Page 34 of Off the Rails
He fished a few dollars out of his pocket. “Will you do me a favor?”
“What?”
“I need something else to wear. Another shirt, and a hat, if you can find one.”
There was a man at the edge of the cargo station with a shopping cart full of used clothes. She took Ian’s money and walked that direction. She rifled through the cart, selecting a flannel shirt and a black baseball cap. The label on the front saidRAIDERS. She paid three dollars for the items and returned to the wall Ian was standing behind.
“How’s this?”
“Fine,” he said, removing his torn shirt. Underneath it, he wore a gray ribbed tank that clung to his chest. He put on a shoulder holster from his backpack, complete with a deadly looking revolver. It served as a chilling reminder of his purpose here. It also made for a dangerously sexy accessory, framing his well-muscled arm. Their eyes met as he checked the weapon and secured it. Then he tried on the plaid flannel shirt she’d bought. There were several buttons missing. He fastened it at the neck and donned the black cap.
He looked ridiculous, like a wannabe cholo. But it would be an effective disguise from a distance.
“Good luck,” she said.
“Thank you.”
She didn’t promise to call him this time, or try to kiss him goodbye. She just held her head high and turned to walk away. It was the challenge of a lifetime to keep moving forward and not look back. The train’s engine started, spurring the passengers into action. They began to climb aboard every available railcar. Maria was so numb and distraught that she almost stumbled into the path of two men in black uniforms at the edge of the cargo station.
La placa. Federal police.
They probably weren’t looking for her, but she whirled around and headed the other direction, her heart racing. There was nowhere to hide except among the passengers. She fell into step with a group of young men who were walking toward the tracks.
She stayed with them, because there was safety in numbers. The police presence had caused a panic in the crowd. When she reached the railcars, she shot a glance over her shoulder. The officers had stopped to watch the passengers climb aboard.
¡Mierda!
One of the young men next to her nudged his friend. “Should we wait to get on?”
“No way,” his friend replied. “That will only attract more attention.”
They started up the ladder.
Maria didn’t know what else to do, so she climbed to the top with them. Her instincts warned her to avoid the police. They might be searching for Sarai. They might be searching forIan. He’d scuffled with someone earlier, and donned a disguise for a reason.
She did a quick survey of the other passengers on the surface of the railcar. More than a dozen men stared at her with curious eyes. She felt like a sheep among wolves. The train lurched forward and almost knocked her off-balance.
She didn’t have time to find another spot. Her only option was to sit down and hang on. Stomach roiling, she found an open space on the metal grate. Then she hugged her knees to her chest and glanced up at the sky, praying for safe passage.
