The Gate Traveler-Chapter 126: Mechanic Mayhem and a Heist Surprise

In Trinidad, I took a fresh approach to food shopping. Instead of the usual store-hopping or relying on conventional methods, I chose to buy everything from wholesalers. To make this plan a reality, I found a closed restaurant with a living space above and negotiated a two-week rental. I convinced the owner that we were a group of traveling chefs conducting workshops in various cities.

Mahya decided to use the time to gain a skill she thought was important: motorcycle and ATV mechanics. She made up a story that we were going on a motorcycle and ATV trip in Africa and needed the knowledge to take care of the vehicles if there were any problems along the way. Al was not interested in mechanics, so I announced he would be in charge of receiving deliveries while Mahya and I studied. I was already despairing of him. He said he wanted to fill the missing classes, but I didn’t see any interest from him in any field.

I asked him about it, and his answer was that he had not yet found his passion. He said that when he did, he would make the necessary investment.

As I calculated our food needs, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of anticipation. I was especially mindful of the possibility of our group expanding (I still hoped that Lyura would join us). With this in mind, I placed our food orders, ready to accommodate any additions to our team.

I considered ordering seeds to grow food in the future, but I remembered the crates of seeds I’d bought before leaving Earth the first time. I pulled them out and sorted through the contents. There were ten crates each of tomatoes, coffee, and cocoa, along with several more crates filled with mixed seeds for fruits, vegetables, legumes, grains, nuts, and herbs.

Grains and Rice

Pallets of long-grain white ricePallets of brown riceBulk bags of jasmine riceBulk bags of basmati riceBulk bags of wild riceBulk bags of quinoaBulk bags of couscousPallets of rolled oatsBulk bags of steel-cut oatsBulk bags of barleyBulk bags of bulgur wheatPasta and Noodles

Pallets of spaghettiPallets of macaroniBulk bags of penneBulk bags of fusilliBulk bags of fettuccineBulk bags of egg noodlesBulk bags of rice noodlesPallets of lasagna sheetsBulk bags of orzoBaking Supplies

Pallets of all-purpose flourPallets of whole wheat flourBulk bags of bread flourBulk bags of cake flourBulk bags of cornmealBulk bags of almond flourPallets of sugar (white granulated)Bulk bags of brown sugarBulk bags of powdered sugarBulk bags of baking powderBulk bags of baking sodaBulk bags of yeastBulk containers of vanilla extractBulk containers of cocoa powderBeans and Legumes

Pallets of dried black beansPallets of dried pinto beansBulk bags of lentils (green and red)Bulk bags of chickpeasBulk bags of split peasBulk bags of navy beansBulk bags of kidney beansCanned and Jarred Goods

Pallets of canned tomatoes (diced, crushed, and whole)Bulk packs of canned vegetables (corn, peas, carrots, green beans)Bulk packs of canned fruit (peaches, pears, pineapple)Bulk jars of pasta sauceBulk jars of picklesBulk jars of olivesNuts and Seeds

Bulk bags of almondsBulk bags of walnutsBulk bags of cashewsBulk bags of pecansBulk bags of sunflower seedsBulk bags of pumpkin seedsBulk bags of chia seedsBulk bags of flax seedsSpices and Seasonings

Bulk containers of salt (kosher, sea salt)Bulk containers of black pepper (whole and ground)Bulk bags of garlic powderBulk bags of onion powderBulk bags of paprika (sweet and smoked)Bulk bags of cuminBulk bags of dried oreganoBulk bags of dried basilBulk bags of dried thymeBulk bags of dried rosemaryBulk bags of dried parsleyBulk bags of dried dillBulk bags of turmericBulk bags of curry powderBulk bags of chili powderBulk bags of ground cinnamonBulk bags of ground gingerBulk bags of ground nutmegBulk bags of ground clovesBulk bags of mustard powderBulk containers of bay leavesBulk bags of red pepper flakesBulk bags of fennel seedsBulk bags of coriander seedsBulk bags of cardamom podsBulk bags of star aniseBulk bags of sumacBulk bags of za’atarOils and Fats

Pallets of vegetable oilPallets of olive oilBulk containers of extra virgin olive oilBulk containers of coconut oilBulk containers of shorteningBulk containers of sesame oilBulk containers of avocado oilSweeteners

Pallets of honeyBulk containers of maple syrupBulk containers of agave syrupDairy and Alternatives (Shelf-Stable)

