All That Glitters

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

He was the shadow that tiptoed against the brick wall; he was the

one that tiptoed against the trees and on one spot along the concrete

sidewalk. No one followed him down the street as he himself then

became a part of the brick wall—he was nothing more than the

shadow of a shadow in the night.

He ducked into an alley, his footstep sounds so light they were

buried by the crinkling of a plastic grocery bag fluttering against the

wall.

If he could cut through here, and stick to the back walls, he just

might get there faster. Although…

He took a glance up to the rows of windows directly across from

one another. These were not domestic buildings he snuck around, so

no idle and restless mind would open them and by chance see the

figure below. He sidestepped down the alley and into another one

connected to a small garage, where a raccoon with matching black

eyes just like his own halted in mid-step next to a trash can.

They stared at each other, not moving nor making a sound.

There, there, friend. I am not here to interrupt your nightly activity

just as you are not here to interrupt mine.

They continued to their separate ways, who would be caught and

who would not remained a mystery.

The figure was out of that back alleyway now and stared at the

moon cast from the rooftops. The moon exposed but could not betray

him, lighting up a path for him to follow and ultimately—see his goal.

It revealed, also, his only obstacle parked almost directly in front

of the shop. The figure moved a step back so the brick wall barely

scrapped his shoulders.

He watched the police officer, sitting all alone and snug at his post.

He could not even tell if the car was even turned on. The man was

asleep at the wheel. Who could have asked for better timing? His hat

tilted slightly and rested against his cheek, so he could be very much

awake and just waiting for him to show up to blare those lights—

but—the figure laughed, and a little bit of a snort came out. This one

was not that smart.

His own car was out in plain sight and not even hidden enough. He

could just walk away, but this was almost too easy.

He half-ran and half-sauntered to the other side of the street, and

then around the corner to one of the side windows. It did not take

him long to get in. He was in and got to work on getting to know his

new loot. The night watchman in the car heaved a sigh and rolled

over, his hat falling down somewhere under the seat.