“You’ve returned?” Gerard asked without turning around.

“I was curious what you were looking for,” the cat burglar said. “You said something about ‘richer game’. I thought it might be worth investigating.”

The two were dallying at their own risk. The alarms continued to screech, and the police would be on them in mere seconds. Gerard had already managed to pull the ring from its perch within the case. He wasn’t expecting to stay much longer.

“We haven’t time to discuss this further,” he said, “I really should be off.”

Gerard turned around. Once again, the cat burglar’s top was unzipped.

“Madam,” Gerard sighed, “while I’m sure your plentiful talents can arouse the spirit of those of lesser fortitude, you will find that I am not so easily stirred.”

“Can’t be ‘stirred’, huh?” the cat burglar said. “Well, can you be shaken?”

She reached quickly to the floor and pulled hard on the rug laying underneath Gerard’s feet. Gerard crashed against the ring’s empty case, and the sapphire ring flew up into the air.