Pallets of powdered milkPallets of evaporated milkBulk packs of almond milk (shelf-stable)Bulk packs of coconut milk (shelf-stable)Bulk packs of soy milk (shelf-stable)Bulk packs of shelf-stable cheese (e.g., Parmesan, cheddar powder)Snacks and Convenience Foods

Bulk packs of crackers (assorted varieties)Bulk packs of pretzelsBulk packs of granola barsBulk bags of popcorn kernelsCold and Frozen: Meat and Poultry

Pallets of frozen chicken breastsPallets of frozen chicken thighsPallets of frozen whole chickensPallets of frozen ground beefPallets of frozen beef steaks (ribeye, sirloin, tenderloin)Pallets of frozen beef roastsPallets of frozen pork chopsPallets of frozen pork tenderloinPallets of frozen pork ribsPallets of frozen ground porkPallets of frozen baconPallets of frozen sausages (various types: breakfast, Italian, bratwurst)Pallets of frozen turkey (whole and ground)Cold and Frozen: Fish and Seafood

Pallets of frozen salmon filletsPallets of frozen cod filletsPallets of frozen haddock filletsPallets of frozen shrimp (various sizes)Pallets of frozen scallopsPallets of frozen musselsPallets of frozen clamsPallets of frozen lobster tailsPallets of frozen crab legsPallets of frozen tilapia filletsPallets of frozen tuna steaksCold and Frozen: Dairy Products

Pallets of butter (salted and unsalted)Pallets of margarinePallets of cheese blocks (cheddar, mozzarella, Swiss, Monterey Jack)Pallets of shredded cheese (various types)Pallets of cream cheesePallets of sour creamPallets of yogurt (plain and flavored)Pallets of heavy creamPallets of half-and-halfPallets of cottage cheesePallets of ricotta cheeseCold and Frozen: Eggs and Egg Products

Pallets of fresh eggs (large, medium, small)Bulk packs of liquid eggsBulk packs of egg whitesBulk packs of powdered eggs (for baking and cooking)Cold and Frozen: Vegetables and Fruits (Frozen)

Pallets of frozen peasPallets of frozen cornPallets of frozen green beansPallets of frozen spinachPallets of frozen mixed vegetablesPallets of frozen broccoli floretsPallets of frozen cauliflowerPallets of frozen bell peppersPallets of frozen strawberriesPallets of frozen blueberriesPallets of frozen raspberriesPallets of frozen mango chunksPallets of frozen mixed berriesCold and Frozen: Other Refrigerated Ingredients

Bulk containers of fresh herbs (basil, parsley, cilantro, dill)Bulk containers of minced garlicBulk packs of pre-cut vegetables (onions, carrots, celery)Bulk containers of tofuBulk containers of tempehBulk containers of refrigerated pasta (ravioli, tortellini)Bulk packs of refrigerated sauces (pesto, Alfredo, marinara)Bulk containers of fresh lemon and lime juiceBulk containers of salsaCold and Frozen: Prepared Foods

Bulk packs of frozen pizzasBulk packs of frozen lasagnaBulk packs of frozen burritosBulk packs of frozen soups and stewsBulk packs of frozen appetizers (mozzarella sticks, chicken wings, potato skins)Bulk packs of frozen entrees (chicken pot pie, shepherd’s pie, meatloaf)Cold and Frozen: Other

Bulk containers of refrigerated almond milkBulk containers of refrigerated soy milkBulk containers of refrigerated coconut milkFruits and Vegetables: Fruits

Pallets of Granny Smith applesPallets of Fuji applesPallets of Gala applesPallets of Honeycrisp applesPallets of oranges (Navel, Valencia)Pallets of lemonsPallets of limesPallets of grapefruitsPallets of peachesPallets of nectarinesPallets of plumsPallets of apricotsPallets of strawberriesPallets of blueberriesPallets of raspberriesPallets of blackberriesPallets of bananasPallets of pineapplesPallets of mangoesPallets of papayasPallets of kiwisPallets of watermelonsPallets of cantaloupesPallets of honeydew melonsPallets of pears (Bartlett, Bosc, Anjou)Pallets of grapes (red and green)Pallets of cherriesPallets of figsPallets of pomegranatesFruits and Vegetables: Vegetables

