The Disappearance of Valentina Moreno

Chapter 16 ~ Espionage

         All of my life, I've struggled with anxiety. In a situation like this, where things are spiraling out of control, I'd usually be curled into a ball, hugging my knees—waiting for the sensation to pass. It's a sensation of wanting to shuck off your clothes, scrape your skin, and run naked towards a glacial lake, dive in, and become numb from the world's troubles.

Yet, as we follow my father's car down Highway 101, my mind and body have accepted what he is. Now, it's just a matter of forcing him to tell the truth, starting with why he's heading south when he lives north. I guess we'll see what other lies he's keeping.

Meanwhile, the guys are quarreling like an old married couple as Julian criticizes Moses for driving like a Neanderthal, and Moses is telling Julian to mind his business. On any other occasion, I'd be tickled that my crisis has bonded them. Except, I can't seem to stop clenching and unclenching my fists. 

"He's going to see us!" Julian gestures at the windshield.

"We're in a rental car with tinted windows. We're good." Moses grips the steering wheel a little tighter.

"As much as I can't stand his ass, Angelo is a smart man. He'll notice someone is following him! Slow down."

"We're two cars behind him. We're good."

"I can't with you." Julian flops his head into his hands and muffles a mini scream. "Val, please handle your man."

"Why? I'm enjoying this," I tease.

"You would!" Julian glares at my reflection in the side mirror. "Masochist." 

"I think you guys like each other more than you're letting on."

"You take that back!" Julian twists around, his finger in my face.

"No. You guys are adorable."

"I'm not listening to this!" Julian plugs his ears and begins singing to himself while rocking. 

I catch Moses eyeing me through the rearview mirror with a sly grin. Then he winks, and it eases some of my anxiety, causing a smile to stretch from ear to ear. He reaches back, his other hand steady on the wheel, and squeezes my knee. It's such a small gesture, but it fills my belly with flutters anyway, so I lean forward and plant a kiss on his cheek.

"Ugh, get a room!" Julian says.

"I dunno. I kinda like having people watch." Moses shrugs.

"Great, I'm stuck in a car with a masochist and a voyeur..." Julian grumbles, but I'm laughing so hard I almost forget what we're doing until my dad switches lanes for an offramp. 

The exit sign says SFO International Airport.

"Holy shit. Please don't tell me your dad is fleeing the country..." Julian says.

"He wouldn't leave behind his wife and small children. Would he?" I scoot forward, causing the seatbelt to stretch and chafe my neck.

"At this point, nothing he does would surprise me," Moses replies.

We follow as he exits the highway while my heart thrashes so wildly I'm afraid it might explode from my chest like an alien creature and take off running. 

"Don't lose him," I say to Moses, and I'm practically in the front seat, ready to take over the steering wheel.

"I won't," he says calmly as we coast onto the offramp. 

The exit spills into several lanes directing cars to either go left onto an overpass for the airport or right for the train station. My father turns right, and I brace myself to confront him on a train platform in front of dozens of witnesses.