Page 27 of Stone Blind

“In this neighborhood, they are going to think these items were stolen by the community, and we’re going to leave the door open so the community can come in, but first, I’m taking this big ass bag of pinto beans,” she told him, adding the items to the box. “Let’s move.”

With the items loaded in the rear of the truck, he sat for a minute just staring at her with his good eye.

“What?” she said. “We’re headed to Wabash, wherever the hell that is, but on the way, I saw a bunch of teens on the corner; slow down as we pass them.

“Why?”

“Trust me,” she said, offering a smile.

Yield, for some odd reason, didn’t question her but did as he was instructed, coming up on the teens. He slowed for a second, allowing Helen to roll down the window. Goosebumps ran up his arms, waiting in anticipation of what she would say or do. She didn’t disappoint.

“Hey!” she said to whom she assumed was the ringleader. “I left the back door open on that warehouse. Inside, there’s lots of food and toys. Help those items get to people in yourneighborhood who need to stretch funds until the end of the month. Get the toys to kids who might not have any and dolls to girls in the neighborhood.”

“Who the fuck are you?” the young man asked.

“Your Fairy Fucking Godmother, that’s who! Make it happen before dark, or all the goodies go away,” she said, “and don’t try to sell shit to make money on the side; give it away fairly.”

Helen tapped Yield on the arm, and they drove towards Wabash, which they tracked on the GPS. There were six buildings. All looked like shit on the outside. The one dead center looked the worst as if it were falling in, but it had lights.

“That one,” she said.

“Okay, how do you want to play this?”

“Smart,” she said. “Pull over. What’s in your cache under the back seat? You have any smoke bombs or tear gas?”

“Yeah, both,” he said, looking at her with concern. She knew about the cache under the back seat of the F-150. All Technicians had a small arsenal and items for hairy situations.

“The ringleader, more than likely is not here in the daytime hours on a Wednesday. I’m also not coming back here this weekend with Apple,” she said. “He is needed at the house to get those kids settled for school. We can make quick work of this and kill the invasive species of caterpillars without burning down the entire field.”

“I have no idea what the hell any of that has to do with any of this,” Yield said. “Speak clearly for those of us who are slower thinkers.”

She smiled at him. “The last thing you are is slow, Mr. Yield, no pun intended” she told him.

Helen took a pause, looking at the building. There were a few facts she knew. One, the kids from the last Field of Flowers were taken and placed in foster care. If this new Field was stocked with pupas, then they would be fresh inventory.

“Listen, if we tell Apple what we found, he will need to come here and maybe shoot a few people,” she said. “Today, in this moment, we can save a life and some time. We throw in the grenade, run them out of the building, and have a team in place to sweep up the fallout.”

“Okay,” he said, opening his hands for her to show him how she planned to accomplish this task.

Helen took out her phone and dialed one. She waited for Azrael, her handler, to answer. This was her first official call as a Fruit, and she found herself slightly nervous when her boss answered the call with hostility in her voice.

“Giving up already?” Azrael said into the line.

“On the contrary, Boss. I’ve got some intel. Are you ready to receive or do you need two more minutes to be arrogant and attempt to intimidate me?” she asked. Yield turned in the seat, admiring her spunk.

Azrael replied, “State your need.”

“Tracking with a Direction named Yield,” she said, pausing to let Azrael process the information she’d provided. “Apple wanted the Field of Flowers in Milwaukee found. We’re on Wabash and Delhound, based on information provided by a Rochelle Henderson who works supply chain for the Field of Flowers. She works at Wilkins Bodega on Califax.”

“Okay,” Azrael said.

“The old Field on Mullins is still pretty stocked with food if the locals haven’t taken it all, and the new location, will more than likely have more,” Helen said. “Send everything you have, rolling in silently, no lights or noise once I send conformation. We’re tossing in a couple of canisters of tear gas if I’m right.”

“Why this approach, Cranberry?”

“Simple; I don’t feel like killing any one today, but it’s early,” she said, hanging up the phone.

Yield had completely turned in the seat to watch her. “You are fucking scary.”

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