me all the materials and they kept a tight look on me so I wouldn’t escape. I told her about how the immense regret I felt almost drowned me - but she along with my family were the ones who pulled me out, who gave me a reason to go on.
When I told her, I felt unburdened, only to find that she had to go immediately to her office. I felt empty and unhappy at myself for encumbering her with my sorrows and risking my parents’ lives.
The next day as I was ready to leave for the Musée Rodin, she surprised me by telling me that she would like to come too. At first, I was reluctant but then I realized it would be better to have someone with me.
On reaching there I was puzzled by the fact that no one was there. I decided to wait for some time. As I was waiting, police cars surrounded me and dragged me to the police station - it happened before I could process it. I should have known - the terrorists must have betrayed me. I was heartbroken. On reaching the station, I realised I was now an international terrorist convicted for grand larceny.
When they were taking my statements, I told the sergeant that I was guilty of stealing the gems but was forced to do so as the organization had lured my family into a rat trap. After further questioning, they soon realized I was just a normal resident who had been deceived. I told them all the information about them that I knew and then I was asked to stay in one of the hotels near the station for further questioning if needed.
That night, I had nightmares about stuff that could happen to my family. My parents, my sister, my brother and his wife. Thinking this was all my fault as I had dragged them into this mess. In the morning, I was called to the police station. There I was welcomed as a hero. I soon found out that Amy was an undercover detective and she had alerted the police a few hours ago and that they had already arrested the organization and my family was safe though they were admitted to the hospital.
As I was being escorted to the hospital in a police van I was suddenly very thankful to Amy as if it wouldn’t have been for her then my family would not have survived.
On reaching there I found out that my family was as safe as I could’ve hoped for, although clearly shaken by this whole ordeal. I was convicted for the theft, though I got away with a lighter sentence. The swindlers had all the bad luck. They got life imprisonment. All this because of the grace of God.
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