GoldBitter

"And that's our bikini beauty pageant contestants, everybody!" The Governor announced to the crowd gathered in front of the large stage erected on the edge of the beach. Behind the Governor, a dozen women smiled and waved at the audience while camera's flashed and the music swelled. The Appleby Automated Camera Drone hovered near the judges table, livestreaming the competition to Sabrina's followers. The contestants represented a wide variety of women. Some local to the island and some from the opposite side of the world. Some were tall and lean, some were short and round, one was powerfully built like a professional boxer. The main thing they had in common was looking great in a bikini. Sabrina Appleby stood at the end of the line, smiling and waving with the other contestants as her gaze focused on the judges. She recognised Madame Chance from the local casino, and she vaguely recognised Rosie, the short, pink-haired woman wearing a tacky cap. And finally, the empty seat where the

Standing on a neighboring rooftop, Alice Ribbons pulled out a pair of binoculars and studied the crowd of people outside the mansion's front gates. News reporters and fans of celebrity gossip had gathered outside Sabrina Appleby's mansion to get a peek at the many famous people attending the party inside. It was one of the hottest parties of the year and had attracted an appropriately large audience. But Alice wasn't there for celebrity gossip. She was there to steal the infamous Appleby Jewels that Sabrina would be showing off near the end of the evening. The collection of gemstones and Jewlery was worth more than the entire, multi-million dollar mansion they were kept within and Alice couldn't resist the priceless target. "My biggest score yet The perfect target to put me back on the map!!" the thief whispered to herself before slipping the binoculars away and checking her appearance. Alice had acquired a particularly fancy and elegant outfit for the evening, designed to blend