Town Slayer

The Coverup

Summary
After being beaten by her husband, Janet finds him bleeding on their front room floor. With the evidence piling against her; she was holding a bloody bat and was covered in blood when the EMT's walked in, the cops accused her of murder. Frightened she runs.
She gets a ride out of town from a truck driver named Sam, claiming her name is Jackie
Seeing the blood on her dress, he holds her at gunpoint, demanding an explanation.
******

"W... Why are you stopping?" Jackie asks, nervously reaching for the door.

"Where did all the blood come from?" Sam questions, cocking his gun. Another thought comes to mind. What if she's a victim, not a killer and what if she's injured? I'm sure she would've told me. He watches the frightened woman fidget in her seat.

Jackie looks down at her dress, trying to buy some time. "It's ... It's my dog's blood," she bursts into tears.

"Your dog's blood?" he questions suspiciously.

"He ... he was run over on the highway; so I carried him to a nice spot in the woods. Oh, why did he follow me, why? I told him to go home. I even chased him towards my house, but he kept coming back," she cries harder.

Sam's heart begins to melt as he watches her sob uncontrollably. "You'll always have the memories," he says, half-convinced she's telling the truth.

"All our memories," she bawls, covering her face with her hands.

"It sounds like you really cared for him." He sees tears streaming down her face when she glances up.

"I loved him with all my heart. He was my little buddy, my best friend. We'd always go places, do things together, we're practically inseparable." she sniffles.

Sam recalls how devastated he was when he lost his furry companion a few short months ago. It hasn't been the same around here since. He tearfully touches his dog's blanket draped across his seat. Looking back at the grieving woman, he lowers his gun. "It sounds like you spoiled him rotten."

"He had his own room with a queen-sized bed and ate takeout three nights a week."

"He had his own room and ate human food? I'd say he was a very pampered pooch." He laughs.

She laughs through her tears. "He was my whole world." she cries again.

"I have some of my ex's clothes behind the seat if you'd like to change." He points to an area. "You might as well get some use out of them since she doesn't need them anymore."

"Why... why doesn't she need them?" Jackie nervously questions.

"She left me for another man. She says she wants to settle down have a nice home with a yard full of kids in the burbs. I'm just not ready for all of that."

Relieved that his ex is still alive, she crawls over the seat.

"I know of a place nearby where you can get cleaned up."

"I'd appreciate that," she says, sorting through the bag.

Sam pulls up to a large truck stop off of 412 a few minutes later. He likes this place and makes it a point to stop every chance he gets. Unlike the others, this one is always well-kept and their food is homemade. "Are you ready?" he asks, glancing at his passenger.

"Everyone will see the blood when I walk in."

"You're right. Here, put this on." He takes off his denim jacket and hands it to her. "My jacket swallows you whole." He laughs, jumping out of his truck.

Hitting her mid-knee, it looks more like a dress than a coat. "I am a bit petite," she says, rolling up the sleeves.

"And I'm a bit hefty." He laughs, patting his rounded stomach. "When we go in I want you to head towards the back, I'll bring the shower key to you."