Lost in the Fold by M.A. Gardner

Author:M.A. Gardner [Gardner, M.A.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-02-13T16:00:00+00:00

The basement was the schoolroom, as Karen called it. The basement was converted into a home gym on one end and desks with computers and whiteboards on the other. Both spaces were for the children's exclusive learning. The north wall of the basement was a rock-climbing wall. The cellar was taller than you'd expect due to the neighborhood being built into a hill. The basement of this townhouse matched those lower on the slope to provide the same utility access. The rock-climbing wall was twenty-three and a half feet, with the safety gear in the subfloor above—not that Karen allowed them to use the harness unless they were specifically learning how to use them. On the wall not adorned with a whiteboard, mirror, or rock wall was a floor-to-ceiling corkboard with photos and schematics of a skyscraper that would not look out of place in any modern American city. Complicated floorplans, waterworks, and a detailed transit schedule adorned the corkboard. The pins holding each item up were color-coded and precisely aligned. A series of photos of complicated electronics lined one side of the wall.

The space not around the rock wall was storage with folding ladder access. Ductwork and waterwork were simulated in the space. Avery was at a table examining lengths of rope. Displayed across the table were harnesses, carabineers, helmets, gloves, and climbing shoes. Avery looked more capable than she did reading her tablet the night before. She was definitely more capable than any other eight-year-old. She touched each piece of equipment, her fingers caressing the nylon rope, searching for imperfections and wear.

In the corner of the gym, Hunter performed push-ups and then switched to chin-ups on the long bar suspended from the exposed framing of the ceiling. He was almost twelve and had been with the Ratchets the longest. Nearly eight years if what the other foster kids said was true. Tomas didn't know; he was afraid to talk to Hunter. Hunter would occasionally challenge Karen. He always did what she wanted, though.

Lucas was nine, making Tomas the youngest. Lucas was placed with the Ratchets before Tomas, and like the rest of the foster kids, he’d adapted quickly not to defy Karen. Knowing he had no options, Lucas dragged over a wooden stool and reached for the bar next to Hunter. He winched when his bandaged hands gripped the bar.

Tomas knew that the plan hinged on his performance. Without him, the Ratchet children had no hope of pulling off the heist. Karen would still force them to do it and feign ignorance. The basement was meant to teach discipline and to learn skills to prepare the children for a time after they aged out—not a boot camp for youth criminals. The failure without him was a primary reason he didn't hop on a train and never look back. He almost thought he could rely on Detective Jones, but would any other law enforcement believe what was happening in a townhome in Chicago? All three kids would end up in jail or worse, as the string of robberies required an escalation of force to stop the crew.

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