Page 62Wrong rush

The whole layout of buildings and the address was still very fresh in my mind. The building's location itself as well, so there was at least a smidgen of a plan. I ran most of the way there, a little faster than anyone could, but it wouldn't be very obvious to outsiders. I stopped short of the compound, obviously, not wanting to rush in despite the sudden change of plans.

It wasn't any quieter. A few trucks, one of them with the engine still running and preparing to leave. There were many (considering the time of night) people walking around as well. Some with a more official look to them. I would stand out like a lava-lamp in a candle factory and I didn't want that. As discretion is the better part of valor, I decided to be brave by having patience and preparing myself. Starting with turning off the mobile phone.

Watching where they walked and patrolled. Listening in as best as I could. There appeared to be keypads near the doors to the warehouse, active as well as one guard had to use them before they could get in. While the combination was now known to me (4102) it wasn't the right way in our out. It would be too open and noticeable. What I would have to do was a use one of the large windows at the roof. I could force them open, even though I was missing gloves.

The compound was big and halogen-lamp lit at the main entrance. Not really a good place for a would-be thief. So, I took the scenic route. It's a weird thing, actually, that though harbors usually have some security on the shore side, they have very little on the water side. So the easiest thing to do is just to get to the water side outside of the compound and follow it. Of course there was a fence to get over that extended beyond the shore, but that was but a jump away. No cameras on this side either.

From there it was a zigzag route towards the actual building, using the edges but not really the roofs of buildings. A lot of them were metal plates, which would make an awful lot of noise, even for a vampire. It took some time, but I managed to sneak past the security guards and get on the roof of the building I needed to enter.

First I listened if there was anyone already inside making their rounds.

It was clear. The windows opened easily and smoothly after some fidgeting with my knife. They weren't really made to be locked down much It's not that you would transport anything that way anyway, the large double doors in the front of the warehouse were large enough. Beneath the windows, to support them, were metal constructions that extended along the roof and walls, making it easy for me to get down. Once below, I was happy to see two things: First was the (slightly odd) absence of cameras and second was the clear labeling of the racks.

Silently I moved to my destination, looking around to the mostly very boring stored goods. It mostly appeared to be electronic in nature, some screens, computer-cases, phones and even a pallet full of headsets. Most of the racks around my destination were empty though except for a stack of boxes where I was supposed to take something.

They were small cube, like boxes that were a little too big to fit in my backpack individually but looked easy enough to hold in one hand. There was no writing on them and only one sign, printed in black on the brown carton; a circle with two dots, one on the top of the circle and one in the center of it. Somehow it reminded me of chemistry.

It wasn't asked to take all of them with me, and if they wanted it, they wouldn't have send one person. It was much easier and likely to take only one. Actually, it was a little weird that they weren't tied to a pallet, wrapped in plastic to hold them in place. In fact, they looked very irregular with no bar-code or anything else to discern them by. Would they miss the one I'd taken?

It didn't matter much.

The box itself was very light. Considering the weight distribution, the actual item inside felt fairly small. It was possible to just open it up and put the contents in my backpack, but it was probably better to bring the whole box with me. Even if it didn't fit, it was plenty easy to hold. I silently made my way to the support structure again, when I heard a click and a voice from behind me.

"Hold it, this is a restricted area." A man, one of the younger guards.

Standing still immediately, I considered my options. Turning around would mean that he could see my face. From behind, my description would be too vague to be recognized anywhere, but once my face was seen that would make it very difficult to stay in the city. But with the box in my hand, not knowing if and how fragile it was, my speed and movements were somewhat limited. And the click was so metallic that there was only one option. A gun.

I closed my eyes for a moment, not knowing what to do besides run. I wasn't too far from the wall and it might be very hard for him to aim above the lights. The ceiling itself was fairly dark and though he was carrying a flashlight (now aimed at me) it would be difficult for him to move both.

"Put that down and turn around." He tried to sound commanding, more sure of himself as I had stopped in my tracks.

There was nowhere to go, nowhere to hide. There was enough light in the warehouse for him to see me and describe my face to the police if he saw it. Though I was tempted to put the box down, I didn't yet. The guy hadn't seen it properly, like my face, and wouldn't know what was stolen as long as it was unclear. Show as little of myself as possible, no voice, no face, no features, but but still get out somehow.

But for a moment, I felt completely at a loss.

Finding an escape, a thrill Amy was not expecting.