The Burgler by Thomas Perry

[nothumbs]

Has this gem,

"She examined the lock on the French doors, then selected the right bump key for the lock on her key ring, inserted it and turned it just far enough to get the pins under pressure, hit the door with her shoulder, and turned the key farther as the pins jumped. The door swung inward."

There is also this unlikely jewel,

"Elle walked down the hallway toward Sharon’s apartment. She fitted the right bump key into Sharon’s door lock, turned it as far as she could, bumped her shoulder into the door, felt the pins jump, turned the key, and entered."

Got to love the inventive nature of some authors.

[billdeserthills]

I still prefer that to telling the truth about lock bypass in the media

[Robotnik]

Beyond obscuring true bypass techniques, the author could always take it to the “actively harmful” end of the spectrum. For example:

Elle strode casually down the apartment hallway, pausing after a furtive glance in front of Sharon’s door. Pulling a ring of bump keys from her pocket, she made her selection and crouched down by the handle. Another quick glance confirmed she was still alone in the long hallway. With practiced ease, Elle inserted the key, giving the bow a white-knuckled crank to bind the pins, and - steeling herself for the task ahead - reared back and slammed her forehead into the key. No luck. Sighing, she again cocked back, slamming harder this time.

Click.

Allowing herself a half-smile as she wiped the small rivulet of blood from her forehead, Elle carefully eased the door open. Knowing her time was short, she stole through the cramped entry, through the darkened living room, and into the small office. Scanning the office, her flashlight beam illuminated Sharon’s file cabinet. Locked. Undaunted, Elle retrieved the sharp hacksaw blade from the shredded, blood-flecked pocket of her jeans. Gripping the blade tightly in her palm, she stuck it into the cabinet’s small lock, furiously raking until - finally - the lock screeched open.

The file now in hand, Elle moved quickly back through Sharon’s apartment, pausing as she closed the corridor door. Sharon would sound the alarm immediately if presented with an unlocked front door...it had to be bumped closed. Subconsciously, Elle’s hand went to the still-bleeding cut on her forehead.

This was going to suck.

[manueltrabajo]

Awesome writing, Robotnik! I nearly shot cooffee out my nose.

[GWiens2001]

Beyond obscuring true bypass techniques, the author could always take it to the “actively harmful” end of the spectrum. For example:

Elle strode casually down the apartment hallway, pausing after a furtive glance in front of Sharon’s door. Pulling a ring of bump keys from her pocket, she made her selection and crouched down by the handle. Another quick glance confirmed she was still alone in the long hallway. With practiced ease, Elle inserted the key, giving the bow a white-knuckled crank to bind the pins, and - steeling herself for the task ahead - reared back and slammed her forehead into the key. No luck. Sighing, she again cocked back, slamming harder this time.

Click.

Allowing herself a half-smile as she wiped the small rivulet of blood from her forehead, Elle carefully eased the door open. Knowing her time was short, she stole through the cramped entry, through the darkened living room, and into the small office. Scanning the office, her flashlight beam illuminated Sharon’s file cabinet. Locked. Undaunted, Elle retrieved the sharp hacksaw blade from the shredded, blood-flecked pocket of her jeans. Gripping the blade tightly in her palm, she stuck it into the cabinet’s small lock, furiously raking until - finally - the lock screeched open.

The file now in hand, Elle moved quickly back through Sharon’s apartment, pausing as she closed the corridor door. Sharon would sound the alarm immediately if presented with an unlocked front door...it had to be bumped closed. Subconsciously, Elle’s hand went to the still-bleeding cut on her forehead.

This was going to suck.

Just showed it to my son, and even he is having a hard time stopping laughing.

Gordon

[Hippo_vibrations]

Beyond obscuring true bypass techniques, the author could always take it to the “actively harmful” end of the spectrum. For example:

Elle strode casually down the apartment hallway, pausing after a furtive glance in front of Sharon’s door. Pulling a ring of bump keys from her pocket, she made her selection and crouched down by the handle. Another quick glance confirmed she was still alone in the long hallway. With practiced ease, Elle inserted the key, giving the bow a white-knuckled crank to bind the pins, and - steeling herself for the task ahead - reared back and slammed her forehead into the key. No luck. Sighing, she again cocked back, slamming harder this time.

Click.

Allowing herself a half-smile as she wiped the small rivulet of blood from her forehead, Elle carefully eased the door open. Knowing her time was short, she stole through the cramped entry, through the darkened living room, and into the small office. Scanning the office, her flashlight beam illuminated Sharon’s file cabinet. Locked. Undaunted, Elle retrieved the sharp hacksaw blade from the shredded, blood-flecked pocket of her jeans. Gripping the blade tightly in her palm, she stuck it into the cabinet’s small lock, furiously raking until - finally - the lock screeched open.

The file now in hand, Elle moved quickly back through Sharon’s apartment, pausing as she closed the corridor door. Sharon would sound the alarm immediately if presented with an unlocked front door...it had to be bumped closed. Subconsciously, Elle’s hand went to the still-bleeding cut on her forehead.

This was going to suck.

Trying to laugh quietly enough to not wake up the kids in the next room sucks, but this was absolutely worth it!

[Robotnik]

Glad it was entertaining. If I somehow find myself with some excess free time, that could actually be a fun book to write!

[billdeserthills]

Glad it was entertaining. If I somehow find myself with some excess free time, that could actually be a fun book to write!

Your version is much better

[btraven]

Trying to laugh quietly enough to not wake up the kids in the next room sucks, but this was absolutely worth it!

Trying to laugh quietly enough not to wake the dead!