𝐇𝐈𝐓𝐒 𝐃𝐈𝐅𝐅𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐓 - 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐯𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐨𝐧

21. the sauna test

THE NEXT DAY

"That keycard opens the door, but unfortunately The Russian with this keycard also has a massive gun. Whatever's in this room, whatever's in those boxes, they really don't want anybody finding it." Dustin explained to us his findings from sleuthing this morning.

"But there's gotta be a way in." Robin said, sitting across from Aubrey beside Rue.

Steve was playing with his hat, "Well, you know..." he leaned forward, sitting beside Aubrey. "I could just take him out."

Aubrey sat up then, "Take who out?"

He looked over at her, "The Russian guard." she resisted laughing, as did everyone else. "What? I sneak up behind him, I knock him out, and I take his keycard. It's easy."

"Did you miss the part about the massive gun?" Rue asked him.

He stared at her, "No, Rue, I didn't." he replied snarky, "And that's why I would be sneaking."

"Ah." Dustin played along, "Well, please, tell me this. and be honest, have you ever actually... won a fight?" he asked Steve.

"Okay, that was one time—" Steve leaned back, fed up already.

"No, it was twice." Aubrey corrected him.

"Jonathan. Year prior?" Dustin reminded him.

"You lost a fight to Jonathan?" Robin questioned, "Aubrey's brother, Jonathan?" Aubrey, chuckled a little, thinking back.

"Listen, that doesn't count." Steve shook his head.

"Why wouldn't it count?" Rue questioned him, scoffing.

"Because it looks like, he beat the shit out of you." Dustin added.

"Yeah, it was a—"

"A fat lip, swollen eye, a lot of blood..." Dustin went on.

"It was pretty bad." Aubrey said.

Steve looked at her, "Okay, whose side are you on here?!"

She shrugged, "I'm just saying!"

Robin got up then, running back out front, "Rob?" Rue questioned. They all stood up and watched her grab all of the cash out of the tip jar.

"Hey, Robin!" Steve yelled at her, "What are you doing?!"

"I need cash." she insisted, backing out of the store.

"Well half of that's mine!" he replied.

"And mine?!" Rue rolled her eyes at him, "Where are you even going?" she turned back to Robin.

"To find a way into that room!" she yelled, "A safe way!" she continued, "And in the meantime, sling ice cream, behave, and don't get beat up! I'll be back in a jiff." she ran off finally.

They all sighed, watching her run off. Steve turned over to Dustin licking his ice cream scooper, "Oh, dude!" he snatched it back from him, "Come on, man, not my scooper." he flipped it in his hands and put it in his pocket... then eyed Aubrey, "Was that cool?"

Aubrey narrowed his eyes at him, "No, not one bit." she shook her head, returning to the back to wait on Robin with Rue.

"Did you hear about Bea?" Rue asked her as they sat back down.

"What do you mean?" Aubrey looked up at her, concerned.

"So, like.. she, Nancy, and Jonathan were looking into this old lady who had some... rabid rats or something." Rue snickered just talking about it, "Sorry, it's actually not funny- uh, they found the old lady eating fertilizer and like had to call an ambulance, it was crazy."