Moving Along

Bad Guys Need Flowers - Pt. 29
**************

Cal took the hit in stride: “Umm… What?”

Geraldine: “I remember polite young men when I see them; there being so few of them anymore.” She winked a kindly old lady wink as they dropped the storage crate at its destination. She then headed back towards the counter, where, upon arrival, she would have a direct line of sight to the pilferers, who (as tends to be the case concerning pilferers) currently weren’t being so polite.

Cal parried again: “So, umm, I have a question for you?”

Geraldine persisted towards the counter: “Wonderful! I’m always happy when my customers - or my non-customers who are polite - wish to test my knowledge. It makes me feel young again, in an old and experienced kind of way.”

Cal didn’t understand: “Yes. Good, then, my question is, having to do with…” He spotted something worth mentioning. “What do you think about the photos of us?” This probably wasn’t the best something to spot and mention.

Geraldine: “Oh my! I was thinking about those a lot today, actually.” Cal knew this was the end. He’d be interrogated on the reason for police suspicion, during which Geraldine would reference her dead husband; Cal’s mind would sink into a bog of philosophy as he cross-analyzed the heroism of World War II versus his own, stagnant, dissatisfied life situation; guilt would begin to overwhelm upon the conclusions not only that the older generation’s sacrifice had inspired him to do little, but also that he was essentially spitting on their sacrifice at this very moment, as he watched his fellow thieves creep towards the exit; and he would crack.

Geraldine: “I think I’d like the pictures better if they weren’t black-and-white. Now, not everyone has the skin to pull off color, but you and your friends each have excellent complexion. Yes, yes, I’m sure I’m right. I’ll talk to the police about this next time.”

Cal calmed. The seconds Geraldine had spent building up false fear and then erasing it with unexpected banality had allowed Midnight and Rog to reach the sliding doors. They hadn’t even needed supermarket-themed ghillie suits – an innovation Cal had prayed for a bit amongst the rest of his panicking. To complete the mission, Cal simply needed to keep Geraldine’s attention in his direction a short while longer…

Sally jumped up on the counter and meowed. Geraldine looked in her direction, which looked towards the exit.

Midnight and Rog hurried outside, and they failed, running into non-responsive doors.

Geraldine reached towards the photos. No, she passed those. She reached to the left, circa the telephone to call the police. No, she passed that. She reached below the counter, where store owners are prone to keep silent alarms.

Shotguns and Kalashnikovs are also prone to be kept behind store counters.

Cal uncalmed.