Shift:A Virals Adventure(16)

We ran to Hi, who started handing down hardware. Laptop. Server. Microscope. Centrifuge. The dollar value rapidly climbed into the tens of thousands.

We formed a chain, stacking the stolen equipment on the concrete floor.

As the pile grew, I couldn’t help smiling like an idiot.

We’d actually foiled the robbery. Amazing.

So why the look of annoyance on Tory’s face?

“What is it?” I asked.

She waved at the expanding pile of gear. “We still don’t know who took it.”

“Hey, we did the hard part.” Hi handed a router to Ben and climbed down. “That’s the last of it. Let the cops figure out who’s guilty. What we need to focus on is this footwear disaster. Somebody owes me a new pair of kicks.”

He stamped his feet, trying shed liquid from his dirty soles.

“Whoever did this is no genius.” Shelton adjusted his glasses. “What was the plan here? Keep the gear in this bin, forever? Sneak it out one piece at a time? Child, please. Once security is back online, there’s zero chance of getting this stuff through the gates, much less off the island.”

True. As heists go, I thought this was a particularly dumb one.

But, as usual, Tory had a better take. “No. It would’ve worked.”

We all stopped to listen.

“It’s clever, actually.” Tory rapped the storage bin with her knuckles. “This was probably just for the night.”

Shelton crossed his arms. “How can you know that?”

“Think about it. The crook planned this break-in for a night security was down. But the gates are always monitored, even then, and the last regular shuttle leaves at eight. So he stashed the equipment here, knowing he couldn’t possibly get it off the island aboard Hugo.”

“Very true,” I said. “My father’s no dope. He’d prevent anyone from transporting a horde of high-tech equipment off Loggerhead.”

Tory began to pace. A good sign.

“Even with no cameras, it’s practically impossible to get something bulky past LIRI’s fence unnoticed.” She pointed to the closest ATV. “But these go out every Monday morning, to restock the feeders. And they always carry a massive load.”

Suddenly, the answer jumped out at me.

Of course.

“So the thief dumps the stuff in here until morning,” I said slowly, marveling at the plan’s elegant simplicity, “then wraps everything in feed bags, loads an ATV, and drives it all right through the gate.”

“Wow.” Shelton’s eyes rounded. “Hiding in plain sight.”

Hi nodded appreciatively. “And once outside the fence, our devious felon could stash the gear anywhere. Pick it up later by boat. Just like a pirate, really.”

“By this time tomorrow,” Tory finished, “the whole thing would’ve been over.”

“Hold up.” Shelton’s palms rose. “If the crook couldn’t get the hardware out, then how’d he get out?” Eyes widening, he dropped into a battle-crouch. “Is the thief still in here, too!?”


Tory shook her head. “With security down, a motivated criminal could slip over the perimeter fence easy enough. It’s not razor-wired or anything, to protect the monkeys from injury. I bet the jerk either secretly stayed behind after the last ferry, then went to work and climbed out, or came back by private boat after midnight, scaling the fence twice.”

I kept my face blank, but inside, I marveled. Tory puts things together so fast!

“Real talk,” Hi said, “we’re the only reason the scheme didn’t work. No chance Chief Tight Pants or those cops figure it out fast enough. I’d say we rock pretty freaking hard.”

“But we still don’t know who!” Tory threw both hands above her head.

“True, but we’ve narrowed the pool of suspects.” Hi began ticking points on his fingers. “LIRI employee. Has access to the depot. Makes feeder runs. Probably works on Monday. That can’t be more than a half-dozen people. Have Kit check the time sheets. Easy.”

I ignored Hiram. Watched Tory instead.

And knew she’d rather explode than hand off this investigation.

That’s when I got my idea.





“What about the tool, Tory?”

“Huh?” Ben’s question snapped me from a funk.

We’re going to solve this. We ARE.

I couldn’t imagine quitting. What kind of detective leaves a job half done?

“The cabinets in Lab Three.” Ben spoke slowly, but with uncharacteristic eagerness. “They were pried open, remember?”

He pointed to the row of workstations against the opposite wall. “Wouldn’t the criminal use something he could trust?”

Of course.

I felt a jolt of excitement. “Something he worked with every day!”

“Brilliant deduction, my Native American friend!” Hi nodded sagely. “No, really, I’m being serious. Good thinking, Blue.”

“Makes sense,” Shelton agreed. “If I’m about to risk a felony, I’d use a tool I was familiar with. One I could count on.”

“You’re a genius.” I reached out and squeezed Ben’s shoulder.

He stiffened. Then reddened.