Page 31 of Wicked Tricks

“Cold Room two,” the supervisor instructed, without checking the manifest order. Our operation thrived on the carelessness of those who ran the warehouse. So many pallets and cartons of product and produce entered and left the markets each day. We were just a blip on their radar in the big scheme of things.

He nodded and began zooming around on the forklift, taking the pallets off one by one. I stood by the open doors, bouncing my leg.

“Don’t see many like you,” he smiled as he reversed out of the truck with a tall pallet wobbling on the forks.

“Pardon?” I asked.

“Female truck drivers,” he smiled, “pretty bad-ass.”

I smiled politely, “yeah, my dad was a truck driver.”

True.

“I wanted to be like him.”

Not true.

“That’s cool.”

“Do you want a hand?” I asked, pointing at one of the free forklifts parked behind us, “these last two are for direct stall delivery. I need signatures anyway.”

“Yeah man!” he yelled over the noise of the machinery, “keys are in it!”

“Cool, I’ll see you next time,” I waved.

I exhaled a nervous breath, we were so close.

There was always the chance of someone being suspicious, or a supervisor who actually took their jobs seriously who noticed something. If it happened, we just let the pallets be delivered and took the loss.

It was better than the alternative of getting caught.

The more we did it, the more they started to recognise me as just a truck driver. It was only getting easier, but we had to be careful not to push it.

I started the forklift and went straight for Marchel’s pallet, which was marked with a purple sticker. I reversed out of the truck and continued as casually as I could down the side of the Market building.

Other unloaders waved with the single finger wave and I did the same in return, before turning the corner away from the stalls and into the alley way.

I lifted the forks, pushing the pallet into our small truck.

Louis was standing with Livie, smoking his cigarette right down to the butt. As soon as I pulled away, Livie pulled down the rolling door.

I shrugged off my hi-vis vest and tucked it under my arm.

Livie handed Louis an envelope with his cut of the profits, and he put it in his pocket.

“Thanks Louis,” I said.

“Anything for my girls, just make sure you look after yourselves.”

“You too,” I smiled, and gave him a hug.

We met Louis at Lilith’s.

When we first found out about the Santino’s using Belkin’s as their transporter, we didn’t know what to do with the information. It was a stroke of fate when Louis came in one night with his uniform on.

He had been a regular for years, but we never knew where he worked. He never got dances, and would just sit at the bar for a drink and a chat.

He was a lonely old guy, and enjoyed the company for the most part.

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