8-Track (10 page)

“This belongs to you as well, I’ve already got one,” he said hurling the crowbar at Hubble and kicking the door shut. “No!” Hubble yelled as the car rolled off the uneven ledge. It plummeted nearly a hundred feet before a tumultuous boom echoed up the quarry walls.

He thought the fall alone would kill him. It didn't. Water rushed in to the rear part of the GTO, filling quickly, pulling it down and upending the front end. It sat vertically in the murky abyss for a second, like a buoy. Coughing up blood Hubble could hear the water gurgling behind his ear. Shaking his head violently he screamed, “Motha fucker, motherfuckers ruined a simple plan, you fucking people...” One question came to mind as the water inched over Hubble’s head,
how could something that should have been so simple, have gone so wrong?

Vanessa and Eli stood at the edge of the quarry hole. Staring down they could see bubbles and cash floating up from where the car sank. Crossing her arms she spoke. “There’s no way he could still be...” 

“No, not in his lifetime, he’s gone. Let’s get outta here.”

Sig got out of Eli’s car when he saw Eli and Vanessa approaching. He held the door open. Climbing into the back seat, Vanessa sat down next to Sam and took her hand
.
Eli pushed Johnny Cash’s
At Folsom Priso
n into the 8-track player and hit play. 

“I thought you told me a while back, you don’t fight crime.”

Eli looked in the rearview mirror. With deep regret in his blue eyes, he forced a partial smile at Bill.

“Not full time,” he replied shifting into drive. Bill took Sam’s hand and closed his eyes. He thought about the conversation between him and his dad on the fourth of July.
Maybe everything does happen for a reason, maybe we don
’
t control our own destinies but are simply waiting in line for what
’
s already coming. People come and go, but when they do, you simply can
’
t deny that your lives trajectory won
’
t change.