1It was still dark when Lori felt H.M.'s breath tickling her ear.
"Wake up, luv. Come along now. We should be on tha road soon."
"Oh. Go away, Hamish. It's too early, it's still dark out."
"If ye willnae get up, I will leave without ye." That statement caused her to roll over and throw an arm over him.
"No, you will not. Just give me a little time to wake up. This is horrible." She felt his hand on her hair and sighed. "Are you planning to feed me before we leave?"
"Per'aps we could eat along tha motorway somewhere. I do want tae get away from here as soon as possible."
"Alright." She threw off the bedcovers and got up. "I must have a shower."
"Be sure tae put on suitable riding clothes. We're taking tha motorcycle."
He slipped out of bed and began to dress. The shower was going full blast when Hamish entered the bathroom to shave. He was half shaved when he decided to look into the shower as he had heard no noise other than the water. Pushing the door open, he took a quick look in. Lori was leaning against the wall, her back to the water, eyes closed.
"Are ye still awake?" He inquired.
"Unfortunately." She barely opened her eyes to look at him. "I'll be out there shortly. Unless you want to be dragged in here bodily, shut the door and give me some privacy."
"Yes, madam." Shutting the door, Hamish finished shaving.
He heard what sounded like mumbled curse words from her direction. Something hit the floor with a solid sound. He decided the shampoo bottle had been the victim. At least she was in motion. It was a start.
Sunlight was flooding the Los Angeles basin as they roared onto the freeway and headed north. Lori was H.M.'s navigator. She leaned forward to whisper directions in his ear as they sped along. They were on the Golden State freeway, I5, which would take them all the way into Washington State. Lori assured him they would soon be out of the Los Angeles basin and clear of the early morning traffic.
The majority of the vehicles appeared to be headed into the city. But there was enough traffic moving in either direction to keep Hamish alert. Once they were into the mountains and out of the basin, the traffic thinned. H.M. instructed Lori to watch for roadside services. He wanted to fill the tanks and get something to eat.
They picked an off ramp where the signs promised petrol and food. H.M. swung the Harley off the highway onto the frontage road. Once the bike was topped off, they parked it in front of the restaurant where it could easily be seen from the inside. Lori gratefully sank into the booth where she glanced at the menu.
"Get me the special please, over easy and with bacon. I'm starving."
H.M. gave their order to the waitress. After taking a quick glance out at the motorcycle, he turned back to Lori. "How long do ye think it will take tae get tae Washington?"
Lori produced a comb from one of the zippered pockets of her leather jacket. She began to comb the tangles out of her dark hair. "It's about a two-day ride if we stop for the night in southern Oregon somewhere. Are we in a particular hurry?"
"Well as to that, aye. I think we should be. Sooner or later tha polis are going to realize we have gone somewhere. The helmets will make it harder tae identify us. I think Warren can be counted upon tae cover our tracks. Tha polis will think we are running for Canada if they discover we have left California. I wouldna want tae be caught by them."
He made sure to keep his voice down. "I think I have thought it out carefully enough. We will have tae stay away from tha Canadian border, however. This is a large country, but nae country is large enough for an individual tae elude tha law for very long. I think we might be able tae count on three days at tha maximum. Nae more than three."
She put the comb back then leaned forward, chin in hand to stare at him for a while. "Should we really be doing this? Wouldn't it have been better to have given our information to the cops and let them figure it out?"
His mouth was a thin line. "Hardly. Alice O'Connor is just ah child. Tha coppers would find more than they should if we give her away. We may not have tae involve her at all if this can be done correctly."
"Somehow, Hamish MacGrough, I get the feeling you have other motives. Why do you have to find out who the murderer is before the cops do? There's something boiling away in that twisted mind of yours. I just can't figure it out."
He heard a car drive up and immediately checked the bike again. Hamish was trying to avoid Lori's probing of his motives. "Per'aps ye're imagining things."
