Page 113 of Shine: Sins of the Father
At 3pm we stop for gas. We’re about an hour away, and I know Fiona is exhausted from traveling, and Dylan has had enough of being in the car.
Reckless and Cody pull in at the pump next to us and top off their tanks.
I finish pumping and turn to hang the nozzle back up. Reckless wanders over to me.
“You see all that fire damage from last year?” I ask.
“Yeah, it’s really something. This area looks untouched, though.” He motions me to the back of the vehicle and keeps his voice low. “Did you notice that truck behind us? It’s been on our tail since we turned onto this road. He pulled in at the gas station across the street.”
I glance over. “Where?” In my head, I’m looking for the last known vehicle Donnie Ray was seen in, but I don’t see a burgundy sedan.
“The little black Nissan with the camper on the back.”
I focus on it but can’t see the driver because of the glare. Whoever it is, he’s not getting out of his vehicle to pump any gas. “He’s just sitting there.”
“Yeah, like he’s waiting for us to pull out.”
I scan the area. I could walk over there and confront him now, but he could pull out and I’d lose him. Then I wouldn’t know where he was.
“You think it’s your guy?” Reckless asks.
“I don’t know. Let’s head down the road and see what he does. Keep your eyes on him, and don’t let him try to pass us.”
“You got it.”
“If he stays on our tail, let me get Fiona and the baby to the safety of the cabin, then you take off after him.”
Reckless nods and returns to his bike. He talks to Cody for a minute, then the two of them pull out behind me.
I’ve got one eye on the rearview the rest of the trip. That truck does indeed pull out and follow us.
Fiona notices me checking behind us and leans forward. “Shine, what is it?”
“There’s a truck that's been following us. Could be nothing, just some guy headed in the same general direction, but it could be Donnie Ray.”
She cranes to look behind us, shifting in her seat, and I see the worry on her face.
“I’m going to get you and Dylan to the cabin, and Reckless and Cody are going to take off after him.”
Ten minutes later, I’m turning onto the gravel drive. Reckless and Cody stop at the top, and when the truck passes by, they pull out behind him.
“Fiona, leave everything except the diaper bag in the car. I’m going to grab Dylan and get you both inside. We need to move quickly. Ready?”
She’s already unbuckling Dylan when I throw the car in park and jump out. I yank open the rear door and swoop the baby into my arms, and Fiona scrambles out with the diaper bag.
I get them both inside. “Lock the doors, Fiona.”
I wait until I hear her throw the bolt before I step away, straining to hear the motorcycles fading in the distance. It’s quiet for a few minutes, and the suspense is killing me. I pace and drag a hand through my hair, startled when distant gunfire carries to me. Four shots. Then four more. They echo across the quiet lake.
I return to the cabin, because I know Fiona must be scared out of her mind.
“What was that? I heard shots.”
“I think it’s Reckless and Cody.” We both stare at each other. I’ve got the door open enough to hear more, but there’s nothing.
“Please don’t go out there,” Fiona whispers.
“I’m not going to leave you. Not a chance.”
