[Written for a prompt by BadassReads. Word count – 1000 words.]

[The prompt has been slightly modified to make the gangster an art thief instead of a killer.]

"You're saying that such systematic heists are being efficiently executed... by a gangster?" Dr Kaganov repeated sceptically, shifting the phone to her other ear. Officer Lane shrugged in consideration on the other side.

"Well, there's obviously one mastermind behind it all, recruiting small-time thieves to retrieve these paintings," the officer replied.

"An art dealer? Or perhaps just another eccentric millionaire," Shira remarked.

"But I seriously doubt an illiterate, gun-toting gangster would have the knowledge or skill to coordinate such precise heists. They wouldn't know a fancy frame from a fancy painting, and offbeat ones at that."

It was true. Which avaricious man in a cliché fedora and greased hair would take such pains to acquire lesser-known works of Russian abstract artists?

Most of the paintings that had been swiped from across the city that month had been prominent original pieces of Kandinsky, known not as much for their monetary value (which, of course, was a bonus) as their aesthetic value.

"Only an art enthusiast would be taken in by abstract art so much as to steal it, when more popular landscape and nature-oriented canvases exist aplenty," Shira reiterated, taking a seat by the window that overlooked her garden.

She heard Officer Lane turn a page in his case file.

"You're right, Dr Kaganov. Although, until we ascertain exactly which mastermind is responsible for these high-profile crimes, we'll just have to guard our canvases."

There was a pause as the officer read through a few lines scrawled in the file.

"We received a tip-off last evening about the next potential target, and it's very likely to be a Kandinsky," he continued.

"Three of the four original Kandinsky works in the city have already disappeared, although they haven't made their way to the black market yet. We're working on tracing the fourth so that it can be adequately secured."

Shira groaned as the officer trailed off at the unexpected response. She pinched the bridge of her nose absentmindedly.

I hate the fact that tip-offs from the most random sources tend to be accurate.

"Don't bother, Officer Lane," she replied with a sigh of displeasure.

"I've got Kandinsky's Black and Violet at my office."

*****

Wassily Kandinsky had conjured up the abstract masterpiece of black and violet shapes arranged in a dynamic pattern in 1923. Private collectors agreed that his art would make a novel addition to any personal collection, as did Dr Kaganov when she procured the original Black and Violet for her office.

More clients came to marvel at the painting itself rather than for the purpose of art therapy, which was the primary reason behind acquiring the canvas.

Dr Kaganov peered over her desk at the amalgamation of black and violet shapes on the canvas, getting drawn into a little reverie of her own, just as several clients found themselves doing the longer they stared at the painting.

Her eyes wandered across the small office space and settled on the open window as the last remnants of the evening's sun were beginning to fade.

6.00 pm.

Dr Kaganov glanced up from her watch and stood up to gather her coat and file from the polished desk.

Time for action.

*****

The housekeeper on the ground floor flashed a brief smile at Shira as the psychologist walked out of the building. The lady clutched the office keys that Dr Kaganov had deposited with her, allowing her to assume her job of tidying up the place after Kaganov's work hours.

Confirming her employer's exit, the housekeeper quietly stepped back towards the maintenance room. The keys made no sound as they were slipped into the gloved hand of a man who emerged from the room a minute later.

*****

Main power switched off, atleast you're a careful one, Shira mused to herself, gazing down at her laptop screen.

The man from Kvest Escape Rooms had linked her office security system to an independent unit, unbeknownst to the burglar, of course, so the offender's face was as clear as daylight as she watched him stride across her office after supposedly thwarting the system.

It's right in front of the desk. Just take it, she urged the man mentally, an amused smile playing about her face as she watched the criminal cautiously approach the desk.

The man adjusted his gloves before taking a step towards the large canvas. He'd seen all sorts of ingenious anti-theft measures in his career, but none had become apparent as yet in the psychologist's office, much to his distress.

He extended an arm to carefully examine the painting's frame for any security wiring. The darkness of the room suddenly seemed to affect him as his hand missed its mark.

Kvest promised the best hologram technology and entirely delivered.

Roman emperors probably had such fun watching their gladiators lose to the lions.

The thief's anguish mounted visibly after three failed attempts to grip the canvas. Ironically, the original painting was only three feet to his right, sitting inconspicuously under the wooden desktop.

And the game begins in three, two, one...

"Escape Room initiated."

The man started at the smooth automated voice that resounded through the office. The click of the lock at the door sealed his fate.

"Module – Art heist. Time allocated for escape – ten minutes. Good luck."

Shira clicked on the laptop screen. A prolonged moment of the man's bewildered gaze was all that the facial recognition software required to yield results.

"L. Leonid, mercenary and thief for hire.
Last sighting on the dark web: 4 weeks ago.
Previous charges: Breaking and entering, defiling public property."

Dr Kaganov picked up her phone and typed out a quick text to Officer Lane. She then set down the phone and shut her laptop, after consuming the mildly entertaining scene of the art thief frantically attempting to pick the lock on the office door.

Shira twirled a card in her hand, considering the motto scrawled across it in gold lettering.

Kvest Escape Rooms ↝
More than the End Game.