again. And eighteen dollars and twelve cents wouldn't last very long, even buying cheap hamburgers.
Breakfast was finished without further conversation. Larry LaFarge glared at his wife and daughter. Daisy seemed to drift away into a fantasy world that was so much better than the harsh reality of her life. Mindy was content not to say anything to either of them.
Glancing at the clock, Mindy announced, 'Got to run or I'll be late for school.'
She was half out of her chair when her father snapped, 'Sit down! You got another ten minutes before you have to leave. Finish up the toast. Here's the jelly.'
Mindy collapsed back into the chair. She nervously licked her lips and felt tiny beads of perspiration break out on her palms. Why did he want to keep her around, today of all days? Could he somehow know what she was planning?
'Thanks.' Mindy absentmindedly spread the gooey strawberry preserve on the last piece of toast. When she bit into it, neither the bread nor the jelly seemed to have any taste. Mindy carefully wiped her hands along her thighs to dry them of the sweat, then downed a large gulp of milk to help her swallow the mouthful of bread and jelly.
She glanced up again at the clock and tried one more time. 'I really have tote heading for school. I don't want to be late.'
Her father studied the hands on the electric clock, then nodded. 'Okay. Get going. And don't get into any more trouble.'
Mindy scowled at him, kissed her mother good-bye, hefted her candy bar laden purse and a couple of books, then quickly dashed out the front door. In the yard, she felt as if a heavy load had been lifted from her young shoulders. It was approaching summertime, and the fragrance of blossoms and fresh-mown grass hung heavily in the air, buoying up her spirits immensely. She took a deep breath, then exhaled.
It was a breath of freedom.
The girl briskly walked to the cement of the sidewalk before glancing back at the house. Seeing her father peering out from behind the living-room curtains, she turned in the direction of school and began walking. Her pace lengthened and soon she was almost running.
She'd made it! She was free! Mindy carefully thought of all the potentialities open to her now that she had escaped her father's evil clutches. With so little money, she'd better try hitchhiking to get away. If she could get to I-25 off I-70, Mindy figured she would stand a good chance of thumbing a ride. But she'd have to choose carefully. Even though she'd never hitched a ride before, she knew it would be impossible at places like the Mouse Trap, that dangerous, devious twisting of the interstates. But once in the area, the direction didn't really matter as long as it led away from Denver.
The muted roar of a powerful car approached from behind. She glanced back at the car, then figured she had better take the plunge and see if hitchhiking was the answer to her escape. She stood on the curb and held out her thumb.
Mindy was both surprised and delighted when the black Cadillac pulled to a stop at the curb. There were two men inside, but the girl was too exhilarated with her success to care.
'Want a ride, kid?' the man in the passenger's seat called.
'Sure, mister. How far you going?'
The man laughed maliciously. 'We'll go as far as you want. Maybe a lot farther. Get in.'
Mindy hesitated. There was an alarm ringing deep inside her head telling her 'No!' The man's tone wasn't right; she was getting in too deeply before she was out of her own neighborhood.
'Never mind. It's a nice day. I guess I'll walk after all.'
The voice came cold as an iceberg. 'Get in, Mindy.'
She started to protest; then what he'd said hit her like a powerful body punch. The man knew her name!
'How do you…' But it was too late. If she had run instead of beginning the question, she might have escaped. The man leaped from the car and reached Mindy's side in one powerful surge. Steely fingers closed on her arm and pulled her into the car. An almost casual tensing of his shoulder muscles tossed her into the back seat.
She realized for the first time how strong this man was. From her cage in the back seat of the car, she gazed in fright at her captors the driver's shoulders were immense. The girl had never seen a broader back, even on a weight-lifter. The man in the passenger's seat turned and surveyed her, his beady eyes growing as he took in every curve and bulge along her supple, young body.
The man had tiny black eyes, greased hair combed straight back from his forehead and, from the forearm resting on the seat, muscles as massive and powerful as those of the driver. Mindy had gotten a hint of just how strong when he had tossed her like a rag doll into the back of the car.
'Now, you're a real sharp-looking chick. Real sharp. Don't you think so, Bren?' The slightly rat-faced Juan never took his coal-black eyes from her.
The driver responded. 'Yeah, Vic, real sharp looking. How long before the plane leaves?'
The rat-faced man casually shrugged. 'An hour or so. We got plenty of time.' Staring directly into the frightened girl's bright-green eyes, Vic continued, 'It's almost an hour before the plane leaves. You want to have some fun?'
Mindy swallowed hard, her mouth dry as cotton. She finally managed to croak out, 'Where are you taking me?'
'My lovely young cunt, you have the privilege of being taken to The Institute. A great honor for one so young, but that's the way they like 'em there. Ain't it, Bren?'
The driver merely grunted.
'Wh-What's this Institute?'
'Now, that's something you're gonna find out real soon. But we got time to kill, and I think me and Bren could spend some real nice time with you.'
'Look, uh, Vic, you're kidnapping me, right?' Seeing his eyes reaching out and caressing her lithe body, Mindy rushed ahead with what she was saying. 'It's no good. My folks don't have a dime. Let me go and you can nab somebody with rich relatives. My old man couldn't get the money together for bus fare across town.'
As if he hadn't heard a word she'd said, Vic repeated, 'An hour. Yeah. A whole Goddamn hour.'
'Look, Vic… Bren… I don't want to go to this Institute or whatever it is, so, uh, maybe we could…' Her voice failed her, but she valiantly continued. '…we could swap favors.'
Vic peered at her, his brows furrowing. 'Swap favors? Whatcha mean by that?'
'Well, you said you have an hour to kill before your plane leaves. I could… cooperate, or not. Promise to let me go and…'
'And you'll cooperate, huh? Now, that's right nice of her, ain't it, Bren?'
'Well?' Mindy asked anxiously.
'Well, young lady, I figure we'll take you up on it. We got the time. Pull over, Bren. Anywhere'll do.'
'If I do what you want, you'll let me go?'
'You're the one who said your parents ain't got the bread for a ransom. It'd be real stupid of us not to take what we could, now, wouldn't it?'
The Cadillac bumped to a stop at the side of the road, and Vic crawled aver the back of the seat to join Mindy. As be was unfastening his zipper, Bren protested, 'What the hell's going on, man? Why do I have to get sloppy seconds?'
'Hey, cool it! She said she'd do anything, you know?'
'Hell, I always get the used stuff. Just like with that French chick. Aw, go on, blow your rocks off you son of a bitch.' Bren lounged back in the driver's seat, casually adjusting the rear-view mirror so he could watch. Mindy heard the man's zipper opening and saw him reach down to jerk himself off as he observed them.
'So, get 'em open, chick!' commanded Vic. 'We ain't got all day.'
Mindy silently opened the front of her jeans and wiggled her panties down to expose the fleecy muff nestled between her legs. Vic couldn't restrain himself. He reached out and grabbed a double handful of material and yanked down, peeling the clothing off Mindy like a monkey peels a banana.
'God, what a tight-looking cunt! How's this, baby?' Vic brutally jammed three fingers up her twat, causing Mindy to cry out piteously. 'Yeah, real tight. Hot, too, ain't it?'
