Collision Course (14 page)

In town, most all of the houses were dark. The only buildings with any electric power were the county courthouse, the jail, and the hospital since they had backup diesel generators. When Robby stopped the truck at the emergency room entrance, Gabe slung his rifle over his shoulder and jumped out of the back. He opened the passenger door and lifted Jane from the front seat.

The doors into the hospital opened automatically as he carried her inside. A nurse saw him and told him to wait right there. She stuck her head through a set of swinging doors and said something that Gabe was unable to discern. A second later, a man dressed in white pushed a gurney through the doors. Following him was a deputy.

“You can't bring that rifle in here,” the deputy yelled.

Gabe gave the deputy a quick nod and started talking to the orderly and the nurse as he laid Jane onto the gurney. “She was shot in the leg. It looks like a small caliber, and it went straight through. She lost a good bit of blood, but I don't know how much. I did the best I could to dress it and get her here as quickly as possible,” Gabe said in rapid-fire sentences as he set Jane gently onto the gurney.

The nurse pulled back the bandage. “It doesn't look too bad. I'm sure your wife will be fine, sir.” She smiled at both Jane and Gabe. “We'll have a doc look at her just as soon as one is free.”

“No,” Gabe said.

Everyone looked at him quizzically.

“I mean, yes, have the doctor look at her, but she's not my wife. She's my neighbor.”

The nurse smiled, and she and the big orderly pushed Jane toward the back. Gabe took half a step in the direction they were going, but the deputy stopped him. “Let's go put that rifle back in your truck,” he said.

“Of course,” Gabe said.

“And then we'll take a walk down to the sheriff's office,” the lawman said.

CHAPTER 15

D
J slowly came to a wakeful state. He could feel the moisture on his face, and his hand came up to wipe it off. He was slightly embarrassed that he'd slept so soundly, not because he'd slobbered on himself, but because he'd let his guard completely down. The bed had been so comfortable that he wasn't even aware of how much time had passed. He looked at his watch, and the tritium hands showed it to be slightly after ten. Through the window, the moon cast just enough light that he could see the trees bordering the back of Crystal's property. He arose and pulled on a tight T-shirt and a clean pair of black BDU trousers.

Walking into the living room, he saw Crystal reading a book by the light of an oil lamp.

“Hi,” DJ said.

“Hey,” she answered. “You were really sawing logs in there.”

“Yeah, I haven't slept in a bed in several days. I almost forgot how good it feels. I think I could get used to all the comforts of home again real quick.”

If she caught the hidden meaning of his last statement, she didn't show it. “I was going to wake you at eleven if you weren't up. The sooner we get rid of that car, the better I'll feel.”

“Then let's do it.”

“I'll get Nancy up and get her ready.”

“I don't know if that's a good idea.”

“Well, I can't leave her here by herself.”

“There's not room for three people on the quad,” DJ said. He knew it wasn't technically true, but if something happened, it would be impossible to maneuver well with that many riders. “Besides, we should be back in thirty minutes or less.”

“I don't know,” Crystal said.

DJ shrugged. “I guess we can just leave it where it is. Sooner or later, some of those guys' friends will come looking for them, or the law will be by with some questions, and remember, things are going to get real ripe in that trunk in a few days.”

Crystal's eyes got big again. DJ wondered which possibility scared her most.

“I guess it'll be okay if we're only gone for thirty minutes,” she said tentatively.

“All right, here's what I want you to do. Drive as normally as you can, not too fast and not too slow. We don't want to draw any attention to ourselves if possible. When you get on the road the quarry's on, drive down it normally for a tenth of a mile or so, and then slow way down and turn off the lights. There's plenty of moonlight, so you should be able to see okay once your eyes adjust. If you see someone coming, pull over and turn the car off. Lie down in the seat, and we'll hope they just think it is an abandoned vehicle. I'll be behind you all the time, but you won't see me. Don't worry, though; I'll have you covered if something happens. You understand?”

Crystal nodded.

“Good. Let's go,” DJ said.

Less than ten minutes later, they were at the gate to the quarry. It was locked, but DJ made short work of cutting the chain. Crystal drove the car to the edge. DJ looked down and saw that there was water about fifty feet below.

“Do you know how deep the water is?”

“No, but some of the locals fish from the other side where it's not so deep. Rumor has it that they've caught some bass that went over ten pounds.”

