Previously: Zack carried out the heist, using Sydney’s credentials and gym bag without her knowledge or consent. Sydney took off with the bag, and Zack was left successful, but with no foreign treasure.
Zack sprinted after Sydney’s car as it drove down the street, away from the bank. Although Zack had been walking to and from everywhere recently, he still wasn’t a track star. His empty backpack bounced uncomfortably on his back. Sydney signalled and took a left turn before Zack gave up. His chest heaved and his heart galloped as he caught his breath.
What should he do?
He slid his phone out of his pocket as he gulped fresh air into his lungs. He dialed Sydney.
“Your call has been forwarded to a voice messaging system—”
Zack growled and took the phone away from his ear and tapped the red button.
Zack took up a brisk walking pace and hustled towards Sydney’s townhome complex. It was at least a twenty minute walk, a kilometre and a half or so, weaving through the heart of the city.
He called Sydney’s phone as he walked, but got the same message.
When he was about ten minutes away, she finally picked up. “Zack? What’s up? You’ve been calling a lot.”
Shit. He should have come up with a plan about why he was calling. “Uhh, yeah! Sorry, I…I was hoping you’d be interested in hanging out.”
There was a pause on the phone. Zack’s feet crunched as he turned into an alleyway not far from Sydney’s place. “You mean, like now?”
Zack tried to regulate his breathing, but he was marching towards her house. Towards the money. “Yeah!”
“Ummm… I had plans tonight with a girlfriend. You know that I like to plan ahead, right?”
“Yeah totally. Sorry. I just really wanted to see you. And, my house felt too depressing to go back to tonight. I, uh, had the power cut off a little while ago.”
Another hesitation. “Oh…sorry to hear that, Zack. Well, I’m actually going to one of those wine and art night things. Have you heard of that? You go and have a nice glass of wine and do a painting?”
Zack bit his lip. He didn’t want to push further, but he had to get that bag. “Yeah, yeah. I think my mom did one of those last year. Listen, I’m thinking we could maybe just hang out for a bit before then? Please. I’m actually not far from your place right now.”
“Well then. I guess I’ll see you soon.”
She hung up. Anxiety rolled through Zack’s body. She didn’t seem to be very happy, and Zack didn’t like to bully his way into her plans like that, but he had to.
Zack hiked up the hill to Sydney’s place. Townhomes lined the small quaint street that she lived on, and Zack had to scan the driveways to find her car so that he knocked on the right door. He had picked her up once, when he still had his car, but these townhomes were all the same.
Zack slowed when he spotted her car. He paused to straighten his coat and wipe the beads of perspiration that had gathered on his forehead. He took a deep breath and forced it out. “You got this. Just be cool.” He said to himself. He took a quick glance in the rear window of her Subaru. The gym bag had been tossed into the back seat.
He walked up the driveway and up the three steps to her doorway. The doorbell made a faint noise and he could hear Sydney walking inside to answer the door. He closed his eyes and took another deep breath.
The door opened. “Hey, Zack. Is everything okay? You were…a little off on the phone.”
Zack nodded and sighed. “I’m sorry. I’m just struggling a little bit.”
Sydney visibly softened, her shoulders dropped and she offered him a smile. She moved away from the door so that Zack could enter. “I hear you. This has been a fucking rollercoaster, for sure.”
Zack stepped into her house. “Thanks. When is your wine art thing?”
Sydney moved into the living room and fell into her oversized couch. She looked at the large clock on the wall. “Uhh, in about three hours. Do you want anything?”
Zack searched the entryway with his eyes as he considered. He needed to get her out for a little bit so he could get into her car. There was a small metal key hanger just above a small entryway table that had a few sets of keys dangling from it. That was something. “Yeah! Do you want to make a fancy drink?”
Sydney raised an eyebrow. “A fancy drink?”
Zack licked his lips. “Yeah, like a mojito or something.”
Sydney’s brows furrowed. “Okay. I’ll have to look and see what I’ve got. I don’t think I have any mint.”
She hopped up off of the couch and jogged into the kitchen, which was just around the corner from the entryway. Zack creeped over to the keys on the wall and started flipping through them. The keys with the Subaru key fob would be—
“What are you doing?”
Zack turned to see Sydney watching him sift through her keys. Her hands were planted on her hips and she looked confused. “You are being so fucking weird. What the hell is going on?”
Zack let his hands drop to his sides. His face flushed and he closed his eyes. He was so stupid. What, he was going to sneak out and grab the bag from her car while Sydney whipped up a drink? Without her noticing? He gulped. “I…”
“Zack. It’s me. What is going on? Do you need my car or something?”
“No. No. Nothing like that. I…I’m sorry.”
Her face contorted into confusion. “Sorry for what?”
Zack rubbed his face with his hands. “I think I fucked up Syd.”
Zack saw fear flash across her eyes. She transferred her weight back and forth. “What did you do, Zack?”
Zack shoved his shaking hands into his pockets. “You might want to grab your gym bag from your car and take a look for yourself.”
Sydney’s eyes narrowed. “What did you do, Zack?”
Zack just shook his head. Sydney barged past him and grabbed the Subaru’s keys. The door flapped on its hinges as Sydney rushed out of her house. Zack just watched as she ran down the steps and opened the rear door of the Subaru. She reefed on the bag, sliding it along the seat until it was in front of her. She unzipped the bag and looked inside. She immediately closed it and glared back at him. She hauled the bag out of the back of her car and strode up the stairs, her furious eyes not leaving his.
She slammed the door and dropped the heavy bag. Zack flinched at the sound. “I—”
She locked eyes with him, cutting him off. She spoke through clenched teeth. “Don’t you say a fucking word, Zack.”
Zack wanted to shrink into the corner. He sniffed and scratched his head, eyeing the exit.
Sydney just nodded. “Yeah. Get the fuck out of here.”
“What are you going to do?” He whimpered.
“Just. Get. Out.”
Zack moped past Sydney and out the door. “I’ll just be outside. Okay?”
Sydney was blinking away tears as the door slammed in Zack’s face.