Day 39

The lipstick tube was black and reflective, like the hood of a Corvette or a patent leather handbag, and Maura had to have it. It was only $6.99 at Rite Aid and had nothing in common with the expensive items it brought to mind, but when Maura saw it on the shelf, it called out to her. She knew if she were to pull this lipstick tube out of her purse and reapply it at a party, it would add to her entire look. No one could say she didn't belong.

She looked around her on all sides and quickly pocketed the lipstick. Then she began walking down the makeup aisle, examining assorted blushes and eye shadows. When she reached the back of the store, she turned into the next aisle and, pausing to show interest in one item or another every few feet, made her way back to the front of the store. Just before she reached the counter, she grabbed two packages of spearmint gum and put them in front of the cashier, a young kid about her own age with dark red hair and freckles so thick they lay in patches across his nose.

“Will that be all?” the red-headed cashier said. Maura looked at the gum on the counter then back at the cashier, noting the name tag pinned to the left-side pocket of his white collared shirt.

“That’s it, Dave,” she said, smiling. He scanned the gum on the register and placed it into a small plastic bag that he took from behind the counter. Then he paused.

“Anything else?” he asked.

“No, like I said, that’s it.”

“You sure?”

Dave looked over his shoulder at a large mirror hanging along a wall that jutted out into the photo processing area. A short set of stairs led up to a small door that stood just beyond where the mirror ended. Dave turned back to Maura.

“The store is set up with mirrors everywhere,” he said quietly. “That one up there is a one-way mirror to the security room. My manager is up there. He probably saw you.” He said the last part with his voice so low Maura wasn’t sure she heard him correctly. 

“Saw what?” she said, smiling again. She put her hand on her chest so that she could feel her rapid breaths push against her ribcage.

"He's had someone arrested before."

"For buying gum?"

"For stealing."

Maura bit her lower lip as her excitement drained. If the police were called, there was no guarantee she'd be released with only a warning again. Slowly, she reached into her pocket and pulled out the lipstick, placing it on the counter. She watched as Dave rang it up, his fingers rubbing against the shiny black tube. Now it looked lifeless and dull. It wasn't what she wanted.