The Girl Thief Page 3

  Along the gray hallway, maintenance was on the left and housekeeping on the right, but the pharmacy was nowhere in sight. Mama had told her what it looked like but not where it was.

  She burst through a pair of swinging doors. The gray gave way to bright pastel blue, floors that seemed to glow, and enough lighting to see every imperfection.

  A woman in a white lab coat approached. “Can I help you?”

  “Yeah, I’m looking for the pharmacy.”

  The lady studied her. “Are you visiting?”

  “Yeah, it’s my…my sister. She’s sick. It’s real bad.”

  The lady wasn’t buying it. “What room is she in?”

  “That’s okay, I’ll find it myself,” Sammy said, trotting away.

  “Come back here,” the woman called out. “I’ll alert security.”

  Sammy dashed to a stairwell and ran up a flight. A bot hummed over the floor, leaving a glistening streak in its path. The lady called out to her from the floor below. Sammy ran up the next flight where a stocky girl was mopping the floor. She had a matching bluish-gray shirt and trousers with a dark stripe along the side.

  The girl’s badge clipped to her shirt read “Housekeeping,” and Sammy’s read “Nursing.”

  “The bots don’t work this floor?” Sammy asked her.

  The girl shrugged. “They told me to clean this floor, so I’m cleaning. I need to work.”

  “Yeah, don’t we all,” Sammy said, flashing her badge. “Say, you know where the pharmacy is? I need to pick up something.”

  “First day?”

  Sammy nodded. “I don’t know where anything is.”

  “It’s on the first floor right next to the emergency room.”

  “Thanks,” Sammy said, then turned back. “Am I going in the right direction?”

  The girl smiled and nodded. “It’s on the north wing.”

  Sammy searched for signs.

  “Keep going, you’ll find it.” The girl chuckled. “Yeah, this place has got more wings than a flock of geese.”

  Sammy rushed up the corridor, following the signs for the north wing. She took the stairs down to the first floor. The hallway had a steady flow of people coming and going, so she joined the group. Those dressed like her headed off to the left to the elevator bank, while the others with a badge continued up the hallway. Sammy turned back and went the other way.

  She found the emergency room, expecting it to be noisier. The pharmacy stood off to the right of the waiting area. It was pretty much as Mama had described: small, maybe eight by ten with a three-foot counter. The part above the counter was all glass.

  Sammy snickered at the woman inside. It reminded her of a school trip to the zoo. “In this exhibit is Hospitalis Workeroptilous. Notice the white coat and her imposing demeanor. The door off to the side allows for feeding and other comforts.”

  How would she get in? Even if she could, it wasn’t a simple snatch and run. All Sammy had were two names on a piece of paper, names she couldn’t even pronounce. Did the woman ever leave? The door would be locked, anyway. Uncle Danny showed her how to pick a lock, but that was years ago, and she’d need picks.

  A green light flashed on the ceiling, just above where the glass enclosure and the wall met. Sammy scooted over to the hallway to get a wider view. A bot rolled past Sammy and docked into a cutout by the near side of the counter. The green light went steady. A white bottle dropped into the bot’s chute, rattling pills as it tumbled. The bot disengaged with a click and pulled away from the counter.

  If she knew anything about computer hacking, getting those pills would be a snap. A few well-placed bearings would put that bot out of commission. Would they send another bot or somebody to fill in like the girl who mopped the floors upstairs?

  A strip ran up along the wall to the green light, now darkened. Maybe that light wasn’t just a light but called the bots to pick up the pills. If they didn’t come, would the lady have to deliver them herself? Sammy would need to get something sharp to cut the connection and have an excuse to be there.

  If that girl could mop the floor, so could Sammy. That’d give her a chance to cut the connection. The girl’s badge had said, “Housekeeping.” When she’d first walked into the place, Sammy spotted a sign for housekeeping. That’d be a good place to start.

