I have always enjoyed the dark. Being completely in the dark, but able to see everything else that was going on has always been a thrill for me. No one ever found me playing hide and seek, but I was good at finding nearly everyone. It was a gift. And in the dark, I was a God.
This job, though, needed a thrill as I could have done it in my sleep. I mean, all second story jobs have a little bit of risk, as you are generally climbing or defeating alarm systems, or sneaking around cameras and guards. Sometimes, you just wait in the dark for hours until it is time to move. Any number of things can go wrong and you have to be on your toes and know when to leave the dark.
I needed the scratch, so I am doing the job, but as I walk to the meet to give up the goods for my pay, I find myself wondering why I had to steal this at all. I mean, they could have just bought it at the corner store and been done with it. My fee is rather steep for a cheap knockoff like this. And I just had to walk into a house and take it. No security at all and they weren’t home.
Still, a job is a job and I keep my word. I stood in the dark alley across from the diner I was meeting my employer at, and I was keenly aware of everyone on the street. You never know when a cop might spot you, and I was a felon. They see me, they tend to stun first and, well, they don’t ask me questions. I just avoided them whenever possible.
I saw the kid who hired me walk into the diner about 10 minutes ago and was now as sure as I could be that no one was tailing him. I went over, entered the diner and slid into the seat across from him. Without saying a word, I dropped a small bag on the floor and slid it over with my foot.
The kid glanced at the folded copy of USA today on the table, with that “in there” kinda look, and I could see it was bulging. I deftly opened the paper and let the envelope inside it fall into my lap.
He was beaming at me from across the table and I still couldn’t figure it out. His voice was low and strong, and didn’t fit his little body. Go figure.
“Thanks, man. I really appreciate it. I have wanted that for years.”
“You could have just bought one, you know.”
“Yeah, but this one was *his*, you know? And it should have been mine.”
“So you say.”
We sat there quietly, and I had a sip of the coffee that he had ordered for me. It was black and strong, just how I liked it. It wasn’t very good, and was now fairly cold, but the heavy bitter made up for it. The silence hung in the air, until he cleared his throat.
“Well, thanks.”
I stared at his excited grin for a moment before answering. I am really good at letting things go, as not knowing that tends to make you do stupid things. I don’t do stupid things, which is why I am still in business. It was time to go, before I started asking questions.
“Don’t mention it, kid. I’ll see ya around. Let me know if you want anything else done. You know how to find me.”
“Sure, man. Sure.”
He was just staring at the bag on the floor, like he had the Mona Lisa in there. I shook my head and stood up, leaving him with his treasure. I dropped a fiver on the table for the coffee and walked calmly out of the place.
It didn’t make any sense, why the kid would pay so much for something so common, but who am I to judge. I am just happy to help, you know?
No matter, I have a *real* job waiting and I had planning to do. Back into the dark for me.
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And that is the end of week one. I hope you enjoyed it.