She placed a shot glass in front of him. "You're no fool. How is Jim? I have been hoping to see him. I heard about the accident. That was too bad. I enjoyed your music."
Hamish handed the dirty cloth back to Alice before downing the whiskey. The warmth that rushed through his body was welcome. "Alice, please, one question at ah time. Jim would have come, but there has been some trouble. The polis are investigatin Vince's death. Jim cannae leave tha State just yet."
"Then what are you doing here?" She asked quietly.
He looked at her and smiled. "Och! Ye're ah quick one. Sit down here, lass, tell me about tha night you an Jim met. In particular, I want tae know what scared you off tha stage in Seattle. Jim told me ye saw something or someone. What was it Alice?"
She sat back in the chair. Alice studied him for a moment. "This is all mine. I inherited this house and the land from my mother. It has always been passed down through the womenfolk of my family. My father had to fight in 'Nam. It did something to him. He can't hold a regular job. Growing dope is the only real source of income we have. We can grow vegetables, stuff like that, but we can't compete with the larger farms lower down in the valley."
She waved a hand around the kitchen. "Jim has a few ideas about things we can try so maybe we can get out of the dope business. I took to Jim right away. We are going to get married some day. I intend to pass this place on to my daughter. Jim must trust you to tell you about me. I suppose that means I can trust you. Is it a good idea? Should I trust you?"
"I'm sitting here, nae tha polis. Jim told me about you because he knew I would keep yur secret. Tell me about that night, Alice. I need tae know."
"O.K., everything was fine until I spotted a rent-a-cop. Security guard. There was something funny about the guard. It was a woman."
For an instant Hamish felt as if his heart had stopped. He waited quietly for Alice to continue.
"She was moving strangely. I noticed she was pregnant. It didn't add up. Why would a security company send a pregnant woman to a rock concert where she could get thrown around, maybe injure the baby? There was something wrong about the whole thing. So I insisted Jim and I get out of there."
H.M. sat back in the chair, the anxiety drained from him. He felt limp.
"Mr. MacGrough, are you alright? Do you want another shot?"
He smiled at Alice then waved her away. "Nae, nae. Go on. Did you see anyone else? Anything at all?"
"No. I don't think she had anyone with her. I kinda kept an eye on her. She fiddled with the equipment for a while, then left."
Alice looked at him. She studied his face, then nodded her head. "That's it. That's what you wanted to find out. What is this all about?"
"Yu're a clever girl Alice. You will put it all taegether later when ye an Jim have ah chance tae discuss this. I cannae tell you more. There are other people involved." He rose from the chair. Alice stood and walked around the table toward him. Reaching a hand up, she inspected the scrape on his head.
"I'd put something on that when you get a chance. I don't think it's going to be a bleeder, so you should be able to ride O.K. It's a rough drive down to the highway. I'll have Larry and Ernie take you and the bike down in the truck. If your ribs are bruised, it would be better for you."
"Thank ye, but nae. I wouldna want tae be ah bother. I can ride out tae tha highway on my own." H.M. bent his head to give Alice a kiss on the cheek.
"You are ah fine lass. Jim is ah lucky man. He will come tae ye as soon as he is able. I would warn tha guard dogs about him. I wasnae able tae use my fists. I have ah gig an cannae hurt my hands. Jim is another matter. It could get nasty."
"I'll expect a copy of your new record. Jim has my mailing address. Be careful and watch out for the potholes."
Alice stood on the porch. She watched as H.M. turned the bike to ride off down the hill. Larry came over. He stood at the foot of the steps watching as H.M. carefully guided the bike through the ruts of the driveway.
"What was that all about Alice? Dad won't be happy to hear we had a famous visitor."
"No one is going to know he was here but us. Just keep your mouth shut and nothing will happen. By the way, I'm going to have another visitor in a while. I'm not sure how long it will take him to get here. His name is Jim Tatterson. You had better not try that kind of stuff on him. He's my boyfriend and I don't want him hurt."