"Well, perhaps I am." Lori reached out to touch his hand. "But, you make me wonder sometimes. I need to have you tell me, I'm just being super sensitive."
H.M. was quiet during the meal. Lori watched him when his attention was elsewhere. She wondered what he was thinking. She had observed this sort of behavior before when he was working on new material.
They took turns going to the rest room. It was not a good idea to leave the motorcycle unattended for even a short time. Lori waited by the bike for Hamish. She wished they could both stop worrying and enjoy the ride.
After putting on the helmet, she leaned against the bike. This situation had upset their lives sufficiently as far as she was concerned. Lori resolved to inject some enjoyment into this trip, no matter what.
H.M. left the restaurant and joined her in the parking lot. Taking the helmet from the handlebars where he had hung it by the chinstrap, he tugged it on. After he stepped across the motorcycle, MacGrough settled into the seat.
"Hamish. It's a nice day. We're out of the worst of the smog and actually out riding. This is a great bike. Why can't we enjoy ourselves?"
Hamish turned on the fuel valve before inserting the key in the ignition. When he pressed the starter button, the bike turned over with a roar. H.M. took a quick look at the gage to make sure the headlight was on. His glance was searching when he looked at Lori while rolling the throttle. The engine roared then subsided to an idle.
"I havnae been tha most interesting or fun companion have I?" He smiled at her. "We will see what can be done tae correct my lapse into Celtic melancholy. On board with ye."
Lori turned slightly sideways and slid into place behind him with a bounce upward and a slight twist. The air was warm, so she left the jacket open with just the first few teeth of the zipper fastened to keep the leather from flapping in the breeze.
H.M. checked the traffic carefully before twisting the throttle to send the bike back onto the blacktop of the frontage road. Lori watched for the on ramp and directed H.M.'s attention to it. He maneuvered them into position.
Once again they were on I5, heading toward Sacramento and California's warm dusty heart. Lori leaned forward and reminded Hamish to stay on I5. The traffic thinned out as they climbed the mountains. There were trucks of all sizes and shapes on the road, hauling goods into the city and out of it. Motor homes, campers and vehicles pulling travel trailers also made up a portion of the traffic, on what was becoming a hot summer day.
The sky was a bright blue above them. Lori leaned back against the high back of her seat to enjoy the view. The breeze they created kept her cool as the sun rose in the sky. They began to overtake a tractor-trailer rig.
H.M. glanced in his left-hand side-view mirror and took a quick look over his shoulder before swinging the bike into the other lane. They roared past the cab of the truck. When he was sure they were clear, he swung the motorcycle back into the slow lane.
Lori leaned forward to glance at the speedometer over his shoulder. The needle hovered at 74. Her suspicion was confirmed. He intended to make this trip in the shortest possible time. She leaned back again, trying to relax against the high backed leather seat. The man was as stubborn as they came. He fully intended to make it to Washington before the cops could find them.
H.M. decided that riding on an American freeway was much akin to riding on the motorway around London. One had to keep one's wits about them at all times. Day dreaming or allowing your attention to wander to other things could be fatal.
; But the closer they got to the solution to the puzzle, the more apprehensive he became. He did not wish to know who the killer was, he had to know. Entirely different situations.
He didn't believe Lori had anything to do with Vince's death, but what he didn't know, ate away at him. Hamish realized she was trying to relax and enjoy the ride.
Every wiggle or shift of her weight communicated its self to him, through the bike. She was trying to make the best of it and did not seem to be particularly nervous. He was a suspicious bugger and the irritant here, not Lori.
The traffic had abated for the moment. The road ahead of them was clear. H.M. reached back and squeezed Lori's thigh with one hand. She responded by moving forward to grip his legs tightly with hers. Putting both arms around H.M., she clung to him. Highway signs signaled the approach to a town and H.M. instinctively throttled back. There was something ahead he needed to be careful of.
As they cruised past the on ramp, H.M. spotted a flash of black and white sitting on the edge of the ramp. A quick look back in the right-hand side mirror revealed a polis car sitting on the ramp waiting.