Pallets of spinachPallets of kalePallets of romaine lettucePallets of mixed salad greensPallets of Swiss chardPallets of carrotsPallets of potatoes (russet, Yukon gold, red)Pallets of sweet potatoesPallets of beetsPallets of turnipsPallets of parsnipsPallets of radishesPallets of broccoliPallets of cauliflowerPallets of Brussels sproutsPallets of cabbage (green, red, savoy)Pallets of onions (yellow, red, white)Pallets of garlicPallets of shallotsPallets of leeksPallets of zucchiniPallets of yellow squashPallets of butternut squashPallets of acorn squashPallets of spaghetti squashPallets of pumpkinsPallets of bell peppers (red, green, yellow, orange)Pallets of chili peppers (jalapeño, serrano, habanero)Pallets of sweet mini peppersPallets of beefsteak tomatoesPallets of Roma tomatoesPallets of cherry tomatoesPallets of heirloom tomatoesPallets of cucumbersPallets of celeryPallets of green beansPallets of peas (snap, snow)Pallets of eggplantsPallets of mushrooms (button, cremini, portobello)Pallets of corn on the cobPallets of asparagusPallets of artichokesMiscellaneous: Candy and Snacks

Bulk packs of chocolate bars (milk, dark, white)Bulk packs of assorted candy (gummies, hard candy, licorice)Bulk packs of chocolate-covered nuts and fruitsBulk packs of chips (potato, tortilla, vegetable)Bulk packs of popcorn (microwaveable and ready-to-eat)Bulk packs of protein barsBulk packs of cookies (chocolate chip, oatmeal, sugar)Bulk packs of snack cakes (cupcakes, brownies, pastries)Miscellaneous: Deli Products

Bulk packs of deli meats (ham, turkey, roast beef, salami)Bulk packs of sliced cheese (cheddar, Swiss, provolone, American)Bulk packs of pre-made sandwiches and wrapsBulk packs of pepperoni and other cured meatsBulk packs of pâté and spreadsBulk packs of hummus and other dipsBulk packs of pickles (dill, sweet, bread and butter)Bulk packs of olives (green, black, kalamata)Miscellaneous: Beverages

Bulk packs of bottled waterBulk packs of sparkling waterBulk packs of soft drinks (cola, lemon-lime, root beer)Bulk packs of juice (orange, apple, grape, cranberry)Bulk packs of sports drinksBulk packs of iced teaBulk packs of energy drinksBulk containers of drink mixes (lemonade, iced tea, sports drink powders)Miscellaneous: Condiments and Sauces

Bulk containers of BBQ sauceBulk containers of salad dressings (ranch, Italian, Caesar)Bulk containers of relishBulk containers of salsaBulk containers of marinades and cooking saucesBulk containers of mayonnaiseBulk containers of ketchupBulk containers of mustardMiscellaneous: Baking Mixes and Ready-Made Dough

Bulk packs of pancake and waffle mixBulk packs of muffin mixBulk packs of cake mixBulk packs of brownie mixBulk packs of cookie mixBulk packs of bread mixBulk packs of refrigerated dough (pizza dough, croissant dough, biscuit dough)Bulk packs of ready-to-bake pastries and cookiesMiscellaneous: Breakfast Items

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Bulk packs of cereal (various types)Bulk packs of oatmeal (instant and regular)Bulk packs of granolaBulk packs of breakfast barsBulk packs of syrup (maple, pancake)Miscellaneous: Items

Bulk containers of peanut butterBulk containers of chocolate chipsBulk containers of almond butterBulk containers of hummusPallets of bulk containers of jelly/jam (various flavors)10 pallets of coffee in all its formsBulk bags of dried pasta sauce mixesBulk containers of soy sauceBulk containers of Worcestershire sauceBulk containers of hot sauce (various types)Bulk containers of vinegar (white, apple cider, balsamic)Bulk packs of dried fruit (raisins, cranberries, apricots, dates)Bulk packs of nuts (almonds, walnuts, cashews, peanuts)Bulk containers of tea bags (black, green, herbal)Bulk containers of agave syrupBulk containers of molassesBulk packs of instant noodles and ramenLong-Lasting and Specialty Foods: Dehydrated and Freeze-Dried Foods

Bulk packs of freeze-dried vegetables (peas, carrots, corn)Bulk packs of freeze-dried meals (stews, pasta dishes, rice dishes)Bulk packs of dehydrated potatoes (mashed, hash browns)Bulk packs of dehydrated soups and stewsBulk packs of dehydrated meat (beef, chicken)Long-Lasting and Specialty Foods: Canned Goods