  Sammy ran down to the basement, retracing her steps. A lady tossed a uniform into a big pail in the corner inside the room labeled housekeeping. Sammy froze, worried the lady would call security, but she just smiled and walked out past her. Mops stood in a rack with handles down, looking like newly planted trees. Buckets were stacked in the far corner. Sammy filled a bucket with warm water and splashed in the yellow cleaner off the shelf. She dropped a mop into the bucket and headed for the door. Wait! She wasn’t dressed for the part.

  She fished out a uniform top and a bottom from the pail. Her clothes were wet and heavy, dripping as she hung them over a rail. No wonder the white-coat lady didn’t trust her. She stuffed them into a bag and tossed them into the back of the rack of mops. The uniform was a little long, so she tucked in the sleeves and the trouser legs. She wrung out her coat and slipped it over the uniform. She might need the bearings, and she still had the half a sandwich. A tray of scrapers provided her with something sharp to cut the connection.

  Sammy rolled the bucket and mop out of the elevator just down the hall from the pharmacy. She headed straight for the corner spot where the strip ran up to the light. She set the bucket up in the corner, pulled out the scraper blade, and pressed it through a joint in the strip until she heard a pop. She put the blade in her pocket, rung out the mop, and ran it over the clean floor.

  The woman in the pharmacy banged on the glass. “The floors were just cleaned a few hours ago.”

  Sammy shrugged, figuring that’s what the girl would do.

  The woman shook her head. “I swear, one hand doesn’t know what the other one is doing.”

  Sammy didn’t mind mopping. It reminded her of the time Uncle Danny danced with a mop. It was during the good times. He called the mop Matilda, and he strode across the floor, calling out one dance step after another. It seemed magical.

  The woman in the pharmacy leaned over the counter, trying to get an angle on the light. “Do you see a flashing green light?”

  Sammy looked around, pretending she didn’t know what light she was talking about.

  “It’s in the corner by the ceiling,” the woman said, pointing to it.

  Sammy looked up at the light, masking a grin. She shook her head.

  The lady tapped away on something. “How about now?”

  “I don’t see no green light, flashing or anything.”

  “It was working before. Did you knock something loose?”

  Sammy shook her head. “I’m just mopping the floor and glad to have the work.”

  The lady slammed cabinet doors and drawers, sneering at Sammy. “Hello, I need someone to pick up a prescription from the pharmacy for one of Dr. Bards’s patients… I don’t know. It’s not working… I don’t need maintenance. I need someone to pick up the prescription… Yes, I need maintenance, but right now I need someone to pick up the prescription… Fine, send maintenance.” She slammed the receiver.

  Sammy moved the bucket closer to the pharmacy door. She figured the lady would be bolting soon.

  The pharmacy lady threw open the door, slamming it against the adjacent wall. She spun around, halting Sammy in her steps. “Where’s your wet-floor sign?”

  Sammy stared at the closing door. “They’re all out of signs.”

  “If you’re not knocking out the links, you’re creating hazards.”

  Sammy fumbled for the mop handle. It dropped, her chance to get the medicine slipping away.

  The lady turned back, marching down the corridor.

  She kicked the mop, sliding it along the floor and wedging it between the door and the jamb.

  Sammy waited for her to disappear down the hallway before entering. She pulled ou
t the paper with the names and matched them to the array stacked up against the back wall. She found the first item, Cindy’s medicine, and stuffed the box into her pocket. She wanted to just get out of there but thought Mama wouldn’t like that. Mama’s medicine was in a locked clear box. Sammy checked the drawers for keys. The second drawer had a set of three keys. The third on the ring opened up the box.

  “Hey, what are you doing in there?” the woman shouted to her.

  Sammy reached into the clear box, pulled out a couple of boxes, and stuffed them into her pocket. She threw open the door, knocking the lady back.

  The lady screamed for security.

  Sammy raced into the emergency room and almost collided with two burly security guards, ducking under the reach of one and skirting the other. She dashed back out; one of the guards was right behind her. Sammy dropped a few bearings, tripping the guard. He careened off the wall and spun to the floor.

  Red lights flashed everywhere. At the other end of the corridor, another guard charged. Sammy ducked into the stairwell and down toward the basement, but another guard was coming up. Sammy turned back and up the steps. The door swung open and another guard lunged at her.

