We carried our empty backpacks when we visited the next two locations on Jack’s list. Nada. Nichts. Nothing.
I was thinking we’d need a second day of searching when Jack said, “Hey, pull into the fast-food joint on the left.”
“Seriously? You want to stop for a greasy burger and fries?”
“Just do it.” Jack’s voice was laced with excitement. “And park so you’re facing the street.”
G did as Jack instructed as I turned to ask Jack what had him so excited.
“Turn around and tell me what you see.” Jack pointed out the windshield.
“Holy shit, Sheppard, you found it!”
Before G finished, I saw it.
A fading mural painted high on the wall of a brick building.
A blazing sun, complete with rays, occupied the left side. A full moon and a smattering of stars occupied the right. Connecting them, a rainbow that had seen better days.
“The ground floor business is a hostel.” Jack held up his phone. “They have rental lockers inside.”
“Why wasn’t this on your list?” I asked. Barked was more accurate.
“Dude, it’s a fucking hostel. The name didn’t come up in my search. Would you have thought to look up city murals?”
Nope.
“No, probably not. Sorry.”
“Thank you.”
“But let’s not get too excited. If they haven’t paid the rental fee in twenty years, the locker’s likely been emptied out.”
“Your tail stopped for a donut across the street,” AJ announced over comms.
“Any ID on them yet?”
“No, which brings our total number of goons to seven.”
“No one goes to this much trouble for a few trinkets,” G pondered.
“What do they know that we don’t?” I asked. I’d maintained the assumption they didn’t know what the treasure was, but what if?
What if I’d missed something? What if they knew what but not where? What if I put everyone in danger because I’d let my emotions distract me during the op?
Remembering what John said about not insulting the SSI guys, I assumed Jack was already looking and asked, “Jack, have you found the numbering system for lockers yet?”
“Fitting the numbers from the key to the locker layout as we speak.”
“Sheppard?”
Jack and Jay responded.Right. “Jay, let us know when you’re in position.”
“Aw, shucks, thanks for not assuming I’m too dumb to already be moving.” His sarcasm was thick and well deserved.
Gibson, Jack, and AJ didn’t hide their amusement.
“Like you’ve been any better,” I said to G.
