FLAGSHIP

Tonight's Episode

https://herschelsterling.com/#cat-mystery

https://herschelsterling.com/#cat-economics

Matt and Christian worked at the mall. It’s a fun place to work for them. They worked for the facility. They knew all the back ways, and inner corridors, the basement and any weird nook or cranny there is. Their supervisor is well aware that teenage boys find that entire dynamic fascinating, so he has to be sure their curiosity and creativity don’t get him in trouble.

One of the nicest things for them, is that they have a lot of schoolmates who also work at the various stores and kiosks. When they are out in the public way, and not doing behind the scenes duties, they get to stop in to the assorted franchises and have quick visits.

In the early 1990s, not only did American kids still get to have these jobs, but it made for some good experience and, developed resourcefulness. When people had an issue or needed something, like a repair an engineering solution, these two young guys would be called into action.

The flagship store had changed owners a few times in the last few years. Productivity was being overtaken in the marketplace by finance. Corporations were merging and flipping and restructuring, and they were a lot more interested in quick bucks than providing value. The store was a little run-down. There was mismatched paint, stained ceilings, and a lot of cutting corners. It drove the guys crazy that this massive company was too cheap to provide them the materials they needed to do the job the right way. It is very demoralizing to be in a situation like that.

Earlier in the day, there were reports in the big store that people felt like they were being watched. They were seeing things from of the corner of their eyes, and when they’d look up at the ceiling where they thought they saw it, there would be nothing but the old stained and decaying ceiling tiles.

Matt and Christian had been hearing about it all day. It was the buzz among their friends who worked there, and they overheard several conversations of their supervisor, and among the people as they performed their duties. Naturally, security is aware of it, and they have nothing on their closed circuit cameras indicating anything.

They decided to check it out. No one instructed them to do anything, but having a knowledge of the facilities, they have access to things others simply don’t know about.

From the inner corridors, they came in the one of the back entrances of the big store. They know how to be unobtrusive, and wearing their work clothes, people understand they must be doing something officious. Near one of the back corners, there is a pull down stair system that can be reached from an attached wall ladder. Christian climbs up, pulls the rope and the door descends. Matt unfolds the ladder from his position, and Christian climbs down the wall ladder.

This is an area above the store where there is overstock, and holiday decorations; Many things that don’t belong, or can’t fit in the day-to-day back warehouse and loading areas. As the boys begin to climb, Matt suggests Christian stay on the floor and that they use their walkies to monitor, and see if Matt’s presence up there induces anything weird.

There’s plenty of space between the drop ceiling and the upstairs. It could be the case that something, or someone even, is in that middle space and that is the source of the issue. Matt knows where the access points are. He looks into those voids using his flashlight. There aren’t any signs at all of any life. Nothing but joists, trusses, and spiderwebs. Not even so much as a birds nest, or evidence of rodents. He checks on Christian with the walkie. Christian reports no visual aberrations down below at all, only that very weird sense that he’s being watched, like everyone else.

The boys decide to report to their supervisor that they did this investigation. As they locate him, he tells them to meet him in his office. They describe their findings of nothing out of the ordinary. Then he tells them the reason he called them into his office.

“Guys, the future is calling.” He says. “This whole mall will be closed in a year. As things are dismantled, there will be plenty of work for you, but when it’s done, it’s done.”

“I think we could feel it coming.” said Christian.

“I think everyone can.” Matt replied.

751 Words

https://herschelsterling.com/#cat-mystery

https://herschelsterling.com/#cat-economics

31 brand-new stories written and podcasted in 31 days.