Once Upon a Life - Short Listed on ONC2023

Chapter 13

The car lights pushed against the night sky, giving the roadside trees and scrub a washed out, silver cast, and the faded lane divider swam ahead in the headlight beam like an uncertain serpent. Kristen rode with one hand gripping the arm rest, her eyes fixed on the road ahead.

Tom's phone rang and he switched it on. "Ralph, what happened?"

"Looks like they bought it, at least they left in the same direction."

"Okay. Good. Thanks. I'll keep in touch."

The line went dead before I could ask about Kris, and I muttered an oath, getting on myself for being a worry wart.

"Ralph says they followed, so we are afoot - or however that saying goes."

Kris turned in her seat. "I don't see any lights."

"Don't turn around, use the side view mirror. There is a lot of technology out there that doesn't require lights, and can see a hell of a long way."

"How will we know?"

"When and if something happens."

"This plan of yours is pretty seat of the pants, isn't it? Just how much danger are we in?"

Tom took a long sweeping curve at a speed that shoved her against the door, and she gave a small gasp.

"More from my driving I think." He joked. "Sorry, I'm not that good at night."

"Wonderful. I'm serious, Tom, how much?"

"While we are on the road, a fair bit. Once we get to the tourist rest area--"

"Where?"

"It's closed right now, so we have a good spot to hide and wait, and it won't be long before my friends are there to back us up."

She frowned and stared at the road whizzing toward them. "How far is it?"

"Won't be long."

"Everything won't be long. That's not good enough, Tom. You said this was a plan. I do planning for a living, and this is a- a very loosely knitted piece of work."

"You have to trust me, Miss Howard. I do know what I'm doing - it's what I do for a living."

******

"You still got them?" Martin squinted into the night, both hands tight on the wheel.

"Yeah, about a mile and a half or so ahead. Where the hell do they think they're going? This road goes forever. Why not just overtake them and get it over with? Christ, we could be driving 'til next year."

"Patience, Horvat. We don't want to make a move we can't control. Hell, we could catch up and find out we're at some service station or truck stop, then where the hell would we be?"

"Fine."

"A little longer then maybe we can consider your idea." Martin said, eyes not leaving the dark road.

"Well we didn't pass a service station, or a--"

"Oh, just shut the hell up and watch the screen. Jesus."

******

Kristen sat silently, still frowning at the night rushing by. She wished it had been Ralph with her; he was always willing to discuss. The thought distracted her, and she slid her eyes over to Tom to see if he sensed her feelings. The glimpse of a sign caught her eye and she sat up, alertly.

"That said tourist rest stop ahead."

"Yep. And there it is."

At the end of the headlight reach, another sign with an arrow pointed left, and when they got there, Tom swung the car onto the small lot and killed the lights and engine.

"Out we get, Miss Howard, and grab those bags." He jumped out and around to the trunk.

"What for, they're empty?" She scrambled out after him, hauling the bags from the back seat.

"They'll look in the car first, and we want them to think this was our destination." He poked around in the trunk and smiled. Ralph had managed to appropriate a Remington 870, still a popular police weapon. The riot version had a five-round internal magazine, and Ralph had provided an additional box of ammo.

Kristen stopped, dangling the empty bags. "A gun! Why do we need a gun?"

"Because if it comes to it, we can't fight them off with travel and sightseeing brochures. Now let's get inside."

Angry now, as well as frowning, she followed him to the building and watched with another shock as he picked the lock. Inside it smelled musty. A last tourist season dankness. The single room was small; maybe fifteen feet square plus a tiny L with single washrooms. A counter jutted from one wall, on its surface the plastic stands of the brochures Tom ridiculed. He checked everything then dragged a small chair behind the counter and told her to sit. He then turned on a wall light near the door, and checked outside the window.

"Should we have a light?"

"If we want them to think we feel quite safe here." Don't worry, I can still see very well outside. The car is clearly visible and the back door on this place has a bar lock, so they won't be coming in that way."

"Coming in?"

"Figure of speech. You just stay down." He stood to the side of the window watching.

"Where are these friends of yours?"

"Well situated, Miss Howard. Don't worry."

"How do you know?" Her voice was strained.

"Because, as I said, I do this for a living." Patience was straining.

******

Martin slowed when he read the tourist rest stop sign. The tracker showed it had stopped, and Horvat nodded, setting it aside. He eased the car to the shoulder, allowing them to scope the area before continuing.

"That's where they are. The tourist shack." Horvat took out his gun and chambered a shell.

"You get out here and check it out. I'll drive by and turn around. Don't start anything until we're sure, okay?"

"Yes, mother." Horvat slipped out of the car and ran across the road to the cover of the trees, his gun up and positioned.

Martin swore and drove on past the rest stop. A hundred yards down the road, he turned around and crawled back slowly, lights out.

Horvat darted from cover and ducked down behind the target's car. He peered through the window, seeing nothing of concern. The bags were gone, he noted. The single light showing near the door didn't illuminate the inside through the window, and he scurried around the car into the shadows and approached the building from the side.

Martin left his car and ran crouched to the position Horvat had just left. He also checked inside the car then watched, as his partner crept slowly toward the door.

Tom had seen the movement outside, and signalled Kristen to stay down and quiet. He positioned himself so if the door opened, whoever tried coming through, would be framed perfectly in the single light. The soft click told him someone was testing the doorknob, and he braced for the entry.

The sudden glare of lights on the lot was initially blinding, and the bullhorn calling for surrender, rattled the windows. Martin leapt up from behind the car, arms stretched as high as possible above his head, his eyes swivelling trying to find the speaker. Horvat swore and made the split-second decision to get inside.

The door crashed back as it flew open, and in the additional light, both men were visible. Kristen screamed and grabbed her ears as the roar of gunfire filled the small room.

Word count to this point - 14,907