Chapter 13

Not a single customer came in to break up the dull monotony of her shift. As a matter of fact, the only people she saw were the well-dressed guy and the construction hottie.

The sad partÉthe blond one spent a ton of money, and on comics they didn't even take. Honesty said she should stash the books in case they returned for them.

Instead, she glanced at the dead, gray camera, and hoped, once again, that no one watched as she replaced all the comic books and pocketed the cash.

It made her feel a tad bit ill.

Stealing is wrong. But so was starving.

When ten fifty-five hit, she decided, screw it. Let the owner fire her for shutting up a few minutes early. She couldn't stand around here anymore.

Gathering her meager things, she headed outside. With her back to the street - which she first checked up and down - she struggled to lock the door. It fought back. She wrestled it. Pulling. Wiggling. Jiggling the key.