"Aw, for Pete's sake! Every asshole and his brother are going to be wandering around here if you have your way. Damn it, Alice! What the hell is going on?"
"Nothing at all. What's the matter with me having a boyfriend? You and Ernie have all the girlfriends you want."
She watched the bike for a moment more. "Just behave yourself when he gets here. That's all I want."
Alice turned back into the house. She intended to pay attention to the six o'clock news for a while. Something might be on about Bushmaster.
H.M. eased the bike down the road gently, careful not to hit any hard bumps as it hurt to breathe. He was beginning to think he might have a cracked rib. On reaching the pavement, he sighed in relief.
As he rounded a curve, he caught sight of Lori waiting at the pull out. He was in for it now. But he felt a grin forming and tried to keep it off his face. Even with the pain, he was happier than he had been in days. She was in the clear. He felt like singing, but decided against it. Lori was certainly going to snap his head off as it was, antagonizing her further would be daft.
When he stopped the bike, Hamish took off the helmet as his head hurt. Lori jerked the sleeping bag out of the bushes. She placed it on the bike snapping the bungee cords in place without a word.
When she walked around to the front of the bike, he thought she was probably going to give him a going over. As H.M. watched, her anger changed to concern when she reached out to touch the side of his head. When her fingers touched the scrape, he jerked away.
Lori hugged him before Hamish could stop her. He gasped in pain.
"Hamish, what happened? Who hurt you?"
"Climb on, luv. We need tae find ah place tae stay for ah few hours. I need ah long, hot shower."
Lori slid into place behind Hamish being careful not to jostle him. "We should be able to find something in Everson."
They found a motel where Lori registered them using her maiden name. Once they were in the room, she began her interrogation.
"Alright, Hamish. Tell me."
"Aye. I will. First, call this number. He fished a small piece of paper out of his wallet which he handed to Lori.”
"Ask for Hawkins. When you get him, tell him where we are so he can get us awa from here."
"Who is Hawkins?" Lori glared at him.
"Make the call, luv, then come intae tha bath, I'll tell you what I can."
Lori made the call and was asked to wait as the connection was made. After a few minutes, a deep voice spoke. "This is Hawkins. Is this Lori?"
"Yes. We're at a motel in Everson. It's called the Mountain Retreat. We're on the main highway."
"Got it. We'll be there in half an hour to forty-five minutes."
"Have you got a first aid kit? I think we'll need it."
"Do you need a doctor?" The man on the other end of the connection asked.
"I don't believe so; it looks like scrapes and bruises mostly."
"O.K. We'll see you soon." The man broke the connection.
Lori put the instrument down carefully with a look of puzzlement on her face. Puzzlement changed to determination as she marched into the bathroom. Jerking open the shower curtain, heedless of the water splashing out onto the floor, Lori looked at her husband. Hamish was washing his hair with the bar of soap.
With his head back and eyes closed, he was luxuriating in the warm water. Lori noticed the bruises beginning to form on his rib cage.
Closing the curtain quietly, she sat on the toilet, drumming on the sink beside her. "They will be here in half an hour or so. Now, Hamish, now you will tell me what went on and who Hawkins is."
&nbs
p; "Certainly, luv."
He told her about his ride up to Alice's house. He explained about the reception he had received. Hamish then told her Ed and Hawkins had been a few hours behind them on the road. They had a large truck and were coming to pick them up for the ride back to Los Angeles.
During the wake jam, he and Ed had set up the truck pickup. Hamish had anticipated the need to sneak back into L.A. By putting the bike and both of them inside the truck he hoped to get back into town without alerting the cops.
The polis would surely have learned of the bike and be searching for it. Taking it off the road would make them more difficult to find. Hoping they wouldn't be looking for Ed and a truck with the bike in it, Hamish was planning to get to Warren and the attorney before the cops grabbed them.
"And what did Alice tell you?" She asked impatiently.
He was silent for a moment. "I have tae put it all together, Lori. I need tae think about everythin for ah wee while. Will ye be dreadfully angry with me if I say I dinna want tae talk about it at this moment?"
