"That'll be fifty nine ninety nine sir."
"That's way too much,Can't we come to a compromise."
"I don't set the prices sir there's nothing I can do."
"Alright,guess I'll just be paying them."
It was eight years before Matthew had been arrested.He worked at a grocery store as a cashier.
It wasn't the biggest of attractions and therefore,the store didn't gather much revenue.
Matthew was one of the only four employees of the store,each of which take six hour shifts a day working as Cashiers.
The store itself wasn't all that big and there was only one Camera in place.It did a decent job scoping the area but there were still a couple of blind spots.
The employees were aware of the blind spots and so did their best to watch them closely to prevent theft.
Matthew was four hours into his current shift,by the standards of the store there were a flurry of people present.
The store usually maxed around 6 people present at one time but there were about twenty in number or maybe even more.
It was a step up from what Matthew was used too but he did his best to ensure he put in his best efforts.
"Why the hell couldn't this have happened during the shifts of one of the others!"Matthew cursed in his head.
He really had his hands full and was contemplating whether or not he should call for help.He eventually decided against doing so as he knew he wouldn't like to be called upon when he was off shift.
Matthew wasn't yet the unemotional assassin whose name is feared among the human race,he was right now just like any other human and he thought of others before himself.
While Matthew was hard at work,he felt his phone vibrate in his pocket.
He was receiving a call.Matthew brought it out and was about to end it and place his phone on silent as he was too busy to answer any calls right now.
He was a click away from ending the call but stopped his motion when he saw who it was from,it was his younger sister;Matthea.
Matthea was 16yrs of age(three years younger than Matthew) and she was a huge scholar.
She had been able to gain a 70 percent scholarship admission to college,and Matthew was doing his best to gain the funds for the remaining thirty percent as both their parents were deceased.
"Hey sis,how you doing?"Says Matthew after picking up the phone.
"Great!how are you?When are you coming home?"
"I have two more hours left on my shift so it won't be long."
"Well get home quick!I miss you" she said in a strict tone.
"I will I promise."
Matthew was multitasking;he was working the register while talking to his sister and keeping an eye on the camera's blind spots.He really had his hands full.
While he multitasked he noticed fair-skinned blonde male grabbing a canned drink from one of the shelves not watched by the camera.
This man was buff and had facial features akin to that of a criminal;a scar passing through this right eye,a rough looking face,heavy jaws,a scanty beard and was built like a bodybuilder.
This man didn't only look like a criminal,it seemed that he was as he just grabbed a canned drink and pocketed it.
The man looked around to ensure that he wasn't seen by anyone,as he already knew he was safe from the Camera's sight.
The man after looking around was satisfied that he want seen,but he didn't know that Matthew had his eyes on him.
Matthew only used a side eye to see the man's theft as a result the man hadn't noticed Matthew's stares.
"Maybe he's planning on taking out the drink,and paying for it once he gets to the register."Matthew said softly to himself.
"What was that?"asked his sister,she heard Matthew's murmuring but couldn't make out what exactly he said.
"Oh it's nothing,I've got to go."
Matthew hung up on his sister,deciding to focus on his job and waiting to see what the blonde man would do next.
After a while,the blonde man came to the register with a green basket full of groceries.
"These are all the stuff,I'd like to buy,how much is it?"
Matthew was shocked at this development,he was expecting the man too attempt to leave the grocery store without paying for the drink.
Matthew shrugged off his suspicions and began scanning what the man had put in the basket,and yes the canned drink was among.
"Everything comes at a total of twenty nine ninety nine."
Alright! Take my card"
Matthew grabbed the card and placed it in a point of sale.
After a few seconds,the machine read back "Insufficient funds"
"Sir,there isn't enough funds in your bank account to complete this purchase."
"What!" Exclaimed the man,it was so loud that everyone in the store heard him.
"I'm quite sure,there is more than enough cash in that card."
"Maybe you should head to your bank,and see if there are any issues with the card."
"Yeah you're right let me do that,I'll be back."
The man turned around and was about to head out on his way.
He made a wide grin on his face as soon as he faces away from Matthew,his facial expression would make someone think he just achieved something momentous.
Matthew was planning on letting the man go,there didn't seem to be a reason to prevent him from leaving,until Matthew saw what he did.
There was a weird bulge in the man's back pocket.The bulge was in the shape of a can,putting two and two together,Matthew realised what the man did.
He was never planning on paying for any of the groceries,they were all just a distraction,he even placed s similar canned drink to what he stole in the basket to enhance it,Matthew could not deny that it was genius.
"Hey man stop,return the drink."
Matthew left the register and ran towards the blonde man.Matthew grabbed the drink from the man's pocket and called him out for attempting to steal it.
"Woah!How did that get there?"
"Don't play with me,You were planning on stealing this ,weren't you?"
"Are you calling me a thief?"
"Isn't it obvious"
The blonde man looked around the store.He saw that many eyes were on him and he was feeling quite embarrassed.
"Alright dude you got me,but can't we settle this quietly?,you're kinda disgracing me right now." The man said quietly hoping to prevent others from listening in.
"I don't negotiate with Villians."
Matthew sent the man away from the store drenched in shame.
A few days after the incident,Matthew was taking on another shift,this one was much less hectic.
Matthew was hard at work when he got a text from his manager.
"Come into my office,I gotta tell you something."
Matthew didn't want to abandon the customers but he also couldn't ignore his boss's wishes.
He decided to act in favour of the man who provided his financial needs.
The manager had just come back from his wedding yesterday,and was much more cheerful than usual.
Matthew had to chase out the customers in the store so as to prevent them from stealing anything.He then went into his boss' office in wonder of what awaits him,
He walked through the entrance of the office which was just a door within the store.
His manager was an overweight dark-skinned fellow who liked they had enough money.
Matthew was always in wonder of how his boss made his money as the grocery store wasn't all that successful and it was the only business he knew his boss owned.
Matthew knew however that it wasn't his place to question his boss' wealth and do never did.
"Good day sir ,you called for me?"
"Yes Matthew I did."
The boss used his large fat hands and grabbed a towel to wipe off his sweaty face.
Matthew's boss was currently stuffing himself with numerous delicacies,none of which were healthy.
The manager's face was full of many crumbs from his disgusting style of eating.
"So Matthew,I received a complaint that you had publicly embarrassed one of my customers."
"Sorry sir,I wouldn't do that to anyone."
"He's name is Anthony Malloy,he has blonde hair and a pretty distinct scar on his face,Does that ring any bells?"
"Oh yeah it does,He attempted to steal a canned drink from the store."
"And" asked the Manager obviously awaiting more details.
"And I called him out for it."
"In front of the other customers?"
"Yes sir"
Bang!
At the exact instant that Matthew spoke,he received a merciless slap from his boss.
"Are you crazy,that dude was my wife's brother,he reported the incident to her and it almost cost me the entire wedding."
"I'm sorry I did not know he was related to you,but that doesn't mean that he gets to take what he wants without repercussion."
"I've met the dude,he wouldn't steal from me!"
"He kept the drink in his back pocket."
"I know! He told me everything,he was going to pay for the cab until you made him look like a broke thief."
"Well he does look like one."
"What did you say!"
"Nothing"
"I didn't wanna do this to you Matthew but-"
The manager folded his arms together looked Matthew in the eyes and told him bluntly;
"You're fired,Now get out!"