EMP Catastrophe , Hamilton, Grace [crime books to read txt] 📗

that seemed to be growing like an approaching person or animal. It cut across the parking lot at just the right angle that Matthew couldn’t get a clear glimpse of whatever it might be without exposing himself. Matthew’s breath hitched in fear. He wanted to lean down and peer out of the hole in the broken glass to look around, but if he did that than someone would definitely know he was there. He couldn’t risk getting caught, being detained. His father needed him.

Carefully, he took his hand off the door so as to not make it move or look like it was being pushed on. He flattened himself against the wall and then ducked behind the cashier’s counter, slipping around it over to a gray door labeled Employees Only. Briefly, he entertained the notion of hiding in there, but he had no idea if the door led to an office without any windows or a storage space with an escape exit. It wasn’t worth finding out. He figured he wouldn’t have an easy way out if he did. At least the gas station was somewhat familiar territory and he moved further around to the far end of the store. Picking a middle aisle at random, he crouched down, trying to hide behind a display advertising thirst-quenching sugar-free new-flavored pop. His heart thudded like a drum. He was sure everyone could hear it for miles.

Just outside the door, someone stepped on the broken glass and uttered a low curse. Matthew held his breath, convinced even his breathing would be too loud and these newcomers would find him right away. “Can you believe this?” the person said. Male. “People are the absolute worst! It’s completely busted.”

“It’s been a crazy few days. You never know what some people will do,” a second masculine voice chimed in. “Taking advantage of hard times.”

“How did it even happen? Like, did this guy have a crowbar or something? It looks like he whaled on it. It’s shattered,” the first voice said darkly. “God, I hate humans sometimes.”

Matthew toyed with the idea of outing himself, standing up and saying hello, sorry for the inconvenience, this breaking and entering has a good reason, I promise. At the same time, he found he was averse to the idea. His indecision felt paralyzing. He thought of Jade—her sweet demeanor, her trembling chin—and frowned. He’d been so easily deceived. He doubted the men surveying the damaged door would have much compassion for him and his dying father, especially if he outed himself as the thief. They’d probably think he was making it all up and force him to give back the goods. Then he’d really be out of luck. If they were marking up everything like the other gas stations, he wouldn’t be able to pay for what he needed, either. Plus, it would waste more time, and Matthew had to get back. He’d already been away from David for too long.

The front door swung open. More glass fell to the ground. Peeking around the display, Matthew watched as two men stepped inside the store. One was tall with a baseball cap on his head. The other wore a plaid shirt. Matthew hunkered down further behind the cardboard display and hoped he couldn’t be seen. A beam of light cascaded through the store, highlighting the shelves just before him. A flashlight.

“See anything?” the first male asked. The beam moved to the floor, and then up to the ceiling, before landing and hovering over the shelves of medical supplies. “Are you kidding me?” the first male said. “We’ve totally been robbed.”

“What did they take?” the second man asked. The flashlight didn’t move from the now bare medical shelf.

“Cleared this shelf out,” the first male said, sounding irritated. “Must be hurt. Took most of the pain killers.”

“And Gatorade,” the second voice added. The flashlight beam had moved to illuminate the refrigerator case. “He must like the blue flavor.”

“Or she,” his friend said glumly. “We better check the back room and make sure nothing else went missing.”

“Do you think they got into the safe?”

“Ugh, I hope not. Only one way to find out,” the first male said. The flashlight illuminated the floor in a circular beam of light and Matthew’s heart thundered in his chest as the two men walked past him and opened up the back-room door. As soon as the door closed on them, Matthew leapt to his feet and scrambled to dig out the remaining wad of cash stashed in his boot. The money was damp in his hands as he snuck closer to the front. He had no idea how much he held, but then again, it was a small price to pay for the stolen goods, and to also ease his conscience.

Slapping the money on the counter without counting it, he tiptoed over the glass and tried to be as quiet as possible, all while worst possible scenarios ran through his head. The owners could emerge from the back room at any moment. If they saw him, they’d catch him and force him to wait for some kind of police to show up. Maybe they’d take matters into their own hands and lock him in the back room. At this point, it probably wasn’t a bad idea to assume they had a gun as well. And then David would be on the side of the road, watching the sun set, wondering if Matthew had indeed abandoned him for his wife and children. Maybe David would try to find him, which would exacerbate his condition that much more.

The soft hush of glass clinking together filled the room as he slowly pushed the door open. A raised voice coming from behind the closed door made chills run down his spine. He had to get out of there as fast as possible, but he still had to do it as silently as he could. He eased through the door, and every move he made sounded heightened. He held his breath as he