Page 25 of Dark Roads
He went quiet again. The dark echo of empty air. There was no background noise, not even breathing, and I wondered if he had hung up.
“And he’s placed cameras in public places to take pictures of girls.” His voice was quiet.
“I know what it sounds like. But, please—I’m telling the truth. He has a laptop, and an expensive camera with a long lens. He watches girls on the beach at the lake. You could catch him.”
“Let’s start with your name, okay?” A rig was pulling into the truck stop, the engine loud. Thompson might recognize the sound. I hung up the phone, ducked my head, walked around the side of the truck stop, and crossed the road to Jonny. My heart was racing, my head dizzy like the first time I’d tried a cigarette. I’d done it. I’d told someone, but would it matter? I couldn’t tell whether Thompson believed anything I’d said. What if hedidcheck into it and didn’t find any cameras? What if he filed an official report about my call? Something Vaughn could read.
I had to get out of the house, and this town.
CHAPTER 8
Jonny and I sat on the floor in my dad’s workshop with our backs against the wall, our shoulders bumping, and ate Dairy Queen hamburgers. He was shaking the fries around in their package, searching for the extra-salty ones. He glanced at me.
“Has Vaughn, you know, ever tried to touch you?”
“It’s just the photos.” I made myself take another bite of my burger, but the bun stuck in my throat, the meat tasted greasy, and I had to swallow hard.
“You don’t have to run away.” Jonny shifted his body so that he was facing me. He’d picked me up after riding his dirt bike and his brown hair was winging out in different directions. His T-shirt smelled of engine oil and dust. “Come live with us.”
“He won’t let me.”
“You could go into a foster home.”
“You’re not listening, Jonny.”
“Okay, talk to Thompson again. Tell him thatyouwere the caller.”
“Then Vaughn will kill me for sure.” Just saying these words, the cold fact of them, made me feel sicker. I dropped my burger onto the waxy paper and wiped my fingers on my shorts.
“He can’t just get rid of you, Hailey.” His voice was soft.
“You want to bet? He’d make it look like suicide or an accident. He probably knows a hundred ways to get rid of someone.”I brought my knees up, pressed my forehead against the denim. “I’m running away.”
Jonny was quiet for a couple of beats, his shoulder resting against mine. I could feel his blood pulsing beneath his skin, close as a brother. Sometimes I felt like I had known him even before I was born. Like we had never not been together. And I knew what he was thinking now.
“You can’t go after him, Jonny.”
His face flushed with anger, his eyes burning. “I could really fuck him up.”
“He could really fuckyouup. I thought about it, okay? I have a plan. Dad’s dirt bike still has lots of gas. I can drive the back roads to the bus station. I’ll go to Vancouver and live on the street, or in one of the youth hostels. I’ll call Amber, and she can meet me. Her sister is there.”
“Youhatecities—and what will you do for money?”
I’d thought about that, too. “I’ll pawn Dad’s things. His knives and guns are worth a lot, and some of my mom’s jewelry. Not her wedding band—I won’t pawn that.” I hated the idea of giving up any of their special things, but I’d find a way to buy them back.
“Then what? What about your future?”
“I’ll be eighteen in a year. The house will sell, and that money has to be put in a trust for me. Lana and Vaughn can’t spend it unless I’m proven dead or whatever.”
“When are you going?”
“Tonight.”
“Jesus, Hailey. At least let me drive you.”
“No way. You have to be home or Vaughn will arrest you for helping a minor, or something crazy. Promise me you’ll stay away from him? He’s going to go nuts.”
He shook his head, looking frustrated. “Fine, but I’m notleaving you on the streets alone. I’ll move to Vancouver too. We’ll figure it out. We’re a team, right?”
