First Date- a Novella by Thomas A Watson, Christian Bentulan, Amanda Shore

cellophane-wrapped six pack of gray duct tape. Shoving it in the backpack, he continued scanning and moved to the next cabinet.
    As Malik came out carrying the bat, he saw Daniel stuff two rolls of para cord in the backpack he was holding. “You know, I remember when you started at that second board meeting,” he said, walking over. “They used to use yarn on their presentations, showing how everything was connected. Then up steps the new guy right in Mr. Barron’s face and says, ‘If our competitors ever saw us use yarn, they would know we were limp dick bitches.’”
    Turning around with a grin, Daniel nodded. “Never expected him to put out a memo saying if anyone ever used yarn again, they would be terminated.”
    Malik laughed. “I loved it when Mr. Barron asked you what we should use so we wouldn’t look like limp dicks.”
    “Para cord is great stuff,” Daniel said as several thumps sounded against the door and windows.
    He turned, looking at the door to see it vibrate. “Malik, stack two tables there, then move another beside them with a chair on it,” Daniel said in a low voice.
    Malik moved over and grabbed a table as the stooges, Oscar, and Lonnie came out of the locker room. He waved them over to help as Daniel looked through the rest of the cabinets but didn’t find anything else except a pack of zip ties, which he put in the backpack. Looking at the counter, he saw a paper cutter. Stepping over, he pulled the pin out of the two-foot-long swing blade, removing it.
    He held up the curved blade by the handle. “A bit awkward,” he mumbled but held onto it. Seeing Andy’s body, Daniel walked over and undid the tool belt. Pulling it off, he shoved it in the backpack and zipped it up.
    Hearing the women’s locker room door open, he turned to see the others come out following Ginger. She walked over and looked at the two foot long curved blade of the paper cutter. “That has possibilities,” she said, holding out his knife.
    Taking the knife, Daniel handed her the paper cutter. “Here, you take this,” he said, looking around, and his eyes stopped at the back corner as a grin crept up on his face.
    As Daniel walked off, Ginger turned around, almost knocking down Teresa, which almost caused her to knock down Holly and Beth. “Don’t follow me that fucking close,” she hissed at them as more pounding started at the door.
    Stepping away from them, Ginger looked back at Daniel at the back corner opening a red metal door with “Fire Hose: only use in case of fire,” in white letters. Stopping behind Daniel, she watched him flip open the knife and cut the shiny nozzle off. He grabbed the cut hose and pulled it out, handing her the end. “Hold this; I’m going to wrap it on your arms,” he said, yanking the hose.
    A look of understanding sprang up on Ginger’s face as she held her arms out about three feet apart. “Fucking brilliant,” she grinned as Daniel wrapped the hose neatly from one arm to the other. Keeping the hose flat as he wrapped it, Ginger looked at the yard-long spool as it spun around. “How long you figure it is?”
    “Over a hundred feet,” he said, continuing to neatly wrap the hose. “It’s not true tubular climbing webbing, but it should get us down.” Behind them, the door continued vibrating under the thumps, and more were sounding on the windows.
    Glancing over her shoulder, she saw Teresa and the others helping Malik. “The others can’t rappel down,” Ginger said, trying to ignore the pounding.
    “My concern is you,” Daniel said, glancing up as he yanked more hose out. “I provide the way; it’s up to them to use it. Moving out to the ground floor is suicide.”
    Knowing he was right, Ginger nodded as her arms struggled to hold up the heavy hose. When he reached the end, she sighed with relief as he cut it from the valve. Taking the wrapped hose, Daniel set it on a table and grabbed the backpack he stole. Pulling out the zip ties, he tied the hose at the