What the hell? His heart pounded in his chest and he had to pull over. He watched her in the rear view mirror, saw her pass the intersection, and head to the abandoned Buddy’s warehouse. She was acting shifty. She kept her head straight and slightly averted from the road. He might not have recognized her with her hood up, but she was twirling a platinum blonde curl with one finger as she walked, and she was wearing the same clothes as last night.
He watched her go around the side of the building, and then she disappeared from view. What the fuck was she up to? Where was she going? Where was the bounty hunter? What and the hell was she doing walking down the block in broad daylight?
His temples felt like they were going to explode. He didn’t know what to do. Should he go after her? Should he wait here? After a minute, he decided he needed time to process this. Dunkin was just up ahead. He’d get coffee, and watch the place for a bit, maybe go check if no else showed up. He was through the drive thru quickly, and pulled back along the curb with a view of the warehouse.
His cell phone rang, when he was blowing on his coffee to cool it. Glancing at the passenger seat where he had thrown his phone, he saw Ronnie’s number pop up, the same one that had shown up on the caller ID at the servant’s cabin. She was calling him? Again?
“Fuck,” he garbled as hot coffee spilled on his crotch. “Fuck god damn!” He slapped at his crotch, and moved in his seat as the searing pain took its sweet time to lessen.
On the fourth ring, when it went to voicemail, Ronnie’s heart dropped. She tried the cabin first and hadn’t gotten him. Now he wasn’t answering his cell.
“Just try again, sweetheart, two times is a charm,” Nikko’s out of body voice whispered in her ear. He told her to try the cell when he hadn’t picked up at the cabin and she’d panicked.
She hung up, and hit redial before she lost her nerve. On the second ring, Gary picked up. He wasn’t in a good mood. “What?” he snapped.
“Gary, it’s me Ronnie. Baby, you got to help me. I got away from that ass wipe bounty hunter late last night. Please, please, come help me. At least get me to my bike. I got to get out of town. I can’t go to jail. I’ll go to Canada, somewhere, and you’ll never hear from me. Please,” she begged. She got all the words out in a rush so he wouldn’t hang up.
Gary was confused as hell. She sounded scared. “Where are you?” he winced still dabbing at his crotch although he knew very well where she was. He heard the fear in her voice, as he continued to shift in his seat to ease the throbbing in his dick. He was having trouble concentrating and he needed to.
“I got away last night. I hid in the old abandoned Buddy’s for the night. I think I lost him. I checked around and haven’t seen him,” she pretended to sob softly.
“Why didn’t you call earlier?” he snapped. The burn, plus paranoia, was making him crazy. If she was so afraid to get caught why was she walking right past him fifteen minutes ago?
“I didn’t want to put you in jeopardy, baby, until I knew I lost him. I know we didn’t get to talk much last night. I really don’t want to bring you down with me. So I just hunkered down here until I thought the coast was clear. God, Gary. I am so sorry.” Her stomach rolled having to apologize to him, but she went on anyway.
“The thought of you getting in trouble for helping me, kills me,” she lied. “I am innocent, but I can’t prove it, and I’d rather go down alone then bring you with me and tarnish your name. Your family’s name.”
Ugh, she wanted to puke. But she used all the words Andreas told her to use. ‘Put him at ease. Let him know the most important thing to you is him, and his safety.’ He had to feel at ease before he would even consider meeting her again. When he didn’t respond, appeared to be thinking, she jumped right back in. Don’t give him too much time to think, Andreas cautioned her.
“I love you Gary. I know we have had some rough times, but baby you’re all I’ve got. I’m no good for you, I know.” She cried harder. “But, to keep you safe, I’ll leave the country, and you’ll never have to worry about me again. I just hope you can be happy. Just, please, please, get me to my bike. I can’t risk going to your cabin in day light.”
The thought of her walking to his place got his attention. The Brimeyers opened up the bar around eleven. He didn’t want her walking right past them. “No, don’t do that. Buddy’s you, say?” he added even though he knew that’s exactly where she was.
“Yes, please, please come,” she begged.