A possessive feeling of love overwhelmed me, as if the stars had traveled a million light-years just to witness this moment.
He drew back and glanced at the warehouse. “Are you sure you’re okay to do this alone?”
“The owner’s right there.” I waved at the Latino man by the door. He had sent me his picture upon request since I wanted to make sure I met the right person. “It’s going to be hours, so I hope you can find something to keep you busy.”
“Oh, we’ll find something to keep us occupied.” He winked and got back in the truck. “Just be thinking about dinner.”
I waved at them driving away, then turned to the brick warehouse, which had garage entrances in the front. There weren’t any businesses in the immediate area except for a Breed pawnshop up the road.
“Cecilia Talius?” the man asked. He was older, deep lines carved in his face and a thick salt-and-pepper mustache. When he smiled, he showed off teeth so straight they almost appeared artificial.
“That’s me.”
He bowed his head. “Enrique Garcia. Are your friends coming back for you?” He laughed, and the rapid bursts reminded me of a woodpecker tapping on a tree.
“They’ll be back.”
“I hope so. Come inside.” He led me through a door, and we walked across a concrete floor.
Up ahead were towering rows of shelves. The entire buildingwas filled with boxes, storage pods, and what looked like sorting tables. He turned in to an enclosed cement structure on the right with yellow metal steps leading to a platform. I guessed he stood up there and directed vehicles that moved the heavy items around.
Enrique closed the door and looked out the windows that surrounded us. “I don’t actually work in here. I operate this facility to store my purchased goods until I’m able to go through them and find the real money. I live on the other side of Austin with a nice view of the water. My wife expects me home for dinner, so I can’t stay here with you all night. You want a drink?” He gestured to a cooler.
I shook my head. “No, thanks.”
“There’s also a bathroom outside to the right,” he said, pointing through the windows at a stand-alone structure. Enrique sat on the desk next to a large box. “I can stay for half an hour and show you what I have. You’re going to make an offer?”
“I don’t know if I’m comfortable without looking through everything first. It depends on how much you have and the condition. I need to make sure I can sell the items.”
He patted the box. “Four boxes with Breed books, forty-nine boxes of human books.”
“Forty-nine? I didn’t know it would be that many.”
“I buy a lot of units. Like I said on the phone, you’re free to stay as long as you need, but no funny business. There’s a lot to see, but if anything turns up missing?—”
“I would never steal from you.”
“You seem like a nice lady. I’ll take your word for it. But keep in mind I know your Packmaster’s name.” He pulled a pack of breath mints from his pocket and popped one into his mouth. “I’ll stay long enough so we can negotiate the books in here. This is where my money is.” He patted the box again. “When you’re done, you either make me an offer and take them home or I lock them up and you can look at the rest.”
“IfI want the others, will you hold them for me? I’ll need to find a way to transport them home.”
Enrique nodded and glanced at his watch.
“Um, if you’re leaving, how do I lock up when I go?”
“I have security. Do you think I would leave my treasures unguarded? Just let them know when you’re ready to leave.” He chuckled and then pulled a box cutter out of a drawer. “Well? Let’s get to work.”
Enrique watchedwhile I analyzed the books as quickly as possible, but it became apparent I would need Milly’s advice. Until I knew what I had, I wasn’t ready to make a cash offer. Instead, I sent Milly photographs on my phone since she’d offered to advise me for a small fee.
Enrique wasn’t pushy and seemed eager for someone to take the books off his hands. There were a number of goods he didn’t make much money selling, but he squeezed every penny he could out of his inventory, including used clothing. He profited the most from antique jewelry, furniture, paintings, and ancient artifacts.
After I finished sorting through the Breed books, Enrique gave me a brief tour before escorting me to the forty-nine boxes. While he had moved them to the floor, I had to pull them into the aisle to get them open. He left me a box cutter and said not to worry about moving them back, that his workers would take care of them in the morning.
We hadn’t agreed to exchange money this evening. There was only the possibility of making an offer.
The first ten boxes, I pulled everything out. Despite his extensive variety of literature, only sixty percent was sellable. Damage aside, some were worthless, such as repair manuals for obsoleteproducts. Anything I couldn’t sell went into one of the ten empty boxes that I’d marked with anXto indicate they were trash.
If only there was air-conditioning.
