Blogfest: Out of the Box Challenge

Tessa over at Tessa's Blurb is holding a blogfest entitled Out of the Box. The rules say in order to enter you have to right something out of your comfort zone. Since I write YA, I decided to write a little adult crime fiction. Let me know what you think:

Sticky Fingers

Cady stepped into the fragrance lab and took a quick look around to check that she was alone. No one but her and the rats, just like she planned. The clicks of her high heeled shoes echoed through the empty room. Next time she planned on breaking and entering she’d have to remember to wear flats. Not that there was any breaking. She did work here, after all. A badge swipe got her in without any trouble.

The particular brew Cady sought bubbled away in the lone beaker on the lab table. The failed concoctions had already been disposed of some time before she arrived. Cady picked up the glass beaker and checked the label. It read “X-No.9”. Even though it looked like three-bean chili pureed in a blender, it held the ticket to her debt relief.

Cady hated to steal from her colleagues, especially after all the hours they put in developing the perfect blend of ingredients to make the most potent elixir, but it was the only way she could pay off her debts from losing all those late night high stakes poker games at Luca Spinelli’s. She shuddered just thinking about his greasy black hair and even slicker smile. He had bad guy written all over him, right down to the gaudy pinkie ring he donned, but Cady couldn’t resist the lure of his table. Luca insisted that she not sit in on the game, which made her want to play even more. What did he say? Oh yeah. This game isn’t for little girls. Ugh. Cady scolded herself for being stupid enough to fall into his trap.

As she turned around to walk out, Cady saw the handle on the door twist. Her breath caught in her throat. She placed the beaker back into its holder on the table and busied herself with the rats.

“Burning the midnight oil, Stanton?” Charlie, the night watchman tipped his hat to her. She nodded at him without looking up from the rat cages. “Well, I’ll let you get back to it then.” Charlie exited and shut the door.

That could have been a disaster. Now that Charlie saw her, could she still get away with swiping the elixir? She had to take the chance. Luca made it clear that the cup of liquid that stood before her was the only way out of the red with him. Damn her gambling habits!

Cady emptied the contents of the bottle into the plastic container she brought with her, then disappeared back into the hallway. As she opened her car door she wondered which lucky girl would be the recipient of Luca Spinelli’s brand new bottle of lab tested love potion.

P.S. - The contest is open until December 5, so if you want to write an entry, hop on over and sign up!