“I didn’t think of that. Where would you suggest, Brody? You’re more familiar with what’s good around here. I’m still figuring out where stuff like the grocery store is.” Her laughter was a beautiful thing, and he was so distracted he almost missed his turn. Waving a half-hearted apology to the driver he’d cut off, he drove another block before answering.
“If you don’t mind a bit of a drive, I know a nice place. Quiet. Good food. Peaceful atmosphere. Sound good?”
“It sounds perfect.”
“I’ll pick you up at seven then.” He pulled the car into the parking garage and quickly found an open spot. “No arguments, I’ll drive.”
“No argument. I’ll see you tonight. Bye, Brody.”
He hung up the phone and drew in a ragged breath. Images whirled around in his head with rapid-fire quickness. Beth laughing. Beth smiling. Beth standing in the moonlight, its subtle shadows highlighting her beauty. Tonight, he’d finally have her alone. Explore these feelings that kept him awake far too many nights, fantasizing about the intriguing, yet elusive woman.
He couldn’t wait.
Evan hunkered down in the trunk, cursing when his cramped knees hit something sharp. It was black as pitch, and stifling hot. A trickle of sweat ran down his spine and he cursed again. Stuffed into the trunk of this tiny car almost made staying in his cell seem tolerate. Almost. Nothing on this earth equaled being caged like a beast, confined day in and day out with no way of doing anything about it.
Axel’s plan had gone off without a hitch. If he didn’t know better, Evan would think his cellmate had escaped from prison before, but he knew he hadn’t, not with as much moaning and complaining the guy did on a daily basis. Axel talked about how he and his old lady plotted and planned for months how to get away if he was ever arrested again. When he’d ended up back behind bars, they’d started implementing their getaway. Evan was grateful the muscle-bound oaf had let him come along for the ride.
Axel and his woman were headed for the border. Lots of fun in the sun, that’s all he’d talked about incessantly. Claimed he was going to live life free and easy on the Mexican Riviera. How he planned to do that Evan wasn’t sure, since he knew Axel didn’t have two nickels to rub together when he’d been tossed into the cell with him.
At least he’s getting to ride inside the crappy car. It was little more than a rust bucket on wheels from its looks, but the engine purred like the proverbial kitten. Evan didn’t care if it was a clown car from a three-ring circus. As long as it got him away from the prison and closer to getting his rightful payback, he’d stay inside this coffin on wheels.
It seemed like an eternity passed before Evan finally felt the car slow. The sound of gravel crunching was accompanied by the thump, thump, thump of the tires riding over something bumpy on the road. With a shudder and a lot of shimmying, the car finally eased to a stop. Then there was nothing but silence. Interminable silence which seemed to go on forever. He couldn’t even hear a whisper from the passengers inside the vehicle, and his heartbeat sped up. Surely Axel wouldn’t leave him locked inside the trunk and take off, would he? The acrid taste of bile rose in his throat at the thought, and he willed himself not to throw up. No, he wasn’t going to die in the confines of a crappy compact foreign car.
Using what little room remained, he scooted and shifted around, contorting his body in ways he’d never imagined possible, until he got his feet braced against the car’s back seat. Hauling his knees to his chest, he tucked them as tight as he could, and took a deep breath, ready to kick out toward the seat. Holding his breath, he unleashed his strength, his feet connecting with the heavy covering with a solid thunk. Nothing. It didn’t budge, not even an inch.
Before he could pull his feet back for another kick, the trunk above his head flew open, and warm air and light filled the cramped space. Rolling over onto his back, he dragged in wonderful fresh air. Axel choked out a laugh, before reaching in and grabbing Evan’s hand.
“Sorry, dude. Had to make sure nobody spotted us.”
“Easy for you to say. You weren’t the one stuck inside a cracker box without any air.”
Axel rolled his eyes and slammed his hand against Evan’s shoulder. “Wuss. I wasn’t exactly riding in high style, you know. That hump in the middle of the floor in the back is a real pain in the—”
“Yeah, right. Where exactly are we?”
“Humble. About half hour, maybe forty-five minutes from Houston. Baby’s gassing up the car. Should only take a second. Enough time for a bathroom break if you need it.”
Evan straightened and rubbed his back, easing the soreness from being confined in such a tight space. Looked like it was time to say adios to Axel and head out on his own. Mexico didn’t play into his plans, not yet. No, by the time he’d finished dealing with his traitorous witch of a wife, he’d head someplace where he could relax. Some place without extradition treaties, since he was now an escaped felon.
He wasn’t going back behind bars ever again. The money he’d socked away for a rainy day was sitting in the bank, waiting for him. He’d been smart enough to put it under a different name, one nobody could even guess at. It wasn’t nearly enough, not yet. But, before he was through, he’d have the funds to retire in style, and lounge on the beach and drink all the Mai Tais he wanted.
“Listen, Axel, I appreciate everything you’ve done, but I think splitting up’s the best option here. The cops are
