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The Mask by Kaycee Conners

I swallowed to rid myself of the bile rising to the top of my throat as I gazed upon the face of the monster. Blood squirted from giant claw marks, brain matter squished from a head crushed by the heavy blows, all in the span of seconds.

The gruesome face stared back at me with black eyeholes, a green tint to the skin. I couldn't bear the thought of touching it and a tingle went up my arm as I contemplated being that close to it.

"It's only a picture, Shannon." Dwayne's voice pierced my vivid imagining. "You can stop shivering. What you looking at that for anyway? You're too old for trick-or-treat."

He glared at me from over the top of his Time magazine. We sat waiting for business to magically appear at our new investigations office. Since opening in the antique district of South Lake, Mississippi, there had been few if any visitors and only a small handful of calls.

"Need a mask to disguise myself at Grohlstein's," I told him.

"Old man G ask you to take care of his condom thief?"

"Yeah, he can't catch them in the act."

"And in today's world of AIDS and other catching…things," he said with a shiver.

"Folks oughta wear their gear with pride. Just beats all I ever heard of. "

"Maybe the culprit can't afford protection?"

"Hrumph. Which one did you pick out?" he asked, strolling over to my side of the desk.

I showed him the "creature from the deep" mask that had momentarily given me pause. "That should do the trick."

He grunted. "Be your luck the thief'll faint from fright. What's your game plan?"

I closed the magazine insert from the paper and stretched. "Going to hang out at the drugstore and wait for the thief or thieves to try and make their heist. Then, once I have them pocketing the goods, I will scare the bejeebers out of them and haul them off. South Lake PD will love it. Can you see the papers?"

He glanced at his gold Pulsar. "Yeah, Rubber Mask Takes Down Rubber Thief. Well, have a big time. I'm going to help Clareta clean up her place––my Granny's due in town this weekend."

"How come she ain't staying at your place?"

He chuckled. "Did that last time. Wasn't too thrilled with the way I run things."

I didn't comment. I was used to his housekeeping, helter-skelter as it was.

He patted my head and walked toward the door. "Call me if you get into trouble."

I waved at him. No way. He wasn't getting a piece of this action. Grohlstein was going to give me free angel flake ice cream for a year for providing this little service. I was a woman on a mission.

***

The next night, mask at the ready, I wandered the aisles of Grohlstein's. The kids were coming in regularly, buying Halloween candy and looking at outfits. I remembered how plain costumes used to be compared to today's realistic offerings.

I stopped in front of the magazine rack and pretended to be reading. A gang of girls walked past the end of my aisle and they were giggling. I decided to follow them because where girls giggled, trouble wiggled.

As I approached them, they made a hasty turn onto the last aisle where the colorful packages of makeup lined the wall, and pretended to be looking at some. I figured them for fourteen- or fifteen-year-olds, just old enough for Max Factor.

I walked slowly past, stopped at the far end, and gazed at the nail polish, hoping they would forget me. I could see a lot with my peripheral vision. As soon as they thought I was occupied, I watched them scoot around the corner.

I turned the corner from my end and saw them clustered around the condom display. A petite blond in red shorts and white tank top kept an eye out for adult intervention.

Yeehaw. The jig was up.

I started up the aisle and they scattered like flies. Grohlstein hadn't said anything about kids, but I should have known. Who else would steal condoms?

I decided to keep watch from where the prophylactics were located. Maybe they would go home if I deprived them of free, easy access. When I reached the display, I realized a box yawned open where they had been about to pilfer its contents. I quickly counted. None missing. I looked around for Mr. Grohlstein. He was over at the photo shop helping someone with her passport shots.

Drat.

If I left the area, I might enable the kids and if I stayed there, I couldn't watch to see what they were up to. I dawdled for a few minutes, debating. When the girls didn't reappear, I ventured over one row looking for them. I saw them in sneak mode, exiting the store, no purchases clutched in their sweaty little fists.

I moved to follow them outside, but a flash of blue stopped me. Down by the greeting cards, a small figure darted around the corner to the aisle I had just exited. Something told me they were not finished with the operation.

I tugged my mask out from under my shirt and pulled it on. It smelled of plastic and rubber and I nearly gagged. Thank God, I wouldn't have to wear it long.

I raced toward the condom display just in time to see my neighbor's son, Jimmy Wilson, also known as J.W., sneaking along. His cornflower blue shirt bobbed in front of me as he neatly strolled by the condom packages, and expertly flipped one off into his palm. Then, he quickly tucked it into his pocket, never pausing. No wonder Mr. G hadn't caught them. They were double-timing him.

"Hey you," I yelled as I broke into a jog.

He glanced back over his shoulder and did a double take. Realizing that he not only was busted, but he was in danger of being captured by a horribly disfigured creature from the deep, the boy ran smack into a stand of batteries sitting near the end of the aisle.

When I reached him, I grabbed his arm and hoisted him up.

"I'll take those," I said, dipping two fingers into his jeans pocket. The package slid out easily. "You're too young for this."

"What're you doing? You freak." His voice rose and I imagined him screaming next.

"I'm arresting you for shoplifting," I answered, pulling him along to the photo shop where Mr. G was waiting.

"What? You can't do that," he whined. "I've got rights."

I laughed as we reached the counter. "Here's your thief, sir, and I would be watching a passel of pretty girls who do some of his dirty work prior to his stealing these." I handed over the condom package.

"You're gonna handle this, right?" Grohlstein asked. He was a short man with a balding pate and beer belly. He wouldn't want the cops involved. Most of his business belonged to the kids in the area.

"Yep. We're on the way right now."

I pulled the kid along toward the front door and he struggled a little. I stopped to get in his face. The mask was gross enough that it made him clamp his mouth shut and turn away.

"Look kid," I started. "I don't want to have to use my magic powers but I will if you keep that up."

He glanced at me and sneered. "What magic powers?"

I pulled the mask off.

"You got two wishes. Jail, or home."

His face fell as recognition spread across it. I'd even babysat him a few times when he had been a sweet cherub of ten.

"Don't tell my mom. Please?"

"Okay, so it's jail?"

He thought hard. I knew he was thinking because a humming noise was escaping from between his lips. "No, not jail. I guess I'm screwed."

I laughed. "Well, if you are, you're sure not protected anymore."

We walked out, and he shrugged at his female fan club, each face darkening as they realized they had been sniffed out.

"There goes the neighborhood." I sighed.

THE END