Gypsy

Chapter 13

·Zara·

I wait with Andre outside the storage facility, while Maddox talks with an older gentleman inside. I may have found the place and will be making the majority of the first few payments with the money I've saved up, but his will be the name on the lease. I have no ID or address, but Maddox does. Of course they're both invalid, and have been for years, but the guy inside won't know that.

I stroll to the right of the building then stop and look down the rows of storage units. I remember the day I'd first passed by this place on one of my excursions from point A to point B. I don't remember where exactly I was headed that day, but I do remember walking by here. 

The Lock Box, a storage facility, where people rent space for all the stuff they can't fit in their homes but are still determined to keep. The thought had made me nostalgic for something none of us have, and it does still. As I'd looked down the rows of neat little cinder block buildings that day--with their bright blue roll doors and shiny silver padlocks--an idea had occurred to me. Over time, that idea had grown. And now here I am, seeing if that idea has as much potential as I hope it does.

This isn't by any means a house, but a warm place to sleep is nearly just as good. I know if this works we'll have to be careful to not get caught, as I'm pretty sure people won't be on the list of acceptable items to store here.

Letting my mind wander, I stroll down the drive between the building to my left and the first row of units to my right. When I reach the back of the building and move to turn the corner, the soft sound of an engine reaches me and I stop. I peek around the corner instead, easing out only far enough to see. What I see freezes me to my spot. 

I know that truck, have seen it many times over the course of the past few days. When it pulls to a stop and the driver gets out, I know I'm not mistaken. I curse under my breath as I watch a very familiar man walk around the front of the vehicle before opening a back door on the building and stepping inside.

Dammit, Adam works here. This is a problem. No, scratch that, this is a catastrophe in the making. I groan loudly then turn on my heel and make my quick way back to Andre. I've got to stop Maddox. I reach Andre, where he's still patiently waiting for Doc, and he gives me a grin.

"So?" he asks, the growing excitement in his voice feeding my current panic.

"We've gotta go! Now!"

"I don't under--"

The bell over the door chimes loudly, cutting him off. Maddox steps outside, with several sheets of paper in his hand and a warm smile for us on his face. My heart sinks in my chest. I'm too late.

"We've got number ten," Maddox says when he sees me. "It was the farthest I could get from the building. All the climate controlled units are ..."

His words break apart then die away as he looks at me. I don't want to know what I look like right now, but judging from Maddox's expression I must look like I'm about to drop dead where I stand. The papers he'd been holding flutter to the ground as he rushes over to me then gently grabs both of my shoulders.

"What's wrong, Zara? You look like you've just seen a ghost."

"Worse." My response squeezes past my constricted vocal chords, coming out as a noise somewhere between a gasp and a wheeze. He frowns then looks at Andre.

"What in the hell happened, Grimm?"

"I don't know, man. She went to look around a few minutes, and when she came back she started freaking out. Said we had to go."

They both turn to look at me, but Andre's explanation has released me from my paralysis. I spin on my heel then dart from Maddox's grasp and back around the corner of the building where I know I can't be seen. The guys are quick to follow. I lean my back against the wall, then tip my head back too. It thumps hard against the concrete and I wince.