  Sammy bobbed under his arm and shot up the steps, dropping a few more bearings, which bounced off the stairs. The guard was closing the gap and took another swipe but caught a bearing and fell back, thumping down the steps.

  She passed the second-floor door and continued up to the next flight but heard steps coming down toward her. She turned back and dashed out the door. She ran down the hallway, seeing signs for the south wing. A lady in a white lab coat stepped out from one of the rooms, and a guy in a blue jumpsuit emerged from another. They didn’t look as if they had any plans on stopping her.

  Another guard flew around the corner in front of her and slowed when he spotted her. Behind her was one of the guards chasing her, maybe thirty feet back. Patients’ rooms were to her right, and on her left was a door marked “Garage.” The guards closed in, taking slow, measured steps. She opened the door to the garage and spotted two people in blue jumpsuits, talking over a cup of coffee.

  The night air chilled her. At the far end of the garage was a railing, the night sky beyond that. Old machines, some big, some small, some with covers, some barren and exposed, were stacked up along the sides. The guards rushed her. Sammy sprinted out, dodging around the machines to the railing.

  Two guards dashed through the door. The people in the blue jumpsuits slipped back inside. A small tree was just past the railing a few feet away. Could she make it to the tree? The two guards fanned out, and a third joined them. Sammy climbed up on the railing and focused on a nearby branch. It would be like the uneven bars at the Gymnastics Center. Okay, it was a lot farther away and the drop steeper, but the idea was still the same.

  “Don’t be stupid, kid,” one of the guards shouted.

  Another bounded toward her. She leaped and grabbed hold of the thin branch. It bowed but didn’t break. She swung to the trunk and shimmied down to the ground. The three guards stood along the railing watching her run, run to save Cindy.

  Chapter Six

  _____________________________

  Sirens blared from behind Sammy. She dashed into the shadows of the apartment building as a police cruiser whizzed by, lights flashing. She raced to the door and banged.

  Igor peeked through the door's sliver of an opening. “You got it?”

  Sammy pushed through the door and rushed down the hallway.

  Mama leaned over Cindy, putting a cold compress on her forehead. “You have pills?”

  Sammy entered the room, staring at a still-and-pale Cindy. “Is she okay?”

  “She is very sick,” Mama said, studying her. “Did you get pills?”

  Sammy dug into her pocket and pulled out the pills, hoping there was magic in that box.

  “Very good.”

  “Enough there?”

  “She only needs one pill, maybe another in morning, no more,” Mama said, waving her hand to help her with Cindy. “Help her up. She is too weak to sit.”

  Sammy knelt beside Cindy and pulled her up, sending Cindy’s head back, eyes fluttering. The blanket slid down, giving the appearance of a low-cut dress.

  Mama pinched Cindy’s mouth open and popped in the pill. “She swallowed. Keep her sitting.”

  Sammy slid behind Cindy, letting her rest against her. Igor stood at the door, staring at Cindy’s boobs. Sammy pulled up the blanket.

  Igor said something in Russian to Mama, and after a few quick exchanges, Mama was waving her hands and shouting. Igor huffed and stomped off.

  “I will get soup,” Mama said, standing. “Something warm will be good for her.”

  Sammy fanned Cindy’s hair from her face and whispered, “You get better now. Don’t even think of giving up.” She rocked Cindy gently, remembering how Uncle Danny would do the same when she was sick. Sometimes he’d sing a soft melody. Sammy wished she could remember one.

  Mama lumbered in, carrying a bowl of soup. She knelt beside Cindy and spooned the soup to her lips. “She is taking it. This is good.”

  “Good girl,” Sammy said, nuzzling her head onto Cindy’s shoulder.

  The spoon clanked in the empty bowl. Mama straightened and nodded. “Come morning she’ll be dancing.”

  “Really?”

  Mama winked. “These pills are very strong.”

  Sammy figured Mama was trying to get Cindy to buy into the con. Uncle Danny used to say, “People want to believe. All you have to do is a little convincing.” He was talking about magic, mostly.

