Heaven's on Fire || Robin Buckley

Chapter Five

Haven, Robin and Steve sat around the break room table as Dustin paced the room, having just returned from scouting the delivery hub.

"The keycard is the only way into that room," he was saying. "But, unfortunately, the Russian with the card also has a massive gun."

"Oh, that's fantastic," Haven mumbled.

"There has to be a way in," Robin said.

"Well, you know," Steve threw his hat onto the table, leaning forward. "I could just take him out."

"Take who out?"

"The Russian guard." He spoke so matter-of-factly that Haven laughed. Her friend glared at her. "What? I sneak up behind him, knock him out and take his card. It's easy."

"Did you not hear the part about the massive gun?"

Steve looked incredulous. "Yes, Dustin, I did. Which is why I would be sneaking." His fingers mimed walking on the table.

Haven turned her face from the group, fighting the urge to laugh once again.

The boys speculated on Steve's fighting history, bringing up many valid points that the brown-haired boy's plan would not be effective. Haven brought her eyes to meet Robin's, both girls sharing a look of irritation. The fair-haired girl looked away, staring up at something high on the wall in wonder.

"That just might work," she said to herself, leaping up and running from the room.

"Hey, Robin! Where are you going?" Steve called after her.

Haven didn't listen to the answer as she stared at the same spot her friend had seconds ago. She smiled as it dawned on her.

"What did she mean: 'that might work'?" Dustin asked the two teenagers. Steve just shrugged as Haven turned to them.

"The vents. She's going to find a way through the vents."

~

"It's amazing what 20 bucks will get you at the County Recorder's Office."

Bursting through the break room door, Robin threw a thin roll of paper onto the table, smoothing it out.

"The complete blueprints."

"Not bad," Dustin smiled.

"Okay, so this is us: Scoops, and this is where we want to get," Robin pointed to two points on the paper.

"The problem is, how are we going to fit in the air ducts?" Haven questioned, looking between the three teenagers.

"I can. No collar bones, remember?" Dustin said matter-of-factly.

"Excuse me?" Robin's eyes widened. She was ignored.

Steve grabbed a screwdriver from the cupboard, climbing up on a ladder and unscrewing the vent cover. He handed it to the boy that stood below him, inspecting the small space with scrutiny.

"Are you sure, man? It's like ... super tight."

"That's what she said," Haven mumbled. Robin giggled, and the two boys turned.

"Very mature."

"Thank you. Even if you can fit, Dustin, are you sure you'll be able to move around up there?"

"Yeah, I think so."

"Can we bring this back to the 'no collar bones' thing please?" Robin asked as Dustin began fitting himself into the vent.

"Oh yeah, he's got this thing uhh... chrydo? Something. He's missing bones and stuff, he can bend like gumbo," Steve explained poorly.

"You mean gumby?"

"I'm pretty sure it's gumbo."

"It is gumby, Steve," Haven intervened. "And it's called cleidocranial dysplasia."

"Steve get up here and push me!" Dustin's voice rang from the air duct.

Steve climbed the ladder uncertainly, grabbing the boy's legs and shoving him.

"Not my feet, dumbass, push my ass."

"What?" Steve was so taken aback that Haven laughed.

"Touch my butt, I don't care!"

"Jesus okay."

"Push harder!"

"I'm pushing," Steve was wobbling on the ladder as he climbed higher. "I have terrible footing."

As the two boys yelled at one another, Robin and Haven turned at the sound of a familiar, irritating voice. Erica Sinclair was ringing the bell at the front desk. The girls looked at each other, smiling as a plan formed.

~

The four stood, watching as the young girl inspected the vent.

"Hm, I don't know," she said, climbing down from the ladder.

"You don't know if you can fit?"

"Oh, I can fit. I just don't know if I want to."

"Are you claustrophobic?"

The girl scoffed. "I don't have phobias."

Wow, this girl is too cocky for her own good, Haven rolled her eyes.

"Okay, what's the problem, then?" Steve crossed his arms.

"The problem is, I still haven't heard what's in this for Erica!"

Haven sighed. "She brings up a good point. We can't just ask her to do this for the sake of it."

"Fine! Follow me," Robin led them to the front counter and swept her hand over the bench dramatically, bringing the Sinclair girl's awareness back to the ice-cream. "How's this?"

Erica crossed her arms. "It's a start."

Steve placed a large bowl of USS Butterscotch on the table, sliding it towards the girl. She stared patronisingly at him as she slid it back.

"More fudge, please. Go on."

"No, that's it," Haven was losing her patience. "You asked for ice-cream and we delivered. There will be more if you agree to help us, okay? We know you aren't allowed to be here as often as you are, so here's the deal."

The girl sat back, staring as Haven snapped.

"You help us now, and you get free ice-cream. But if you keep acting like a little brat, then Dustin is going to tell on you to your brother, and we know for sure that Lucas will tell your mum. So, if you want to stay out of trouble, I suggest shutting up and getting in that vent!"

There was a beat of silence as four pairs of eyes stared at her in surprise. Erica rolled her eyes.

"I'm only agreeing to this, because you," she pointed a finger between Haven's eyes, "are the only respectable one here. But remember, free ice-cream, for life."

The four teenagers let out silent sighs of relief.

"Thank you," Haven told the girl. "Now, let's get to work."