Page 101 of Blue-Eyed Jacks
“Getting a bit farther away.He’ll have people check the stations.He’ll expect us to do the obvious.”
Cara overheard.“Good thinking.Let’s go right down his throat.What do you say?”
I chanced taking my eyes off the road for a second to read her face.There was a gleam there that was almost maniacal and murderous.
If that intent was aimed at Shock, would I be the terrible person pulling the trigger?The world would be a much better place if he was gone.
Tina retreated to the back and tried to smile as our eyes met in the rearview.Zoe watched the road, sometimes squirming in her seat but remaining eerily quiet and intent on our course without complaint.I worried about her, too.She’d been too quiet through all of this.I’d recently learned her silences were often when I should be most concerned.She had a plan brewing.I could almost feel it; her concentration on the details around us bordered on hyper-vigilance.My trauma and subsequent counseling recognized the signs.
It was one more thing to pile on top of Shock’s sins.
For the hundredth time, I wished I had a weapon.I pulled off the interstate about halfway to Pittsburgh.I’d noticed a toll scanner and realized thatShock would have a method to trace our route.Even if it arrived in the mail a month later, it would give him enough information to search for us.
Cara noticed.“Why did you pull off?”
“I’m finding a superstore.”
“For what?”Cara shifted closer, and her nervousness became palpable.
Tina asked where we were.Zoe relayed the information.
“Get back on the freeway,” Cara ordered.
“No.We’re getting scanned every few miles by the toll system.Shock will have a record of the trip.”
The corner of Zoe’s mouth quirked up.She knew what I was up to.She popped open the glove box and rummaged through it.“Score.”She held up a screwdriver.Trust bikers to keep tools in the most convenient places.
The lot wasn’t as full as I preferred.I pulled up to a van near the back and swapped plates quickly.
Cara watched with a raised eyebrow.“Whendid you learn that?”
“It’s just something I picked up.”From Zoe’s father.I kept that part to myself.I still hadn’t decided if Cara was on my side or not.
With the new plate, we slipped back onto the freeway.I should have taken the opportunity to switch places with Cara and let them disappear without us.But I was too paranoid, thinking that the toll system could be hacked and they’d know exactly where Zoe and I were.I figured I would know Pittsburgh better than any place in the road between, which gave Zoe and me better odds to find somewhere to hide.
Cara pointed to an exit that took us off the toll road.“If those plates are reported stolen, we’ll have more to worry about than just Shock.I know a back route.”I let her guide us through the winding country highways that led us closer to the place I least wanted to be with each westerly turn.
Tina watched from the back anxiously.Secretly, I was just as scared as she was, but had to hide it for Zoe’s sake.I’d done a lot of that lately.
I’d just begun to recognize the surroundings when Cara told me to pull off.
“Why are we stopping now?”
“Just do it.”The turnoff she pointed me toward was quickly swallowed by trees.We were deep inside the steep hills and carved valleys where roadsfollowed the rivers rather than any man-made lines.Cara smiled.“Perfect.No one to see us.I need to stretch my legs.”
I parked in the lot.It was a trailhead with ample spots for hikers and day vacationers to touch nature.But in the dark that had fallen, it was deserted and ominous.Not a place I wanted to linger at.
“Cool.I need to pee.”Tina jumped out of the van and rushed to the squat little building.
“Ten to one, it’s locked.”Zoe strode off to find a tree to squat behind.We’d learned a lot in our almost two month-long exile.
It was.Tina complained the whole time she searched for a spot like Zoe had found.
I followed Zoe, mostly to get away for a moment or two.
“Why did you do this, Mom?”
I had reasons that I couldn’t easily explain to her.The nearest sentiment was, “I’ve been in their shoes,” which I relayed to her.The crunch of Cara’s footsteps stopped me from saying more.
