2. Chapter 2 #2
Nothing seemed off on the live feeds. Raz stepped backward, and a pile of Twinkie wrappers crinkled under his foot. Did someone rob a vending machine? A stash of chips sat under Ryan’s desk; sugary treats spilled out from under Pete’s, and bottles of various sodas lay next to the mini fridge.
Kicking at the wrapper pile, Raz murmured sarcastically, “Did you guys need any other supplies? You know, maybe water or something a little less sugary?”
“They restocked the vending machines today and gave out the outdated stuff for free,” Ryan said.
“Don’t worry,” Pete added. “We even scored a few water bottles, so we’ll stay hydrated.”
Raz scoffed, eyeing the energy drinks beside both men. That only works if you open one, kid.
Raz opened the mini fridge. Water bottles lined the top, but twice as many jarred coffees and energy drinks cluttered the rest. Rolling his eyes, he grabbed a water bottle and snatched a walkie-talkie from the charging port on the cluttered counter.
The walkie beeped when he turned the knob.
He clipped it to his belt loop next to his badge and chugged the refreshing water.
“Let me know if anything changes,” Raz said. “I’m heading inside to check on security.”
Ryan waved at him while Pete gave a loud yawn. After leaving the van, Raz continued drinking the water as he rode down the elevator and walked across the street to the gallery.
Two buildings bordered the structure on either side. An alleyway bisected the next-door building and the gallery, while a walkway stretched along the other side. Taking the walkway, Raz watched for any suspicious activity. The streetlamps illuminated the cracking cement, but everything was still.
At the back door, Raz came upon two men. The officers were in civilian clothes, so they didn’t alert news sources to trouble.
They both nodded in greeting, looking wide awake and alert.
One of them opened the door for Raz. He strode into an open entryway with white columns in a circle, holding up the second-floor landing.
Marbled black and white tile glittered beneath his long strides like a ritzy lobby.
After waving to the officers standing at the elevator and the security guard at the front desk, he jogged to the steps.
His hands shook as he gripped the stair railing with the excitement he felt every time he came to the gallery.
It’d been a while since he felt invested in a case.
The building was six floors, but they posted officers strategically around each level.
The security booth with the building’s own cameras was conveniently on the second floor.
Pulling in a deep breath after running up the steps, he knocked on the door to the security booth.
No one answered.
Seriously? Is everyone sleeping on the job today? Whistles and cheering came through the door as if a football game was playing from within. Using his Insight, he didn’t sense any human spirit energy from inside. His fingers tingled as his heart rate accelerated. He tried the doorknob—locked.
As he was about to radio the guard on the walkie, the lights blinked off.
A hum filled the tense silence.
Someone had cut the power.
It’s showtime.
Adrenaline coursing in his veins, he kicked the door open. Grabbing the flashlight from the holster on his belt, he illuminated the booth. Empty. Had Roger left his post? From the amount of trash, it almost appeared as if he had eaten his way to the bathroom.
“Pete. Call in backup,” he said into the walkie talkie, running down the hall to the lingerie’s location.
“What’s happened? Everything went dark?” Pete said. His words came out slowly, with a slight lisp.
“We lost power,” Raz said, tongue feeling too thick for his mouth. “I’m heading to the pearl, going radio silent.” Raz turned the walkie off and snapped it to his belt. He held up his light. The floor spun from beneath him. Disoriented, he wobbled and caught himself against a table. Damn.
Why did he feel drunk?
An aroma tickled his nose. That familiar, expensive sweetness from the evidence bag. His dragon snarled to attention.
The Bubblegum Bandit.
I’ve got you now. A grin spread across his face, and he tightened his grip on the flashlight.
Wooziness made each step difficult. When he reached the display room, he found a guard passed out in the entranceway.
Sweeping his light around to check for an assailant, he half-knelt, half-fell as he reached to feel for the man’s pulse. He was alive.
What’s that thief up to?
Sure, the Bubblegum Bandit had been creative in each heist, but taking out security was new. Something had changed. She was getting sloppier and more aggressive. Jaw clenched, he stood only to have vertigo send him toppling forward. He caught himself before he tripped and took a deep breath.
Whatever the hell was wrong with him, he had to shake it off. Now.
He squeezed his tired eyes shut and braced his back against the wall. Flashlight blazing, he slid along the edge and swiveled around the corner.
Resting his shoulder on the wall for support, he swept the room with his light. Art hung from the walls, and a door on the opposite wall was open with darkness behind it. He stopped his light on the small figure standing beside the display case.
A headlamp wrapped her bubblegum-pink hair as she stood with her rear facing him. Her hands worked behind her back, clasping the jeweled bra in place over tight-as-sin black clothing.
Raz’s mouth salivated, and his dragon rammed against his already swirling head.
Mine.