A few cars drove by, and then a truck stopped. An older woman frowned at me through the window. “You okay, sweetie? Never seen anybody hitchhike in Newbank before.”
“I’m all right. Bit short on cash, is all.”
She nodded slowly. “I’ll help you out if I can. Where you headed?”
“Wherever you’re going.”
NINETEEN — LEANNE
The envelope in my hands felt like an accusation. BJ was gone, truly gone. And true to her promise, she’d left something behind — even if two words didn’t make much of a goodbye.
Teensy stared at me with judgment in her eyes. “I didn’t mean to drive her away,” I told her. “I honestly thought we could talk through this.”
She lowered her gaze, and I would’ve sworn she was shaking her head.
The bills fluttered through my fingers, and my heart clenched in my chest. Nine hundred and sixty bucks was nothing to me. To BJ, it was a ton. When she’d arrived, she mentioned she had no money at all.
How had she even earned that much since she’d been here? I did the math quickly. If she got paid twenty an hour, that worked out to six tutoring sessions a week over two months. She’d been spending on food and drinks, too, so she must’ve made even more than that.
So she really was working every day while I was out. Not getting rich, but making enough to get by. She’d just shown up in town, and instead of looking for a job, she’d made her own. I had to admit that impressed me. I respected her. She didn’t play by the rules laid out by society — I was holding the proof of that in my hands.
And now she was gone.
“What should I do, Teensy?” I asked, my voice cracking. “I have to reach her somehow.” She blinked, and her eyes fell to my pocket. “Of course, you’re right. I should call her.”
I pulled out my phone, leaning against a chair for support. With my heart pounding dully, I waited for BJ to pick up. As the fourth ring sounded, I wondered if she’d ignore the call. If she’d felt strongly enough to take off like that, she probably didn’t want to talk to me.
On the fifth ring, she answered. Her voice sounded so cold and flat, I hardly recognized it. I pushed forward, though. “BJ, where are you?”
“Somewhere past Allentown right now.”
“What? Are you driving?”
“No. I got a ride from a new friend.”
It took a moment for me to figure out she was hitchhiking — something I’d never done and never intended to do. I doubted I even knew anyone who’d done it. The act existed in a whole other universe from the one I lived in.
“Is that safe?” I asked.
“Sure. At least my buddy who’s driving doesn’t think I’m some kind of gold-digger.”
“BJ, that wasn’t what I meant. You know I care… I lost a client trying to get you back today.” And now that six o’clock had passed and I hadn’t given his money back, I apparently wasn’t going to like what would happen. “Come back and we can talk about this. Please.”
On BJ’s end, a horn honked in the background. “No, Leanne. There’s no point. We were just having fun, even if I sometimes felt like it was more serious. This was never going to go anywhere, and we both know it. We might as well leave it at this.”
My heart caught in my throat. “You felt like it was more serious?” No answer from BJ, which I took as a yes. “I did, too. I… I was going to ask you to be my girlfriend.”
She was quiet for another long moment. “Doesn’t matter now. Your kind of life isn’t for me. I’ve been running for a long time, Leanne. Running in search of happiness and a place where I could belong. I thought for a while that I’d found it in Newbank. But that place… it’s not a place that exists. I have to keep going.”
“No, don’t. Please come back and talk to me.”
“I can’t do that. It’s not even what you said to me, okay? It’s all of it — your colleagues and your condo and your law degree. The whole general difference in our life situations. We’d never work.”
We had worked, I wanted to insist. We’d been exclusive for two full months, and we’d been happy together. As short as it was, it’d been my best relationship ever by far. And I wasn’t ready to admit it was over.
Sensing she was close to hanging up, I decided not to keep arguing over the phone. “Where are you going?” I asked desperately.
“I’m getting dropped off when we get to Harrisburg. After that? I don’t know.”
“Okay. Listen, I’m going to call you in a little while, all right? Promise me you’ll pick up.”
Another lengthy hesitation. “I’ll pick up.” The line went dead.
That settled it. I was going to Harrisburg.
TWENTY — BJ
“You sure you want me to drop you at the bus station?” Wilma asked.
I yawned. Even from the passenger seat, five hours of driving was tiring. “Yes, please.”
“It’s late, and there’ll be nobody around.”
