Daylight

ELEVEN

Elizabeth...

I think I'm going to be sick.

It's one A.M. I've just "woken up" to go and meet Vic. It's quiet. Dead quiet, and I don't like it. I fear someone will hear me, even if I try my best. Or that Victoria will hear me leave and alert the couple.

I suck it up and slip out of the blankets. The floor only makes a stuffed pat when I walk, and the door a clean click. I sigh when I make it out of the house.

I walk, under dim street lights only lighting up a few squares of sidewalk. I pass Richardson park, where I had met Tori for the first time around the time now. I scoff at how foolish I was. I got punished for that little stunt.

I don't think I can forget it. He hurt something close to home. Something closer than he will ever get.

I shake my head and keep walking, finally making it to the first stop sign. There, waits a shiny black car. It could have been red or blue, or green, but it was night, so I couldn't tell. But pretty sure it was black.

I opened the passengers door and sat down.

Vic gave me a small smile, then started driving.

...

We reached the motel, and headed for the room. The small pool just outside was glowing, reflecting the water onto the walls and windows. We headed up the stairs and opened the door.

It was dark, towards the back of the room, but it was just bright enough to see something huddled up in one of the beds. I rushed over to it, carefully analyzing the body in the blankets. Micky was sleeping. His face was soft like he had no worry in the world. Just what I wanted to see.

I heard Vic close the door and I could hear him walk to the other side of the bed, but I didn't care. I just needed to see Micky. He was in my mind for those hours I was gone. I'm glad he's okay.

Vic cleared his throat, "Your awfully quiet tonight."

I paused and looked up at him. "It's just been a hectic day."

"I can give you some space, or I can leave so that you can rest-"

"No." As much as I loved to hear him care for me like this, as much as I wanted to have what he offered, I knew my priorities.

"Good choice," he said, and I got up from the floor and sat on the other bed. Vic pulled a chair. "Tell me, how did it go?"

"Well, for starters, I shifted stories a little." I could sense him become uncomfortable with the statement. "It worked out better. I offered information for my protection, as I'm running away from you."

"What information did you give him?" Vic gritted. I felt shivers crawl up my arms and neck. Like the grazing fingers of an alcoholic mother.

"I told him about Renovi. I told him about a deal they might try to interrupt, and about how the best way to stop a mafia war was to get to Renovi first. He seemed to buy it."

"And how do I know that he won't come after us too? Huh?"

Vic ran a hand through his slicked comed hair, and now it's all messy and spiky.

"My job was to influence him!" I whisper yelled, "Your the Don, you think of something. I'm already having trouble keeping up with their schedule. They have plans, Vic." He closed his eyes, "If all goes wrong, just get out of there.

"Look, it's fool proof. The agent isn't looking for more trouble needed. He'll deal with Renovi for us. They are the ones causing more trouble."

He sighed and shook his head.