Want For Not

Want For Not: Part 4

The evening carried on smoothly. We went about our various chores, helping the few who came into the shop as necessary. A storm was currently rattling the windows each time thunder would roll. It was entirely possible that we would lose power at some point that night, but for now, everything was still in order. When the phone rang at the front of the store, I happened to be the closest while dusting the books.

After my greeting, it surprised me to hear his voice again. Two calls in one day. That didn't happen often at all. "I need you to do something."

"Well, you are the boss so." I shrugged, not that he would notice, "What's up?"

"In the basement, you should have a wooden box, roughly the size of a shoe box. It will have floral engravings along the top and sides. It's sealed with a golden latch in the shape of a rose. Do not open the box. Place the box onto the counter and leave it. A client should be coming to pick it up within the hour. Don't speak to them. The payment has already been received." And just like that, he hung up. A man of few words, that one. I let the phone hang by my head for a short moment as if I would hear him again, then returned it to its place. I know the man was busy, but would it kill him to give me a return greeting or to ask if the shop was on fire at all? Maybe his lack of interest was some kind of testament to his faith in my competence. At least, that is what I preferred to think.

As I made my way to the basement door, Elise popped up next to me. "Who was that?"

"The owner." I answered, "I need to get an item for a client that's coming in. He has it in the basement."

"The basement." Her eyes widened, then she turned to glance at the door. This was only the very moment she had spent countless days waiting for. "What do we need to get?"

I put the heavy emphasis on myself, "I need to get a box."

"I can help you look for it." She said eagerly, leaning her broom against the wall by the basement door. She reached for the doorknob.

I took her wrist quickly in order to stop her, "Ah." I caught her, "What are the rules about the basement?"

She sighed, "Don't ever go into the basement."

"And rule two?"

"Don't ever go into the basement without you."

"And rule three?"

She rolled her eyes this time before saying, "Don't ever go into the basement."

"Good." I released her arm. "Then we are on the same page. Finish up your sweeping, and I will grab this box." Of course, those weren't the actual rules about the basement, but they were my rules for her.

"Wait just a second," she protested, "Rule number two is that I can go down there with you. You are here. I am here. We meet the quota. Let me see what's down there. You've been acting nothing short of shady about this whole basement thing. Now, I have to see it. Take me down there with you!"

"Who's going to watch the shop?" I reminded her.

"We haven't had anyone for over an hour. Let me see, let me see, let me seeeee!" She reached for the doorknob again.

"Can you chill?" I grabbed it before she could take hold of it. "We are expecting a client now. So stay up here. I will be back in two shakes of a lamb's tail."

"That's definitely not an accurate form of time measurement." She said flatly.

"Right," I nodded, "I'll be back before you can post your disappointment on your social media feeds."

"That is somehow worse than the lamb." Her nose wrinkled slightly.

"Look, I don't want to be that guy that has to pull the whole authority card on you here but get back to work."