Bulk packs of canned meats (tuna, chicken, beef)Bulk packs of canned soups and stewsBulk packs of canned pasta (ravioli, spaghetti)Bulk packs of canned chiliBulk packs of canned milk (evaporated, condensed)Bulk packs of canned coconut milkBulk packs of canned beans (black, kidney, chickpeas)Long-Lasting and Specialty Foods: Jars and Bottled Goods

Bulk jars of nut butters (almond, cashew)Bulk jars of pasta sauces (marinara, Alfredo, pesto)Bulk jars of curry pastes and saucesBulk bottles of flavored syrups (vanilla, caramel, hazelnut)Bulk jars of ghee (clarified butter)Long-Lasting and Specialty Foods: Dry Mixes and Instant Foods

Bulk packs of instant potatoes (mashed, scalloped)Bulk packs of instant rice (white, brown)Bulk packs of instant pasta (mac and cheese, Alfredo)Bulk packs of instant couscousBulk packs of instant polentaBulk packs of instant quinoaBulk packs of instant soup mixes (chicken noodle, minestrone)Long-Lasting and Specialty Foods: Fermented and Pickled Foods

Bulk jars of sauerkrautBulk jars of kimchiBulk jars of pickled vegetables (beets, carrots, cucumbers)Bulk jars of fermented soy products (miso, tempeh, natto)Bulk jars of pickled eggsLong-Lasting and Specialty Foods: Baking Ingredients and Enhancers

Bulk packs of baking enhancers (gluten flour, dough conditioner)Bulk packs of flavor extracts (almond, lemon, mint)Bulk packs of baking chips (chocolate, butterscotch, peanut butter)Bulk packs of decorating sugars and sprinklesBulk packs of cake and cookie decorating suppliesLong-Lasting and Specialty Foods: International and Specialty Ingredients

Bulk packs of sushi rice and nori sheetsBulk packs of dried seaweed (wakame, kombu, nori)Bulk packs of dried mushrooms (shiitake, porcini, chanterelle)Bulk packs of specialty grains (farro, spelt, millet)Bulk packs of international spices and seasonings (garam masala, harissa, za’atar)Bulk packs of dried chilies (ancho, guajillo, chipotle)Bulk packs of miso pasteBulk packs of fish sauceBulk packs of tamarind pasteLong-Lasting and Specialty Foods: Beverages and Drink Mixes

Bulk packs of powdered drink mixes (sports drinks, flavored water, electrolyte drinks)Bulk packs of herbal teas (chamomile, peppermint, hibiscus)Bulk packs of specialty coffee (espresso, cold brew)Bulk packs of cocoa powder and hot chocolate mixBulk packs of shelf-stable milk alternatives (oat milk, rice milk)Bulk packs of kombucha starters and suppliesLong-Lasting and Specialty Foods: Dietary Supplements and Health Foods

Bulk containers of protein powder (whey, soy, pea)Bulk packs of meal replacement shakes and barsBulk packs of vitamin and mineral supplementsBulk packs of electrolyte tabletsBulk packs of green superfood powders (spirulina, chlorella)Bulk packs of chia seeds and hemp seedsLong-Lasting and Specialty Foods: Miscellaneous Edibles

Bulk packs of dried herbs (basil, oregano, thyme)Bulk packs of bouillon cubes and powders (chicken, beef, vegetable)Bulk packs of jerky (beef, turkey, vegan)Bulk packs of trail mix (various blends)Bulk packs of hardtack or survival biscuitsFresh Baked Goods

Bread

Pallets of white breadPallets of whole wheat breadPallets of sourdough breadPallets of rye breadPallets of multigrain breadPallets of French breadPallets of ciabattaRolls and Buns

Crates of hamburger bunsCrates of hot dog bunsCrates of dinner rollsCrates of Kaiser rollsCrates of brioche bunsBagels and English Muffins

Crates of plain bagelsCrates of sesame bagelsCrates of everything bagelsCrates of cinnamon raisin bagelsCrates of plain English muffinsCrates of whole wheat English muffinsPastries and Croissants

Crates of croissantsCrates of chocolate croissantsCrates of almond croissantsCrates of Danish pastries (various flavors)Crates of cinnamon rollsMuffins and Scones

Crates of blueberry muffinsCrates of chocolate chip muffinsCrates of bran muffinsCrates of banana nut muffinsCrates of plain sconesCrates of fruit scones (various flavors)Cakes

2000 chocolate cakes2000 vanilla cakes2000 carrot cakes2000 red velvet cakes2000 lemon cakes2000 fruit cakes2000 cheesecakesPies