Hamish smiled. Lori put her hands between her thighs and his and gave him a squeeze. She saw the copper. The slight squeeze was part of their silent riding language. He was being congratulated for his escape.
The road stretched straight ahead. The countryside was level. H.M. cruised along just barely beneath the speed of a tractor-trailer truck ahead of him.
They roared past fields where huge wheels fitted with metal tubing irrigated the crops. Lori was enjoying the scents rising from the warm earth. The air was fragrant with the perfume of growing things.
The sun was now high overhead. They were both sweating in their jackets. Lori indicated a layby coming up. Understanding her request, H.M. took the off-ramp. They parked the bike near the rest rooms. As soon as the bike was parked Lori dove for the one marked "women". H.M. took off his jacket while he waited for her to return.
It was entirely too hot for a jacket now. He looked at the high back of Lori's seat and the bitch bar behind. If he zippered the jacket around the seat then stuck the sleeves through the belt, he could tighten the belt around the seat. The jacket could ride there without causing Lori any discomfort.
She returned as he was buckling the belt. "That looks like a good idea. I'm cooking in this heavy leather."
He leaned over across the bike to give her a kiss. "It's my turn for tha loo. See if yur jacket will fit this way. It shouldna cause ye any discomfort if you want tae sit back against tha seat. Try it before we continue on."
Lori arranged her jacket as H.M. suggested. She climbed on the bike and leaned back against the seat. That would work. Dismounting, she walked a few feet away toward the water fountain.
She was not used to the heat. It had been years since she called Southern California home. The heat of the Central Valley was like a blast furnace. It was much worse when they were not moving. The breeze created by the bike at least provided some relief. She was eager to move on.
When H.M. returned, they donned the helmets. Once again they got quickly back on the road. The breeze created by their motion was welcome. Lori leaned forward to speak in H.M.'s ear.
"Great idea! This is much better. I do wish we didn't have to wear the helmets. Then it would be even nicer. You know helmets weren't necessary in California until just recently."
"Aye, I ken. With them on, we aren't as easy tae identify. That is tha most important thing right now."
Lori sat back. She gave up on the campaign. He was correct. A ticket for failure to wear a helmet would not be a good thing at this moment. Since this wasn't a pleasure trip, they needed to be careful. There were lots of miles to go before they reached their destination. Then there was the return trip to consider. She sighed. Too bad this was a reconnaissance mission. Resentment began to rear its head. Lori did her best to quell it.
Now look at it this way, she told herself, it's a positively beautiful day, you're with Hamish, the motorcycle is running well. There are lots more miles to enjoy before the trip is over. We're going to take this nice baby home and there will be many more rides to enjoy both on this bike and Hamish's old girl too. Lori began to smile as she watched the scenery rush past.
It was midafternoon when they stopped for hamburgers after having made a short stop for gasoline a mile or so behind them. They sat outside under an awning enjoying the shade.
"How and where are we going to spend the night? If anyone is looking for us, they will look first at the motels and hotels near the freeway." Lori broached the subject while nibbling on a French fry.
"Do ye have any suggestions?" H.M. inquired.
"Uh huh. We passed a discount store a few blocks back. We could buy a sleeping bag and a couple of bungee cords to tie it down with. We can camp out. I don't think anyone would be expecting us to do that."
H.M. took another sip of his milk shake. He shook his head. "Oh, I recall we did tell Fredrick about our excursion in tha highlands. Assuredly he will certainly have tha hotels checked first. I would assume there are quite ah few camping areas available. It will be much harder tae find us if we forego ah comfortable bed. It might give us enough time tae get ah few hours' sleep before moving on."
Slurping the last of the milkshake up through the straw, Hamish finished the drink. "As tha bike was used, tha transfer from tha shop tae us will take ah bit of time. They dinnae have a description of tha bike just yet. I'm hoping tha delay will get us by."
