The Precision

Derek Terpin smirks as a heavy raindrop slaps and shatters against the windshield of his parked car.

The predicted weather will explain the sudden power outage to come, and will delay emergency response by one minute and forty seven seconds.

He adjusts his tie, exits the car, bounds up the museum steps, and walks through the doors.

The full force of the storm crashes down behind him.

Bethany Alvarez, Derek's mark and lover of four months, smiles and leads him to the vault for a private viewing of the Nightstar Sapphires.

Derek sees, but does not acknowledge, Amanda Cross perusing exhibits, ready to text Wilheim Davis to cut the power, and, if needed, cause a distraction to aid in Derek's exit.

In the vault, Derek counts down to zero in his head.

The power goes off, and, in the dark, Derek switches out replicas for the real deal, with one second to spare as the generator kicks on.

Mission complete, Derek smirks as he exits the museum.

His right foot on the first step down slips on slick algae, and he cracks his head on hard concrete.

Derek Terpin dies one minute and forty seven seconds before the ambulance arrives.