"Let me take a look." She stands up, hitches her pants then leans over her desk to study the deputy's pink neck.
I quickly step into the vacated space and snatch at the keys. My fingers slip straight through them.
"Oh come on!"
It's not like I have seconds to spare. I glance over my shoulder as the female officer mmms and squints her eyes, trying to find some invisible bug or bite.
Looking back at the keys, I narrow my eyes and mutter, "You are coming with me."
I put my index finger inside the key ring and slide it across the desk. Like magic it shuffles across the wood and lands in my left hand. I wrap my fingers around the precious cargo and cling for dear life as I make a beeline back to the cells.
I'm in the corridor when I feel them begin to slip.
"No!" I try to squeeze them tighter, but it's no use. Air fingers are back and the keys are heading for the floor. They land with a loud tinkle that will surely be investigated. Dropping to the floor, I give them a shove and thankfully they glide across the shiny floor and come to rest in between two filing cabinets.
The deputy's head pops around the corner. He looks down the corridor with a confused frown then starts slowly walking towards me.
"Don't look at the cabinets. Don't look at the cabinets," I say over and over, until he walks past them.
He turns again and puts his fingers in his belt. His frown lines are deep with confusion and panic is knocking on my door until he shrugs. His face drops back to boredom and he makes his way back to his desk.
I let out a sigh and force my heart to start beating again as I scramble for the keys.
As quietly as I can, I pull them from beneath the cabinet and shuffle them along the ground. I must look ridiculous as I crawl on my hands and knees towards Dale, pushing the keys ahead of me.
"Okay, that is the freakiest thing I have ever seen."
I look up at Dale's comment and smile.
"Nearly there."
"Good job." Dale squats down and reaches through the bars, gathering up the keys in his hand and searching for the right one.
"Try that one." I point at the small, flat key.
"Which one?"
"The small one. No... yes, that one."
Dale jiggles the keys around as he tries to get the right angle and slot it in.
My breath catches.
"Someone's coming."
I can hear the slow footsteps of leather boots on linoleum.
Dale scuttles over to his bench, shoving the keys in his pockets. He's just slumping into a look of despair when the deputy's head appears.
"What's the noise?"
Dale looks at him with forced confusion.
"What do you mean?"
"Don't get smart with me, kid. I heard a noise."
Knowing he can't move and risk the chance of the keys jingling in his pocket, Dale stays lounging against the wall and shrugs.
"I'm sorry, officer, but it wasn't me."
The man's eyes narrow and I so don't want to see where this is going. Jumping behind him, I run my finger down his neck again. The officer twitches and slaps the spot. I do it again. He scratches this time. I repeat myself one more time and the deputy mumbles an irritated curse then spins on his heel. I watch his retreat and notice him heading for the men's room.
Dale stands with a chuckle.
"Was that you?"
"Too mean?"
"Perfect." He grins.
Pulling out the small, flat key, he tries to work more quietly this time and slips it into the lock. It's not the right one.
"Crap!"
"Don't worry. I'll just try them all until we find it." Dale's calm voice soothes my nerves, but I still dance from toe to toe until two keys later the lock clicks open.
We both freeze at the sound, but nothing heads our way.
Sliding the door open, the smallest amount possible, Dale wriggles through.
"You're free!" Before thought stops me, I wrap my arms around his neck.
He shivers and I jump away from him. "Sorry."
"No problem." His smile is golden. I can feel my entire body warming with it until the sound of boots approaching distracts me.
I let out a gasp. Panic flashes over Dale's face.
"Run, I'll distract him."
"But-"
"Just go!"
I race back down the hall towards the deputy. He is wiping his face down with a paper towel as he saunters back to check on Dale. This can't happen. We need more time.
I hold my breath, close my eyes and run straight towards him, passing through his body and making him stop with a jerk. His spine twitches and his limbs do a quick dance before he spins to look behind him.
"Yes, come this way."
He slowly scans the walls around him, looking nervous, before taking a cautious step back towards the cells.
"No!"
I glance around me and spot distraction number two. Running the opposite direction, I aim for the open filing trays stacked on the shelves along the wall. With as much forced as I can muster, I tear them from the shelves. They land with a bang, scattering paper everywhere.
The deputy appears in seconds.
"Everything alright back there, Walter?" The female officer calls.
"Yeah," the deputy sighs. "Just the wind wreaking havoc again. We have got to find another home for these file trays." He bends down and starts collecting up papers.
I jump over him and head for the exit.
Dale is ducking beneath the front counter. I was hoping my file tray distraction would pull both the officers away, but it didn't work. I stand up to see where the female officer is working then bob back down again.
"If you trying walking out that door, she'll see you straight away."
He nods with a frown.
"How are we supposed to do this?"
Dale mouths, "Distraction?"
"Another one? I'm running out of ideas!"
His lips quirk with a grin as he squeezes the keys in his hands. I watch his knuckles turn white and am suddenly inspired.
"Use the keys."
He looks at me.
"Throw them across the desk or something. They'll turn around and look and we can run out the door."
Dale thinks for a moment then nods at my plan, pointing to the door.
"What?"
"Open the door," he mouths.
"They'll see."
He quickly points to himself and mimes throwing the keys then points at me and mimes opening the door.
"I'm not strong enough to do that."
He nods.
"No, I'm not."
Throwing me a stern look, he does another definitive nod.
"Your faith in my ability is stupid."
His eyes soften with a look of adoration, which I totally fall for. My insides buzz with warmth as my lips fight a smile.
"Okay, fine. I'll move to the door and count to three. You throw the keys and I'll try to push it open."
He gives me the thumbs up.
I creep over to the door and lean against it.
Concentrate, Nicole. Don't you dare screw this up.
I look to Dale, who's poised, ready to risk himself yet again for my sake. He's such an idiot.
Glancing at the door, he gives me a nod.
"Okay, one... two... three." I let out a grunt as I try to convince myself I'm not made of air and push on the door.
I hear the swoosh of keys, followed by a, "What the hell was that?"
Dale rushes past me and I turn to see the officer rummaging on the floor behind her desk.
Nervous giggles make my muscles quiver as I race around the side of the building, following Dale through the parking lot and over the fence. Dale scrambles up the wood and flicks his leg over the top. Me, being Miss Shortness will have no show. Squeezing my eyes shut, I pass through the wood and end up next to Dale as he lands on the ground. He leans against the planks to catch his breath.