DJ knew if that was true, then the water had to be fairly deep. It should be deep enough to hide the car. He'd planned on setting it on fire before he pushed it over, but that wouldn't do any good with the water down there. It was probably better, though. If it was deep enough, the car might never be found. He also wouldn't have to use any of his precious gasoline to start the fire.

He removed some tools from his quad and soon had gasoline trickling from the hot rod. He got almost four gallons and was ecstatic, but he didn't let that show. When the last of the fuel dripped from the tank, he and Crystal pushed the car over the edge. It made less noise than he'd expected when it hit the water, and he watched it sink like an old man climbing into a warm bath.

He put everything back on the four-wheeler and climbed on. Crystal hopped on behind him, and they drove back to the gate. He closed it and zip-tied the chain back into place. He noticed that the air was a little chilly and smiled. He remounted his ride and turned on the night vision. Between the speed he was traveling on the bumpy road and the coolness of the night, Crystal had to press herself against his back and hold on tightly.

DJ could feel the softness of her body. He liked his women just like Crystal, on the petite side. Perhaps he'd stick around for a day or two and see what happened.

* * *

“And no one got a look at them?” the sheriff asked.

“No, sir,” Gabe said.

“Well, Mr. Horne, there's not a lot we can do. I'll have a crime scene guy come by tomorrow to see if he can find any evidence and I'll try to get a deputy to drive by occasionally, but we're stretched pretty thin.”

“I understand, Sheriff.”

What Gabe didn't understand was the way that the law enforcement officers were treating him. When the deputy had first said that they needed to come see the sheriff, Gabe thought he was in trouble, but as the two men walked the four blocks, something was different. First, Gabe wasn't in cuffs. More than that, the deputy treated him as an equal. When they got to the sheriff's office, the sheriff was actually nice to him. The man had never been unfair with Gabe; however, he'd always treated him like a criminal. Of course, that was before the Smash. Perhaps a guy who got drunk and disorderly on occasion wasn't such a big deal now.

“I'm sure Mrs. Walker appreciates you watching out for her,” the sheriff said. “I heard about what happened at the grocery store last week. You did us all a favor that day.”

Well, that explains at least part of it,
Gabe thought. “Thank you, sir.”

“What you ought to do if you really want to help her and the boy is to move in with them.”

“I can't do that.”

“Why not?”

“Because it wouldn't look right,” Gabe insisted.

“And letting her get killed or worse by some scumbags would? I'm not telling you to sleep in the same room with her, but you can't help her with problems like she had tonight if you're not there.”

“People would talk.”

“Who gives a damn?” the sheriff said as he smartly rapped his knuckles on his desk. “Look, Gabriel.” The big lawman took a deep breath. “With the way things are going now, no one is going to cast judgment on you. Lots of families are moving in together to share resources. It just makes sense. We've been pretty lucky around here so far compared to what's going on in the cities, but big trouble is more than likely coming this way, and I can't be everywhere to stop it. Think about it. We need everyone to do what they can to help us by taking care of themselves.”

It was the first time Gabe could remember the sheriff using his first name. What the sheriff said did make some sense, but Gabe was used to being by himself. He didn't know if he knew how to live with other people anymore. But at one time, he did. Maybe he could do it again. “Okay. I'll think about it, Sheriff.”

“You do that. Now, you better get back to the hospital, and I better get back to this paperwork, or I'll be sleeping here tonight . . . again,” the sheriff said with a smile.

“Thanks, Sheriff,” Gabe said as he walked out the door with the deputy.

On the way back to the hospital, the deputy quizzed him about his encounter with the thief at the grocery store. “They told me you took the guy out with just one hit. Man, I would have given anything to see that.”

“It really wasn't that big of a deal,” Gabe said. “He was running with the basket and looking behind. I just stuck my arm out and clotheslined him. He was moving so fast that his feet just flew out from under him.”

“Still, it must have felt good to sack him up.”

“I don't know. I just reacted without thinking, really. I'm just glad he didn't hurt Mrs. Walker or her son.”

“That's true,” the deputy said, “but it must have felt a little good at least to know you stopped the guy.”

Gabe was still thinking about the deputy's words when he walked back into the emergency room. Jane was sitting in a chair in the waiting area with Robby next to her. “What did the doctor say?”

“He told me basically what you said. It was a clean, through-and-through wound. He cleaned it up a little more and told me to come back in five days unless it starts to look infected. He gave me some antibiotics and some mild painkillers.”

“So, you can go home?”

