Nowhere to Hide

On the Hunt

Abby's heart pounds in her chest. Her thoughts are racing a mile a minute. She glances up to see the semi is a short distance away. She looks back at the tiny opening between the door and the frame. Realizing she can't squeeze through, she springs to her feet. Abby reaches for the passenger door only to discover it's blocked too. The side door isn't jammed. 

She scampers through the empties scattered about. Her hands tremble, her vision blurs. She feels light-headed like she's about to faint. Stumbling to the door, she throws the barrier open. She looks over to find the diesel is a few feet away.

Jumping from the van, Abby darts towards the shoulder of the road. The semi's turbulent wind knocks her to the ground. Her clothes blow about; her wig takes flight, landing in a ditch a few feet away. "No." Scrambling to her feet, she darts towards it. Abby scoops it up and arranges it on her head. She looks over to find the truck smashing into her van.

"My vehicle is totaled," Abby cries, falling back in the dirt. Thoughts race through her mind as she stares at the fallout in disbelief. "What am I going to do now? What am I going to do?" She cries, throwing her head in her hands.

A husky voice pierces through the noise around her. "You barely made it out alive."

Abby looks up to find a well-dressed man beside her. He's wearing a dark-blue suit with an off-white button-up shirt underneath. A blue striped tie dangles loosely around his neck. His black dress shoes shine from their morning polish. His coffee-brown hair has been recently trimmed, and his baby-face freshly shaved.

The totality of her situation hits her; she bursts into tears. "I don't know what I'm going to do."

"It'll all work out for the best, I promise."

"I can't see how. I've lost my job, my home, and now my car," she sobs.

John's heart melts the way it always does when he sees a woman in distress. Squatting beside her, he wraps his arm around her shoulders and pulls her in close.

Abby gets a strong whiff of his cologne when she collapses against him. The spicy scent brings back a happy memory of her foster dad, Fred. He and his wife were the only ones who truly cared. A few happier times cross her mind.  She then recalls the day they took her out of their home; all the horrors she faced after. I might not be in this mess if they let me stay.

"It sounds like you've had a rough few weeks."

"You don't know the half of it." She bawls.

The man rubs her arm. "That's it; let it all out."

After her bout of crying, Abby wipes the tears from her face. "I usually don't fall apart like this, but..." She glances at the van. The waterworks begin again.

"It's alright, I understand. A near-death experience can be very traumatic, especially after everything you've already been through."

"You're so sweet to comfort me this way," she blubbers.

"I know what it's like to be down on your luck."

Abby pulls away. "You, but you look so put together, so successful."

He laughs. "It took me a long time and a lot of bad choices to get where I am today." He wipes the tears from her face before he continues. "I'm sure all your troubles will lead you to the right path too."

"What... What do you do?"

"I'm an injury lawyer. I got into an accident and needed an attorney, but since I couldn't afford one, I got screwed. So, I decided to help others who find themselves in the same situation."

"That's very noble of you." She hiccups.

He smiles. "I don't know about being noble, but it pays the bills. May I ask where you are going?"

"I was going to stay with a friend. She said I could live with her until I can get back on my feet, but I don't have any way of getting there now."

"I'm sure we can figure out something. My name is John, by the way." 

"My name is ...." She tries to remember what her new identity said. Not being able to recall, she blushes then says, "Nice to meet you, John."

John points to the top of her scalp. "You have a little gash on the side of your head."

Abby feels the cut. "It's nothing., really."

"I know you think that, but it wouldn't hurt to get it checked out just to be sure."

"I appreciate your concern, really I do, but I'll be alright." Abby wobbles back and forth when she stands.

John grabs her before she falls. "I see how alright you are."

"I was just a little dizzy, probably stood up too fast, but I'm fine now." She takes a step to prove it and stumbles again.

John glances down the road. "It looks like the ambulance arrived just in time."

Abby gazes over to where he's staring. "I... I'm sure others need their attention worse than me."

"At least let me take you to the hospital to get checked out."

A horrid thought flashes through her mind. What if he's a serial killer or a rapist, and he's looking for his next victim? That's ridiculous. He's too nice looking to be either of them. Ted Bundy and Jeffery Dahmer were far from ugly. "I ah..."

A young girl runs up to them. "Dad, the office wants to talk to you." She hands him a phone.

"Duty calls." He takes it from her. "Hello...There's been an accident on the freeway, so, I...No, I'm fine. I'll be in as soon as I can. Please reschedule my appointments and cancel the board meeting...Thanks, Mary, you're the greatest." Hanging up, he turns towards Abby. "That was my secretary. She's like a mom to me. More so now, since my second wife passed."

"I'm sorry for your loss."

"It was a blessing. She suffered so much in the end. Enough about me, let's get you taken care of." He puts his arm around her.

She pulls away. "I'm fine."

The girl glances up from her cell. "No, she's not, Dad. She almost fell twice while you were on the phone."

Abby glares at the child. "Blabbermouth."

The girl gives her a smug look.

John laughs."Come on, Miss Stubborn, let's go." He leans over and whispers. "This is your chance to get away before the cops arrive." Seeing the expression on her face, he chuckles. "I've been a lawyer for a long time. You can tell me your story on the way. Hopefully, I can figure out a way to help." He grabs her arm.

Abby pulls away. "You ... you won't..."

"Don't worry; we won't say a word. Right, Carly."

"My lips are sealed." She pretends to zip her mouth.

"I need to get a few things from the van." She takes a step and stumbles again.

"How about I get them for you?"