  Mama grabbed the box of pills and stood, holding the bowl against her chest. “I will take these. I deliver babies and things go wrong.”

  “Can I put her down?” Sammy asked.

  “She needs rest, and then she will be strong.”

  Sammy laid Cindy down gently and pulled the blankets up to her chin. She took out the two boxes of the other pills. “Thanks for not asking about these first.”

  Mama’s mouth dropped. The spoon swung away and bounced to the floor. “Two boxes?”

  “That’s all I could get.” She figured it was best not to say anything about being chased around the hospital.

  Mama put down the bowl and yelled for Igor, who popped into the doorway as if he was waiting nearby. Mama showed him the boxes, yammering on in Russian.

  Igor picked up the felled spoon. “Mama says you can stay.”

  Mama turned back to him by the door and said something else to him in Russian.

  “You can stay as long as you want, and I’ll get you whatever you need,” Igor said. “Happy, Mama?”

  “Good thief,” Mama said, raising the boxes.

  “Tomorrow I’ll get what you need. It is late.”

  Sammy closed the door, searching for the lock. “First thing will be a lock.”

  She found a pillow against the wall and smacked it, sending up a cloud of dust, then lay down next to Cindy, biting into the half of a sandwich she snatched earlier. The bread was a little soggy. She took another bite, watching over Cindy.

  Chapter Seven

  _____________________________

  Sammy ran up the steps, dropping handfuls of bearings, but the guards kept coming. Mark was lying in the hallway, kicking pieces of the broken vase into Cindy’s room.

  Gladys covered up a cold, pale Cindy. “It’s all your fault.”

  “No!” Sammy jostled awake.

  Cindy’s eyes opened to slits. “Sam?”

  Sammy sat up, taking in the place. It was a dream, just a dream. “How are you feeling?”

  “Better.”

  “Good.” The apartment looked nicer in the dark. The sunlight didn’t hide any sins, and this place was downright decadent. The smell was of old and forgotten things and enough dirt to send a dust mite into a frenzy.

  “What are you wearing?”

  Sammy looked down at the uniform. “It’s what they wear when you mop floors.”

 
“You mopped floors?”

  “Didn’t do much mopping,” Sammy said, thinking she was lucky to escape without getting caught. “Haven’t heard you cough.”

  “Give me a minute.”

  “Remember getting here?”

  “I remember the rain. It never stopped raining. After that it’s fuzzy.”

  “Mama told me what medicine to get for you.”

  “Mama?”

  Sammy nodded. “She and her son live here.”

  Cindy looked the place over and swallowed. “So here we are, on our own.”

  “We lucked out on this place. I know it’s a sty, but we can fix it up. Igor keeps it locked up, so it’s pretty secure.”

  “Igor?”

  “He’s Mama’s son,” Sammy said, figuring it’d be best to leave out the incident with the bow knife.

  “We got a heater,” Cindy said, putting her hand up to it. “Feels warm enough.”

  “It’s a loaner. I’ll have to get another.”

  “You know a place where they’re on sale?”

  “I’ll get one at a deep discount.” Sammy stood and stretched. She was a little sore from all the running she did last night.

  Cindy pulled up on the blanket. “We’re really on our own.”

  Sammy always felt on her own even at Gladys’s house.

  “What are we going to do for money?”

  “If you need it, you beg.”

  “I’ve never begged before.”

  “It’s not hard if you know how to do it right.”

  “There’s a right way to beg?”

  “There’s a right way for everything,” Sammy said, fixing the cushions so she could sit. “You got to look sad and as down on your luck as you can get.” Sammy tried her best imitation and got a smile out of Cindy. “You got to dress the part too. There was this old lady who dressed decent and even wore makeup.”

  “No makeup?”

  “You can’t give them a reason not to give you something. They’ll say if she can afford makeup, she can’t be too bad off. The old lady did okay because she had a good spot and nobody passed her without her asking for a spare bill. Probably was hoarse at the end of the day. I tried to tell her about the makeup, but she was nasty, afraid I’d take her spot.”