“Yes, I can,” she said.

“Let's get out of here, then.”

Gabe drove home with Robby sitting in the middle. He thought about bringing up what the sheriff had mentioned, but now didn't seem like the time. Jane was quiet, and Gabe figured that was the painkillers they'd given her at the hospital. When they got to her place, Gabe helped Jane out of the car and into the house. Robby went in ahead of them and lit the lantern.

“Well, I'm going to head home now,” Gabe said, realizing his truck was still at home. “I'll just walk. I'll stop by tomorrow and see if you need anything.”

“Gabe, I know I'm probably just being paranoid, but I'd feel much better if you'd stay here until morning. You can sleep in Robby's room, and he can sleep on the couch.”

“I don't know, Jane. Aren't you afraid people will talk?”

“I don't really care, but if they do talk, I think they'd say ‘Look at that nice man, watching out for his neighbors.' Don't you think so?”

“Maybe. I don't know.” Gabe looked down and kicked at the floor as if he saw something stuck to it. “I'm just used to being at my house,” he said. He saw the look on her face and was instantly sorry.

“Fine. Go on home, then. Robby and I will just have to fend for ourselves,” she said, her face noticeably red, even in the pale light.

“I'm sorry, Hannah,” he said quickly. “Of course I'll stay, but I'll sleep on the couch. There's no reason to kick Robby out of his room.”

Gabe realized what he'd said, but made no effort to correct it. If Jane had noticed, she wasn't letting on.

“That's fine. Robby will get you some blankets and a pillow out of the hall closet. I've got to lie down. This leg is really starting to ache, so I'm going to bed,” she said, her tone softer than before.

When she turned to head into her room, and when she knew Gabe could no longer see her, she smiled.

* * *

DJ pulled the quad back behind the house. He could still feel the warmth of Crystal's body on his back as they walked into the house. Crystal headed straight for Nancy's room. A minute later, she came back into the living room.

“Is she okay?” DJ asked.

“She's fine,” Crystal said. “I really want to thank you for helping me get that car out of here.”

DJ wished she meant that she wanted to thank him the way he wanted to be thanked. “It's no problem. Thanks for the grub and the bed. I haven't slept that well since I left home.”

They stood quietly for a minute. “Well, I guess I better hit the road,” DJ finally said.

“You're not leaving tonight, are you?”

“Yeah, I need to get to my place.”

“I was hoping you'd stick around until my husband got home, just in case any more creeps show up,” Crystal said.

“There's no telling when or if he'll be back, Crystal. I can't stick around indefinitely.”

“Roger will be back! You just wait and see!”

“I hope you're right,” DJ said, thinking that it was a long shot at best. He also noticed that her demeanor and tone now seemed more like a young teenager than a grown woman. He would test the water a little more and see how she reacted. “But the longer I stay, the harder it'll be for me to get where I'm going. Besides, there's no incentive for me to stay. If you had some gas or something I really needed or wanted to trade me, then I might consider it.”

“I might be able to get some gas.”

“How much?”

“Maybe a few gallons,” Crystal said.

“Can you get it tomorrow?”

“I can try.”

“Tell you what. I'll stay tonight, and we'll see how it goes tomorrow,” DJ said.

“Thanks, DJ. Make yourself at home in the guest room. Just turn off the oil lamp when you're done in here. I'm going to bed,” she said in a much more adult tone.

“Me, too,” DJ said as he blew out the living room lamp, careful not to touch the hot glass chimney.

“Good night, then,” Crystal said.

There was enough moonlight coming through the windows that DJ could just make out her form walking down the hallway. “Good night,” he said as he headed for his room. Once there, he quickly stripped down and climbed into the comfortable bed.

He could hear dresser drawers opening and closing in Crystal's room. He imagined that she was donning some sexy number from Victoria's Secret. He pictured how nice her feminine figure would look in a slinky silk nightgown, and even better, how she would look out of it. Her body, from what he could tell while she was holding tight to him on the quad, was just the right combination of softness and firmness. He hoped he might hear a soft knock on his door and see her sneaking in to pay him a visit, but the knock never came.

If he was going to get in this girl's pants, he'd have to convince her that her husband was dead. That wouldn't be an easy thing to do with the way she'd reacted earlier, but something about her wasn't quite right. She was strong one minute and needy the next. If he could find the right buttons to push, he might get her to give in to him. Who knew? Maybe if things worked out the way he wanted, he'd just stay here.