Night settled over Midnight Industries' underground lair, soft lights casting long shadows over the metal floor. Pamela suddenly stood up, her eyes bright.
"Okay, okay, I gotta prepare a gift. It needs to be classy, elegant, and—oh, I know what to get her. I know exactly what to get your parents."
Barbara raised an eyebrow, skeptical. "Pamela, you're not thinking anything weird, are you?"
Pamela waved a hand quickly. "No, no, no, of course not."
Her shoulders stiffened a little, nervous energy flickering through her. "Excuse me for a few minutes. I gotta run to the ladies' restroom for a second and think about… the gift. Yeah, the gift."
Barbara frowned. "Right."
Pamela turned toward Harley. "Harley, quickly—come with me."
Harley tilted her head. "You need help going to the restroom?"
Pamela rolled her eyes. "Just come with me."
Harley shrugged. "All right."
As they walked out, Harley squinted at her. "Where are we going? We're not heading towards the restroom."
Pamela glanced around, lowering her voice. "Of course we're not actually going to the restroom. I needed an excuse to leave Barbara. I have to get her parents a nice gift. Commissioner Gordon and Kimberly are big Vincent van Gogh fans. I thought we'd get one of his most famous paintings—you know, the one with the swirling moonlit sky used on so many book covers."
Harley's eyes widened. "You want to steal the most famous painting of Vincent van Gogh—The Starry Night—and give it to a cop? You're going to hand over a priceless painting to a police commissioner?"
Pamela stayed calm. "Yep. We only have twenty-four hours—minus however long it takes to nap on the plane."
Harley's grin spread. "All right, I'm in. I've never stolen such a valuable piece before."
Pamela called out toward Kira Strix, who was typing rapidly at her console. "Kira—arrange a private flight. I want a direct route and absolute discretion. Find the museum, the storage room, and the guards' rotation for where the painting is."
Kira nodded without hesitation. "Consider it done, ma'am. I'll ping our contacts and set up a private charter plane. I'll have the route and entry plan in twenty."
Pamela turned back to Harley. "We'll say it's an AI replica if anyone asks. A tasteful, museum-grade reproduction made by Midnight Industries technology. They will accept a story about an AI-made copy."
Harley squinted. "You think Commissioner Gordon will buy that?"
Pamela gave a small shrug. "He'll be flattered. If he cares more about sentiment than prominence, he won't be suspicious."
The Unicorn hummed down the dark road toward the private airstrip. Harley leaned back, curiosity lighting her face. "Who is this Van Gogh guy anyway? Tell me—I only know clowns and crooks."
Pamela folded her arms and began calmly, like she'd rehearsed it. "Vincent van Gogh was a Dutch Post-Impressionist painter—emotionally brilliant, intense, and famous for his bold color and swirling brushwork. He struggled with mental illness; he once cut off part of his own ear. His life was tragic, but his paintings—like The Starry Night—changed how people see color and emotion on canvas. It's the one with the swirling night sky over Saint-Rémy. Iconic. Priceless."
Harley whistled softly. "Whoa. Cutting off an ear? That's hardcore. So we're stealing a trauma-painted, famous night-sky picture and handing it to the nice cop whose daughter I date now. What a vibe."
Pamela's lips curved faintly. "It's perfect. Classy, romantic, and dangerous."
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