She placed the bottles in her basket and continued down the aisle, plucking things from the shelf. When she’d checked the store for the rest of the things on her list, she made her way to the pharmacist’s counter.
Speedy emerged from the back room. He was a heavy-set man, not so much overweight as he was wide and large. He had close-cut brown hair and tattoos that spread across his beefy arms. A cigarette dangled from his lips. The fact that he hadn’t bothered to put it out before coming onto the floor didn’t bode well. Pharmacists weren’t supposed to smoke.
Speedy relieved the man at the desk. He folded his arms, lifted his chin challengingly, and glared in Enzo’s direction.
Yep. The guy remembered him.
Was there any way to salvage this so Speedy didn’t blow his cover?
Charity swept up to Speedy and laid her basket and list on the counter. “Hi. We’d like to buy these things, and we’re wondering if you had some items that weren’t on the shelves.” She leaned closer. “Antibiotics, antivirals, prescription-strength painkillers, steroids, and syringes.”
Speedy didn’t take the cigarette from his mouth. “Depends. Do you have a prescription for those items?”
She smiled sheepishly and ducked her head, all charm and eyelash flutters. “We’re harvesters from the country and need things on hand for our nurse. Would you let us buy them without prescriptions?”
Speedy’s eyes went to Enzo. “Harvesters from the country, eh?”
“We’ve got the callouses to prove it,” Enzo lifted his hands. “Well, she has the callouses. I’ve mostly just got open sores. It’s a new job for me.”
“Is it?” Speedy clearly didn’t believe Enzo.
“I’m hoping you have Doxycycline,” Charity said, “but I’ll consider any broad-spectrum antibiotics.”
Speedy kept glaring at Enzo. “Sorry. We’re strictly above board here. Keeping the law to its letter. Can’t sell you anything without a prescription. I learned that lesson well, officer.”
Officer. Enzo laughed like he thought Speedy was telling a joke. “Okay, then. I can tell we’re not going to be able to convince you. Why don’t you scan our basket so we can pay and leave?”
Speedy placed the basket on the scanner, and the total lit up on the machine. Charity hesitated, clearly puzzled by Speedy’s flat refusal. “If you can’t sell us anything without a prescription, do you know of a place that can?”
“Nope. I only hang out with law-abiding citizens. I’m a reformed man.”
She sighed and handed him some bills. He scanned them, checking they were legit, and gave her back the change.
She and Enzo put the items into their packs. Speedy drifted away from the counter, still watching Enzo with narrow eyes.
Charity zipped up her pack, and the two headed across the store. “We’re nearly out of antibiotics. Maybe we should just ask shady-looking people on the street if they know of places we could go for drugs.”
Enzo really didn’t want to do that. If another place had the same reaction to him, she would wonder why.
“Give me the money,” he told her, “and go wait by the door. I’ll talk to Speedy on my own. I think you made him nervous.”
“Me?” She blinked in confusion. “What did I do?”
“You look too honest.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Give me the money. I’m used to dealing with city people.”
She bit back a response and handed him the cash. Apparently, she didn’t want to go canvass sketchy individuals for information any more than he did.
He strode back to the pharmacy counter. Speedy eyed him, taking slow drags from his cigarette. When Enzo reached the counter, Speedy blew smoke in his direction. The cigarettes were the extra strength type that burned people’s eyes.
“Look,” Enzo whispered. “I’m obviously not here undercover asking you to do something illegal. I know you recognize me. I really am here because my friend needs those items. All I want is to do business.”
Another puff. “Well, then it’s a shame you arrested me. That put you right on my blacklist. I had to pay an eleven hundred credit fine the last time I did business with you.”
“I’ll make sure you’re reimbursed.” Enzo would add it to the list of things to talk to Schmitt about.