Category : Books-Non-Fiction

Sub Category : Biography

Early June 2013

I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I made a promise to myself several years ago that I would never in a million years inject a drug into my vein. I wasn't fond of needles from the time I was a child when I would get my immunization shots at the doctors office. I whimpered every time. I despised it and now, I didn't mind it. I loved the rush that followed behind, allowing me to forget all about the pain. What started out as a stamp bag here and there had escalated into an everyday habit.  When we ran out, we both became 'dope sick' aka opiate withdrawal and the habit became super expensive in a short amount of time. 

We were out scrapping metal non-stop, turning in metal that we had no business scrapping in the first place. If I wanted my fix and a place to rest my head at night, I did what I was told. I was laying on the loveseat watching 'Criminal Minds' one night and we had both did our last bag. I was beginning to feel the chills, sweats and nausea. Rich was pacing around the apartment, pondering over something. He went into the bathroom and when he came back out, he had formulated a plan to score some money, which turned out to be much more than I anticipated. 

Standing in front of me, scratching his head, he said "I have an idea but we have to be quiet, careful and snappy about this." As he bent over to get his boots and began putting them on. 

I nodded in agreement. "Ooookay.. So what's the plan? I asked. Sitting up off the love seat still covered with a blanket wrapped around me. 

" Okay, listen up and listen closely. I was driving around the other day and I drove around the Fairview Township Maintenance Building up off Route ninety-eight. Well sitting outside along the far right side of the building are a stack of graters. Ummm, you know when the township guys grate the roads? You know what I'm talking about? Trying to explain it to me as he was lacing up his boot. 

I had no idea what he was talking about. "Ummm, no not really." I answered. Trying to get a grasp on what Rich was describing to me. 

"Long story short, they're three by three pieces of metal, roughly an eighth of an inch thick. Anyhow, there's four stacks of them up there about four feet high.

" Are they ruined? I mean are the there to be disposed of or do they belong to Fairview Township? I asked. 

"I don't know, I'm guessing they still use the them but not after tonight." Being sarcastic. 

I was apprehensive over the whole idea. My intuition never doubted me, not once. Generally, it was pretty accurate and when something seemingly felt awkward, red flags immediately raised. After considering that, I asked "Is there cameras on or around the building itself? Feeling anxious as my withdrawal symptoms became more apparent by the minute. 

"I don't think so..I did a full analysis on the place the one time and it looked pretty clear. If anything it's dark out, there is not much of a moon tonight so go put on all black clothing. Preferably something with a hood. I'm going to hitch the trailer to the Envoy so get done." Walking out the front door. 

I went into the bedroom to find something suitable to wear for this heist we were about to pull, just wasn't certain if we were going to pull it off completely without any consequences. I was dubious over this whole plan but I wasn't trying to be dope sick either so my only choice was to assist in this robbery. I changed into a pair of black yoga pants and a plain black hoodie. I tied my hair back, put on a black pair of sneakers, pulled up and tightened my hood. Before I walked out into the darkness of night, I took a deep breath and said to myself "Here goes nothing!" I flipped all the light switches, walked out the door as Rich was finishing up hitching the utility trailer to the SUV. "Do you want me to lock the door?" I asked in a somewhat loud tone of voice so he would hear me over the idling engine that had already been running when I walked outside. 

Then Rich stood up after attaching the trailer to the hitch, slapping his hands off one another in an up and downward direction, tying to remove any possible dirt from off his hands. 

"No, don't lock it yet. I still have to grab my jacket. I'll get it, just get the truck and I'll be right there. He said as he walked around from behind the trailer and went back inside the apartment. 

I opened the passenger side door, hopped in and pulled the door closed. Then after clicking on the seatbelt, I scrambled through my purse and pulled out a box of Marlboro Lights, flipping open the top and inserting in between my lips. I cracked the window a few inches, then lit the end of my cigarette, anxiously dragging off it and inhaling the smoke deeply into my lungs. My anxiety was still sky high. The dome light came on above me as the driver's side door opens and he jumped in. Glancing over at me, he asks " Are you okay honey?"

"Rich I'm nervous okay, I'm already on probation and you're on state parole."

"Listen, we're going to be fine but you have to listen to what I tell you and be quick on your feet... Open up the glove compartment and pull out that orange pill bottle for me. 

I open up the compartment door and pull out the prescription bottle from inside and hand it straight over to him. He twists off the cap, reaching inside with his right index finger and pulled out a white bar-shaped pill. He hands it to me. 

" Honey, this is two milligrams of Xanax. Instead of swallowing it, take it and place it under your tongue. Sublingual, as you would by taking Suboxone. It won't taste good at all but the onset will happen quickly. No talking till it dissolves, ok? 

