ORIGINAL FICTION: "Climbers" (Chapter Four)

way to certain death on the ground below.
The audience, intently watching The Man, couldn't help but see the poor schmuck fly by behind him, and gasp in horror when they should be smiling and applauding. Of course, by the time Mr. Granville turns around, Ray II will be long gone. How much would you pay for a prank like this? But wait, there's more: The moment Ray II hits the ground, with whatever sickening thud he makes, Ray I will be right there to scoop him up, put him in a computer box and get the golly-gosh out of there fast. By using one of the maintenance entrances, Ray can get back in the building before anyone who might have seen the fall can get out. And there are no windows there on the bottom two floors. That helps a lot. Paul had managed to find work for his crew in other parts of the building. He had been arranging job assignments for two weeks to make sure no one from Plant Management would be near the door Ray was going to use to get back in. And of course, Ray had the key. This would work. Except now, who would see it in the darkness? Paul was worried.
"The windows are tinted, Ray. They're dark. You know what it's like trying to see out these things at night. And it's night."
"Oh boy. You're right. What do you think? Can we do something?"
"Like what? Strap a light bulb to his head and give him two hundred feet of extension cord?"
"Whoa, electric bungee. No, that won't work. How about this: You have some portable flood lights you use for some of the darker work sites, right? Suppose you throw the dummy over the side and then point one of those floods down the side of the building to light it up as he falls? Just for the first two seconds."
"Yeah- That would work! I could have it plugged in and turned on before I push him over the side. Just point and shoot. They're 500 watt lights. That dummy will show up like Liberace at Vegas. The trick will be getting out of there fast if anyone decides to head up instead of down."
"Ok, use the other maintenance door on the opposite side of the roof. Anyone sees the fall and heads up your way, the closest door will be locked. They'll have to make their way across the entire floor. That should give you time to get away."
"Works for me."
Ray stood up and prepared to leave. He put Ray II over to the side for Paul to take to the roof.
"I'm out of here. There are places I need to be seen before nine a.m."
"See you at April's tonight?"
"No doubt. What are you going to do with all the money?"
Paul looked around the somber plant maintenance area.
"I don't know. Maybe spruce the place up a little. What do you think about paneling?"
"Yeah, right. And maybe some curtains?"
"See you tonight. Stay low."
"You, too. And take good care of Ray Junior."
With that, the two conspirators parted ways. Ray knew that he and Ray II were dressed alike, but would anyone recognize the dummy as him in that split second it flashed past the window? He decided probably not, given the gloomy weather and general Monday slowness. One thing for sure: Things would pick up about nine-thirty. No doubt about it.
Ray Meadows was in his office at his usual time, and managed to do the usual things. If anybody saw him, it was business as usual. Nothing different. Of course, that meant a second cup of coffee by eight, having had his first with Paul. By eight-thirty, Ray was wired for sound: Caffeine City. Wa-Hoo. He wasn't really nervous, just Very Wide Awake- on a day when nobody wanted to be awake at all. The rain had tapered off to a wet mist, but it was still overcast and grey. Was this a warm front or a cold front? Ray couldn't remember seeing the weather forecast the night before. With his terminal up and running, he decided to find out. It would give him something to