2000 apple pies2000 cherry pies2000 blueberry pies2000 pumpkin pies2000 pecan pies2000 lemon meringue piesCookies

2000 batches of chocolate chip cookies2000 batches of oatmeal raisin cookies2000 batches of peanut butter cookies2000 batches of sugar cookies2000 batches of gingerbread cookies2000 batches of shortbread cookiesBrownies and Bars

2000 batches of brownies2000 batches of blondies2000 batches of lemon bars2000 batches of raspberry barsDonuts

2000 glazed donuts2000 chocolate frosted donuts2000 jelly-filled donuts2000 cream-filled donuts2000 powdered sugar donuts

Looking at the list I made, I sighed and increased my storage capacity twice more. At least this time, I didn’t get a headache. My ability points dropped below 200; I now only had 199. They were easy to accumulate on Earth, but they also disappeared quickly.

Maybe it would be a good idea to attend some more workshops.

It took me four days to get all the orders placed and conjure up the documents. Meanwhile, Mahya spent that time on the phone, hunting down someone willing to teach us how to become mechanics. She finally found someone, but it cost us—$5,000! Yeah, it was a rip-off, but we didn’t have any other options. We left Al in charge of the deliveries and headed off to learn the trade.

The garage was in the industrial area and reeked of motor oil and rust, a smell that stuck to me no matter how many times I cast Clean. It clung to my clothes, my hair, even my skin. Dave, our teacher, showed Mahya and me the basics of a motorbike engine while we stood listening. His rough voice reverberated all over the garage, which was full of tools, spare parts, and bikes and ATVs in various stages of disassembly.

“First thing you need to know,” Dave announced, wiping his greasy hands on a rag, “is the anatomy of an engine. This here is the carburetor. It mixes air and fuel before sending it into the engine.”

Mahya leaned in, scribbling in her notebook. Now and then, she’d glance at me to make sure I was keeping up. I tried, but Dave bombarded us with a lot of information. Still, I couldn’t help but feel excited. Trying something completely different was hard but, strangely, kinda enjoyable.

The first few days were hard. I was clumsy with the tools, making more mistakes than progress. I was used to the small tools of a doctor, not those monstrosities. At one point, I dropped a wrench deep into the engine, and it took me half an hour to fish it out while Dave laughed at me in the background. Mahya picked it up fast—it was so unfair. By the third day, she was taking apart engines like she’d been doing it all her life, almost keeping pace with Dave.

By the end of the third day, we had the basics down and even got the skill at level one. We could identify parts, knew what they did, and could handle basic repairs. We impressed Dave with our progress. He cracked a smile, which was rare for him. “You two are catching on quicker than most,” he said, tossing Mahya a new set of spark plugs. “Let’s see if you can handle a full engine overhaul.”

The next couple of weeks were a blur of grease, sweat, and lessons. We tackled each challenge Dave threw at us—from changing tires to fixing electrical issues. By the time we left each evening, exhausted and covered in grime, I could feel our skill improving, even if the numbers didn’t show it.

After two and a half weeks, as we were packing up, Dave handed us our last test—a beat-up motorcycle with more problems than I cared to count. “Fix this by the end of the week, and I’ll consider you both good enough mechanics for your trip.”

Mahya and I exchanged a look and smirked. With the skill level at two, we were confident. We threw ourselves into it, and fixed what we could. Faulty wires, busted brakes, and, of course, the carburetor—yeah, I may have cheated with Clean on that to save time, but we kept that between us.

By the last day, the bike was ready. I turned the key, and the engine roared to life, filling the garage with the sound of victory. Dave nodded, impressed. “Well done. You’ve earned it.”

Not only had we learned the ropes, but we had leveled up our mechanic skills to level three, thanks to sheer determination and a lot of hard work. Covered in grease but grinning like idiots, Mahya gave me a high-five, her eyes sparkling with pride.

After we wrapped up our mechanic lessons, Al finally got a break and attended a few workshops. Mahya and I mostly spent the last three days in the city doing the usual rounds of shops, but this time skipping the alcohol and coffee.

On the last night, Al of course, wanted to add adrenalin to our visit to the city—a round of visits to drug dealers. The first two stops were business as usual—or as normal as robbing drug dealers can get—but the third stop was different. We stumbled right into the middle of a big deal.

It was almost three in the morning when we pulled up to an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of town. It seemed like nothing had happened in that place for years, which was exactly what we needed. We parked the jeep behind a cluster of trees, exchanged a glance, and activated our Invisibility. Al went ahead, and I trailed behind him to find a good spot to wait. Based on the voices from inside, there were people talking in Spanish and we heard some cursing in a language I thought was Russian, but I wasn’t sure.

