Page 61 of Road Trip
“I’m concerned about the fact that they found me. I can’t help but wonder if someone might have tipped them off. I was almost all the way to the Grapevine. Two vehicles followed me, a car and a van, and then they left with my car. I hadn’t noticed a tail. I was preoccupied with everything that had happened before I left.At least three guys worked me over. There had to have been a couple more to have enough drivers. My car was gone before Abra picked me up.”
“And then what’s this shit about your sister seeing guys outside your house?”
“Yeah. I need to see if I can get more info from her, but at least she’s safe at our grandparents’.”
“We’re looking into the possibility that there may have been a leak here, Graham, but that’s not for sharing.” Lt. Reynolds was good to her people, and I had no doubt that she would get to the bottom of it.
“Thank you, ma’am.”
“And this woman, she ID any of the guys?”
I knew this would come up and I’d already prepared for it. No way was I having her near it.
“She told the CHP she only saw them running away. No faces. She can’t ID anyone.”
Whether or not they believed me, I’d never know, but that was the last they ever asked about Abra’s involvement in the assault.
The mood shifted in the room. Lt. Reynolds and Ramirez both stood with their arms crossed, ready to grill me.
“Now, about this woman,” she said.
Ramirez elbowed me. “You hook up with her or what?” he asked.
I was so not happy with this, but I knew it would be worse if I didn’t tell them.
“Abra and I spent the last four days together and it was pretty amazing. In fact, when I’m done here, I’m heading back to see her.”
Ramirez’s eyes bugged out. “Four days? Damn, bro! Was she—”
“I’m not even going there, and you know it.”
Lt. Reynolds frowned at Ramirez and shook her head. “Can you tell us anything? Like where you went?”
I felt my cheeks get hot. “We went to a music festival and then, uh, we went to Pacific Playland.”
Their blank stares threw me off.
“You had a hot piece of ass to yourself for four days and you fucking took her to Pacific Playland? See, only you, Graham. You are such a fucking waste of all that shit you got going on there.”
“Ramirez, you wouldn’t know how to treat a lady if you ever found one who would date you. I think it’s kind of sweet,” Lt. Reynolds said. Then she leaned closer and whispered, “I hope you at least had a little adult fun. You could use some of that. You’re kind of uptight, you know that? Although, you seem different. Doesn’t he seem different?” she asked Ramirez.
If I rolled my eyes any harder they’d pop out. “Look, I’m not going into details with either of you because, well, just no. But I will say she’s really special and I’m very serious about her.” Again with the blank stares.
“Where are you meeting up with her? You know, in case we need to find you again?” Lt. Reynolds asked, trying to keep a straight face.
“I’m flying into Vegas this evening. She drove there.” The blank stares grew horrified.
“You’re not getting hitched to this chick, are you? Damn, kid, you don’t just marry the first one you nail! You have to know that, dude!” Ramirez, always the eloquent one.
“Marriage is not in the plans, Ramirez. At least not yet. And not that it’s any of your business, but, well, none of it is your business. She just, I don’t know. She really made this whole mess much more manageable. I never thought I’d get involved with anyone, especially because of the job.”
Reynolds sighed. “The job definitely causes some casualties when it comes to marriage. But it doesn’t have to be. My partner and I have been together for fifteen years, and she deals with everything like a champ. Maybe your girl will, too. You won’t ever know until you give it a shot back here in the real world, not just in the Coolest Place on the Planet.”
Ramirez laughed at me and shook his head.
“There are some real obstacles, though. She works here in town, lives here in town.”
They looked at each other and then back at me, still with the arms crossed.