"Of course! I'm going to be furious! I'm well on the way to it now. However, I don't think my feelings on this mean one whit to you. You will do as you like anyway." The irritation in her voice told Hamish she was barely keeping her temper in check.
He shut off the water and pushed the shower curtain all the way open. Lori handed him a towel. Hamish scrubbed the water off his face and ran the towel over his hair.
Draping it over his shoulders, he stepped out of the shower. "I luv ye, Lori, ye do know that?"
"Shut up and hand me the towel. I'll dry your back MacGrough. It probably hurts to reach around those ribs. I told your cavalry to bring a first aid kit."
"I hope they bring ah bottle of scotch. I would luv a nip right now."
"Ed probably already has something stashed for you. I love you too, but I'm not terribly pleased about it at the moment."
"I know I'm bein difficult."
"You are always difficult, MacGrough. Some days are worse than others." Lori handed him the towel. "I'll wait for you in the other room."
1Hamish was relieved to hear the knock on the door. Lori had been silent from the moment he walked out of the bathroom. H.M. tried to speak to her once or twice, then left well enough alone. It was doubtful a screaming fight would help either of them.
If Lori was left alone long enough, she might calm down so they could discuss the matter rationally. As it was, his ribs were aching, and he was in no condition to argue.
Lori opened the door and Ed stepped in. The broad grin he had been wearing reformed into a scowl when he looked at Hamish. "What the hell did you run into?"
"A fist, an ah couple o boots."
"Were you able to see Tatterson's girl?"
"Oh, aye. I even met her brothers. She referred tae them as 'junkyard dogs'. I must agree."
Lori had gathered up the few things they had brought along. "What shall I do with these?"
Ed looked at the both of them. His frown grew deeper. "The truck is parked across the highway. Do you want to load up the bike now?"
Hamish shook his head. "I think we should ride down tha road ah wee mite afore takin care of tha loadin. I dinnae wish tae have tae many witnesses tae report tae tha polis exactly what we did tae get away from here."
"There's a gas station down the road a few miles. We'll pull off the road just before the station to adjust the load. We'll be ready when you are, so we had better take off now to get into position."
H.M. looked at the sleeping bag Lori held. "We do need tae do something with this. I don't want tae leave it, nor do I want tae advertise tae everyone that we're leaving. I want them tae think we've taken off on ah short ride an mean tae return."
Ed looked at the rolled sleeping bag Lori held. He took off his windbreaker then reached for it. "Here. I'll wrap my jacket around it and take it along with me. Problem solved."
He looked intently at them, as he stood by the door, his hand on the door knob. "Is that all?"
With a nod, Hamish sent him off. "That should take care of everythin. Get along with ye."
Without a word, Ed opened the door and left. H.M. walked over to the bed and bent forward to pick up his jacket. A sharp pain stabbed through his side and the leather jacket fell back on the bed.
"Are you well enough to ride?" Lori picked up the jacket and held it out for him.
"It's nae far." H.M. struggled into his leathers. When he reached down to fasten the zipper, his wife stepped forward.
"Here." Lori pushed his hands away. She just barely ran the zipper up.
"Run it all tha way up please. Tha support will help."
Lori did as he asked. Scooping up both helmets from the bed, she followed H.M. out the door. He started the bike with the electric starter. There were no cars parked in the adjoining parking spaces so he was able to ride the bike around. Lori finished fastening her helmet and gently swung into place behind him.
"Ready?" Hamish asked.
"Yes." Lori patted his leg.
Pointing the bike at the highway, he eased the throttle open. He was doubly cautious going through town. Cruising along slowly, he checked his mirrors often.
Placing both hands on her thighs, Lori was careful to keep from putting her arms around his waist. He was obviously in pain. Unfortunately, it appeared to be getting worse. With a sigh, she leaned back against the seat and waited.