They sounded too many, and it didn’t feel right to let Al go alone. Inside, the scene was tense. Two dozen heavily armed thugs stood around, all of them with big rifles. Nearby, a black jeep stood with its engine still running. Shadows danced across the walls as the thugs moved about, all focused on their transaction, completely unaware we were there.

“This surpasses our expectations,” Al sent telepathically, his voice a mix of excitement and caution.

“No kidding,” I replied, scanning the room. “Are you sure it’s a good idea? There are too many of them.”

“Let us utilize the paintball guns.”

I was so relieved I was invisible, sparing me from the embarrassment of anyone seeing me facepalm. How had I not thought of it sooner? It would have been so useful back in Phoenix!

We slipped on our protective masks and moved into position. The thugs were completely unaware, their rifles hanging lazily off their shoulders as if they had nothing to worry about. I quickly scanned the group—twenty-one in total, all heavily armed, plus the two head honchos, overseeing it all like kings of a pathetic little kingdom.

“On three,” I sent. “One… two… three!”

We fired in sync; the paintballs hitting their targets dead-on. The sleeping potion kicked in almost immediately, filling the air with a smell of oregano. One by one, the thugs collapsed, knocked out cold before they knew what hit them.

“That turned out to be an unexpectedly simple task” Al said, stepping over a guy who had a rifle bigger than he was.

We moved quickly, looting the place like pros. Well, by this point, I was kinda a pro. We collected bundles of cash, each thicker than the last, weapons—high-caliber rifles, handguns, you name it. And, of course, the drugs, all packed up and ready to go.

We stored everything, cash, guns, drugs—the whole haul disappeared with a thought. The last thing to go was the jeep, its sleek frame vanishing into my Storage.

“Mahya’s gonna flip when she sees this,” I said, grinning as I eyed the black jeep.

“Are you certain about this course of action?”

“Why not? They’re bad people that sell drugs to children. Mahya is a good person the converts stuff to Magitech. I feel like Robinhood.”

“Who is Robinhood?”

“I’ll tell you at the hotel. Ready to head out?” I asked.

“Indeed, let us depart,” Al replied, and I could hear the excitement in his mental voice.

We slipped back out as quietly as we’d come in, hopping into our own jeep and driving off into the night. On the way, Al commented, “I wish I could witness their faces when they wake up.” We both cracked up at the thought.

When we got back, Mahya was outside tinkering with an ATV, grease all over her hands. She looked up as we pulled in. “Everything went okay?”

I motioned for Al to join me. “Yes, and we got a little something for you. Close your eyes.”

She laughed but did as I asked, holding out her hands like she was expecting something small. I took out the black jeep and placed it in front of her. Then, I took out the crates of guns and ammo, stacking them neatly beside the Jeep.

“Alright, open your eyes,” I said, barely holding back a grin.

Mahya opened her eyes and just stood there, mouth open, staring at the jeep and the crates of weapons. She circled the jeep, running her hand over the glossy surface, her eyes lighting up with excitement.

“This is incredible!” she finally said, her voice full of awe. “Where did you get it?”

Al and I exchanged a look, both of us grinning like idiots.

“We encountered a small yet thrilling escapade,” Al said casually. “We believed you would find this useful. John said something about Robinhood.”

She laughed and opened one crate, revealing rows of guns. “And this?” she asked, eyes wide.

“Just a little bonus,” I shrugged. “Thought it might be useful.”

Mahya laughed more, shaking her head in disbelief. “You guys are something else.” She gave me a quick hug, then did the same to Al. “Thank you. This is amazing.”

I saw her eyes bouncing back and forth between the jeep and the crates, already figuring out how to use and improve everything. The excitement was infectious, and I couldn’t help but feel proud. We’d pulled it off, and seeing her this happy made it all worth it.

“Can’t wait to see what you do with it,” I said, clapping her on the shoulder.

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“Oh, you have no idea,” she replied, her eyes sparkling with ambition. “This is going to be epic.”

I didn’t know how many drugs we took—Al stored them for good without specifying an amount. But the financial gain of the night was a little over a million. I just facepalmed and shook my head—resigned. It was like a curse. No matter how much we spent, the money just grew. It felt like a universe was trying to challenge me.

After a few hours, we had to drag Mahya off her new toys and drive to Pueblo to spend the money, or at least try to spend it.