His dark eyes surveyed the traffic on the frontage road. They're nae wise tae us yet. He thought. What he was feeling was the pressure to be on the move. There was no warning to go to ground flashing inside at the moment.
"How about a double sleeping bag?" Lori grinned at H.M. "They are much more fun than singles. We would have just one to contend with and it should fit on the luggage rack without too much trouble."
"And do we have enough money tae purchase this outright? I wouldna want tae use ah credit card right now as they're tae easily traced. 'Tis bad enough tae have put tha bike on one."
"Not to worry dear. If we don't have enough cash, we can find a money machine and get some with our cash card. Our UK cash card." Lori finished her last fry. She licked her fingertips before wiping them on the paper napkin.
H.M. looked at her with raised eyebrows. "I had nae idea we could do so here."
"I checked it out before we left home. Surely, you have noticed I never bother with traveler's checks anymore, and we always have enough money for our needs."
His dark eyes were smiling at her. "Now that ye mention it, I see tha money end of tha business has been handled ah wee bit differently. I cannae imagine I would have noticed if ye hadnae pointed it out, however."
"MacGrough, you are impossible." She laughed at him. "What on earth would you do without me?"
They rose from the concrete bench. H.M. put an arm around her. "I dinnae have tha foggiest idea an certainly have nae wish tae explore tha possibilities. Shall we see what can be found in tha line of ah double sleeping bag?"
He stretched and shook both hands vigorously before mounting the motorcycle.
The town of Redding, California was at the foot of the mountains. At four o'clock in the afternoon, the entire town seemed to be holding its breath, waiting for the sun to set. Waiting for night.
They were both tired. Lori felt the utter, total relaxation, which usually followed any long ride. The deep throb of the engine vibrated through the frame then up into the bitch bar. The vibration went into the tall back of her seat as well. It had her feeling as if she had experienced a day long massage.
It was easy to tell he was as tired as she was. The man was extra careful when pulling out into the street. Hamish checked his mirrors frequently, double checking himself.
They entered the discount store after parking right in front. He locked the bike securely. Once inside, the air conditioning provided welcome relief from the intense heat outside. They quickly located the spor
ting goods section and picked out a sleeping bag. A package of bungee cords was added to their selection. Finished shopping, the couple headed for the check-out counter.
Finding the shortest line, Lori stationed herself at the end of it and looked up at H.M. "I'll stay here and pay for this. You can go out to the bike and wait for me."
He nodded and silently moved off toward the entrance. Lori patiently waited in line. When her turn came, she paid for the items. H.M. was waiting for her at the entrance. Leaning against the glass in the shade next to the doors, he was watching the motorcycle.
Holding the door open for her, Hamish followed Lori out into the parking lot. "Is it always so hot here?" H.M. asked as he fastened the sleeping bag and their jackets to the luggage rack with the bungee cords.
"It gets cooler in the winter." Lori replied as he made sure the cords were tight. "It has been known to snow. By the way, how far are you planning to ride today?"
"When do we leave California?" H.M. queried as he removed the lock from the bike before tugging on his helmet. As he backed the motorcycle out of the parking place, Lori fastened the strap on her helmet. Turning the key in the ignition, he started the bike. She scrambled on behind as he twisted the throttle.
"Let's stop at the nearest gas station and I'll get a map. We're going to Mount Baker, Washington, or somewhere near there anyway. I'll need to see if we should stay on I5 or take the shortcut, Highway 97 out of Weed. I don't know where in Washington Mount Baker is."
He nodded in acknowledgement. They stopped at a filling station near the freeway. While H.M. checked the bike's oil level, Lori plotted their course on the map.
Finished with it, she folded it and shoved it down inside her jacket. Lori made sure it was covered up and held down firmly by one of the bungee cords.
Once they were safely on the road, she leaned forward to explain what she had learned to H.M. "It looks as if we should stay on I5. It is the most direct route to Mount Baker. I don't like having to drive through the heart of Seattle, but that is the shortest and most direct route."
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