No Quit

Chapter 5

Gabe Tucker swaggered around the tiny used car lot kicking tires and scoffing at all the attempts by the weary salesman to promote the various vehicles. When he finally settled on a six year old Honda Civic he spent another agonizing hour beating the price down and puffed his chest when the salesman surrendered, signed the papers and took the cash. The old Chevy he accepted as part of the deal would probably serve some car buff's need and he parked it on the corner where it could be seen but not detract.

"Not bad, eh?" Gabe slouched down in the seat and pushed his knee against the dash.

"Yeah, Gabe. You did good." Sandra fiddled with the mirrors and the seat adjustment until she was comfortable and then studied the controls. Gabe wouldn't allow the air to be on because it consumed gas. When she complained about the heat, just open the goddamn window he commanded. She turned on the stereo and chose a station playing a soft rock selection, pleased to note he didn't bitch about that.

They had eaten at a diner that Gabe wanted to knock over but when they got a glimpse in the register while paying for breakfast, he changed his mind. Now it was getting on in the afternoon and lunch had been missed while he bought the car and Sandra was hungry. She stated her piece and got a foul-mouthed reply before he began looking for a suitable place. Suitable to Gabe meaning one he could rob.

Sandra was still chewing the last of her burger as she ran to the car carrying the bag of valuables they'd lifted from the customers. She jumped in and started the engine, looking back for Gabe. She saw him back awkwardly out the door with a large, overweight man grappling for the handful of bills in his hand and then her chewing stopped as Gabe brought the gun up and shot the man right in the face. He dashed to the car and leaped inside, tossing the money and the gun in the back and slamming the door.

"Go! Go!" He leaned across and punched her arm, startling her out of her shock. "For Christ's sake go!" His eyes were wide and shining.

The little Honda fishtailed off the lot and out onto the asphalt, tires smoking and screaming as Sandra held the pedal right to the mat, her eyes staring ahead at nothing, the sight of the blood spray from the man's face locked in her mind.

He really shot someone the last time too!

******

Ted wandered back to the same restaurant he'd where he'd eaten after leaving the police station and chose a seat in the area serviced by his earlier waitress. When she came to his table he mentioned that he'd checked into the hotel she'd recommended and that he found it quaint. She nodded and smiled. Ted liked her smile.

"The owner just loved that era. When she passed away it was in the contract that whoever took over had to preserve it the same way; sort of a heritage thing."

He chuckled,"Well she got her wish." He closed the menu and handed it to her. "What's good, and please don't say everything?"

"If you like fish and chips we make just about the best you'll find anywhere."

"Sold..." He moved his head around, looking at her chest. "No name tag?"

"It's Toni, short for Antoinette."

"Hmmm, better than, Anti, I guess." Her look told him he'd moved into lizard territory. "Sorry. Toni. I have a bad habit of making bad jokes. The fish and chips sound great and can I have an order of bread with that, please?"

She scribbled his order on her pad and asked about a drink, which he again asked for her input. "We have several domestic beers a couple of imports and two colours of wine." The response was not leading to happier times.

"I'll have any one of the domestics, I really don't care which. And again, I apologize. My name's Ted if you want to take some time to think up your own joke. Ted Wagner." Her demeanor seemed to soften and she offered a conciliatory smile before moving off.