I just nodded my head, giving him a thumbs up sign, making our way to the end of the driveway. We made a      right turn on to Lake Road, heading  towards State Route ninety-eight which ran right into the town of Fairview, Pennsylvania. The taste of this pill melting underneath my tongue was so horrible, all I want to do was spit it out and swish some water around to rid the foul taste out of my mouth. It's crazy what an addict will do in the midst of their addiction just to get a fix or get off sick. We do whatever we must to dodge that bullet of excruciating agony. Once the Xanax was desolved, I grabbed a bottle of water that was half-full and chugged it down. When we got into Fairview, we went straight through the traffic light and went about a half mile or so, then made a left hand turn on to this tar-chipped back road. We went about a quarter mile and that's when Rich killed the engine and lights. To the left of us was Fairview Middle School and next to it was their High School. The parking area was lit up well and off in the distance I seen a football field that sat back in along a tree line. Then I glanced over to the right, where I noticed a large metal building the appeared to be a yellowish color from the way the light shined upon it  from a well lit utility pole. Surrounded by nothing but acres of fields with tall grass. It sat back in off the road about two-tenths of a mile. That's just a wild guess. Right where we stopped and killed the engine was a narrow, dirt driveway that appeared to be the entrance of the township building. There were no houses on this stretch of road and the area was secluded. Rich began to relay the plan. Once the Xanax consumed my anxiety and lifted my fear, I was ready to just cross my fingers, hope for the best and pull this shit off. 

"Let's do it Rich I'm ready!" I said. Pulling my hood tight and tying it so it wouldn't fly off my head. 

Rich started the engine, keepi
ng the noise to a minimum and driving down this bumpy one lane driveway with the headlights turned off. Still able to see where we were going. It wasn't long before we pulled up to the side of the building. He pulled the truck up, then through it in reverse and backed the utility trailer right up next to thevmetal graters. Then, quickly killing the engine again.  

"Now, don't open the door and charge out until I tell you to and leave your door ajar. No sound, no light, out of sight, out of mind, ok? As he was duct taping a thick piece of card board over the dome lights to prevent an audience of any kind. 

" No worries honey, I got this"
He looked over at me and touched my cheek, gazing into my big, brown eyes and gave me a quick peck on the lips like he often did when he wasn't being a total dick. 

"Now we both grab an end and pile them all in one by one, when I say let's get the fuck out of here, I mean get the fuck in the truck and we and we bolt!  Ready?  Come on!"

We both dash out to the first pile of grates, loading them one by one into the trailer, I don't know how many pieces were there but I as long as it was a decent chunk of change, I was just fine with that. I remember getting to pile number three and I was slowing down. The trailer was beginning to fill up and finally, once we got about half way finished with the fourth pile, Rich said too much time had passed and we needed to get out of there so we did. 

Once I got back in the truck and we pulled out, Rich was covered in sweat and as for myself, I was trying to catch my breath. We couldn't cash it in until the following morning because the salvage yard was long closed. I don't know what we just got but I knew we would be golden. 

"That was nice work honey, thank you!  We'll get up in the morning and cash out. I'm taking all the back roads to the apartment because if we  get pulled over for any reason we're up shit crick." He said. He reached over and grabbed my hand from the driver's seat. "Listen I'm going to stop at Pat's and get us a few bags to get us through till tomorrow so we're not sick."

"That sounds fabulous." I replied. Pat was another one, a so-called friend of Rich who lived in our building as well.  He was bald and about 330 lbs. He was an addict who was employed at Safe Harbor Behavioral Health" in Erie as a drug and alcohol counselor. I could not believe it!  Pat had been in active addiction for several years and was still capable of helping those stop doing what he did best. I thought I've seen it all. 

We pulled into the driveway around 11pm, we got out of the truck and put a tarp over the sheets of metal so the  wouldn't be recognized easily. People in these small communities tend to gossip so we kept it low key. At least we tried. 

I went into the apartment while Rich went over to see Pat a few doors down and got us a fix for tonight and tomorrow. I grabbed a shower, put on some comfy clothes to sleep in, got my shot, gave him a little bit of lovins'    and passed out. It didn't matter, because this  is who I've come to accept. Although it wouldn't be long until I would receive unexpected phone call with a sweet little voice on the other end. 
 
 Thanks for reading everyone. Chapter Ten will begin an avalanche of unfolding events. I used the term 'avalanche' because the story progressively gets more interesting BUT the best part is yet to come and thats the tearjerker at the end of the story. Living through it was a nightmare, however, writing about it five years later has been a wonderful experience for me. I thank all of you who've taken the time to read it. It means so much to me and I enjoy the nice comments and feedback from everybody who takes the time to do so. Have a great weekend and God bless! 👼
                              ❤ Hollu