They spotted the gas station on the edge of town. A semi hauling a closed trailer was parked just off the street. As they came into view the two men who were standing there swung the double back doors open. They pulled out a loading ramp. One end was placed on the ground. H.M. aimed the bike at it and shifted into first gear. Smoothly, he rode the bike up into the back of the truck.
Ed stayed in the trailer with them. He secured the bike with bungee cords to the wall. Afterward, the roadie pushed a crate up behind the bike to hide it from view.
A neon work light provided illumination as too little light got into the trailer with the doors closed. When the bike was secure, Ed handed Hamish a flashlight. There were a couple of lawn chairs along with two folding cots set up in one corner.
Reaching into a cooler, Ed took out a bottle of beer. "Anybody interested?"
"Right." H.M. took the bottle, removed the cap and gulped down several long drinks before gingerly lowering himself into one of the chairs.
"I think I might as well." Lori sat down on one of the cots. Ed waited until after she took off her jacket before handing her the bottle. Then, he got himself one as well.
"That first aid kit I asked you to bring, does it have any elastic bandages in it?" Lori asked.
Ed placed his beer on the floor of the van before pulling over a cardboard box. "I don't think so."
Finished rummaging around in the box, Ed pushed it across the floor to Lori. The semi began to move. Ed unclipped a two way radio off of his belt. "How does it look out there Hawkins?"
"Nice and quiet." The truck began to climb through the gears. "It's a good thing we aren't in San Diego." Hawkins added. "With this setup the border patrol would think we were trying to smuggle in illegal aliens."
"Nah. We're just bringing an injured friend home. No big deal."
Ed looked at H.M. "Do you want me to tell him to keep an eye out for a drug store?"
"Chemist's shop for the elastic bandages." Lori translated.
She was watching H.M. carefully. It was easy to see he was becoming less aware of his surroundings. The setting didn't help. It was almost as if they were in an old dungeon or abandoned building. She was afraid Hamish was finding it more difficult to remember they were in the States. Lori was afraid he might be close to losing consciousness.
H.M. looked at the bunks, then up at Ed. "Are ye particularly attached tae tha bed sheets?"
"No. Use whatever you like." Ed replied.
"Lori, my luv, what type of medication is there?" MacGrough took another drink of beer before leaning back with his eyes closed.
"Aye. Grand." H.M. drank the balance of the beer before straightening up in the seat.
"Give me four of the pills, please, an the bottle."
When she handed him the pills, he popped them into his mouth and washed them down with a hit of scotch. After taking another drink, he capped the bottle and put it on the floor. Hamish struggled to his feet and carefully negotiated his way across the swaying floor to a cot.
"Ed, would ye cut one of tha bed sheets intae several strips aboot this wide?" H.M. indicated the size with his fingers. "Luv, I need tae get tha jacket off."
Lori sat down beside him. Gently, she eased his arm out of the sleeve on his uninjured side. Slipping off the jacket, she carefully avoided touching his ribs.
"Do you want me to wrap you?" Lori asked.
"Aye. Just be sure 'tis tight. Then tha both of ye can go up intae tha cab."
Taking the strips from Ed, Lori began to bind his rib cage. "I'll stay here with you."
"Nae need." He rubbed one hand across her cheek.”I want tae try tae get some sleep an willnae be much company, mind? Go alang with Ed. Just leave me tha torch an tha bootle."
Lori nodded. She finished tying the strips of cloth into position. Turning his cheek toward her, Lori gave him a kiss. "Are you sure?"
"Aye." He took another hit from the bottle Ed had retrieved and was holding out to him.
His wife rose and with his boots still on, Hamish stretched out on the cot. "Go on, get alang with ye."
Ed contacted Hawkins on the two way radio and gave the driver instructions to pull over as soon as he got a chance. Turning off the radio, Ed moved the neon lantern close to H.M. so he wouldn't have to struggle to reach it. The two way radio went on the mattress near Hamish's hand.
When the truck stopped, Ed and Lori walked around the case to the back of the trailer. H.M. heard the doors open and then close again. Reaching down to turn out the lantern, Hamish lay in the dark with his eyes closed.
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