“I’ll be all right. I got nothing anyone would want to steal, anyway.”
The elderly lady looked at me with concern. We’d bonded a little over the course of the drive, sprinkling tidbits about our lives between our discussions of the country songs on the radio. She knew enough about me to worry, and I appreciated that.
If I had any money, I’d be spending the night somewhere else. Who cared, though? I could take care of myself.
I checked if the front door was locked, noticing Wilma waited until I got inside. The place was dark and empty, but it’d do. I settled in, leaning my bag over a chair and draping myself over the rest of the row.
The edge of each chair dug into my back. Oh, well. As long as I made it through to the morning, I didn’t mind how little I slept. I just needed to rest a little, and then I’d go out and thumb another ride. Whenever — and wherever — I found someone who could put me up for a night, I’d find a tutoring gig or two. That would give me the cash for a hostel. From there, I’d save up for a plane ticket.
To where, though? My stomach churned. It didn’t matter. Wherever I went, I’d still be myself. Only staying in motion could bring me something approximating happiness.
Or being with Leanne…
Fine, I’d been happier with her than I’d ever been in my life. It never would’ve worked, though. Better to think of it as a brief interval in the midst of a solitude that stretched through my whole life.
I fidgeted, searching for a comfortable position. Soon I’d get back to my goal of banging a girl and a guy in every city. Instead of exciting me, the idea made me feel slightly queasy. I didn’t want anyone else but Leanne.
Now that I thought about it, technically, I was in a new city. I should’ve been finding two people tonight. I’d been on a roll for the past twenty-something cities I’d been to.
Whatever. It was late enough to be dark out, and there was no one in this bus station. I would’ve had a hard time finding anyone even if I’d wanted to. Before Leanne, I would’ve seen this as a challenge. Things had changed so much.
Just as I closed my eyes, my phone vibrated. Could it be her? I grabbed for the phone, knocking my bag over in the process. I’d already picked up before my mind registered that the caller ID showed Mom.
“Hello, honey,” she said. “How are you doing?”
“I’m fine. How are you? Why are you calling so late?”
“I had a feeling I should check in. Haven’t spoken to you in a while.”
We normally kept in touch once a week or so, but I’d been distracted in Newbank. “Sorry about that. Everything’s good. I’m on the road right now.”
“You left that little town you were staying in?” She sounded upset. “It’s been a long time since you stayed in one place for that long. I kind of hoped you were going to settle there permanently. At least I’d know where to send your Christmas cards. Maybe I’d even get a visit more often.”
“I never planned to stay there.” I brought my feet onto the seat, wanting to fold my legs into me.
“It was a bit of a break from traveling, but it’s over. Going back to my old ways now.”
“Beija, how long are you going to do this for?”
The sadness in Mom’s voice surprised me. “I didn’t know you disapproved that much.”
“You know I’d rather see you in one place. Preferably with one person.”
My heart hiccupped. Was she just saying that, or had she figured out I was seeing my “roommate”? I’d been careful to stay vague when I talked about Leanne, but moms had a way of intuiting these things. At least, that was what I’d heard. It’d never come up for me before.
When I didn’t respond, my mother continued. “I only want to see you happy, Beija. You should do whatever it takes to make yourself happy.”
“That’s what I am doing.”
Even as I said the words, I knew they were a lie.
TWENTY-ONE — LEANNE
I pressed the gas pedal harder. So what if I was already a mile over the speed limit? I never broke the law, but tonight wasn’t like any other night. My need to see BJ again was a physical pain in my chest.
The past few hours had been long and boring. Aside from watching the speedometer, all I’d done was beat myself up over making BJ leave. I’d barely even worried about Randy Tripton and his idiocy. I’d deal with the fallout from that catastrophe in the morning.
Pretty crazy to think I’d have to show up to work in less than twelve hours and act like everything was normal. I’d get through it somehow. For once in my life, I was going to act crazy. It was for a good reason.
Now that I only had an hour to go, I figured I should call BJ and find out exactly where she was. I glanced into the rearview mirror. A red car was directly behind me on the highway. Behind it, the same blue one that’d been there for miles was still there. Looked like someone else was heading this way tonight.
I flipped on the turn signal and took the off ramp. Shartlesville, Pennsylvania — now, that sounded like a podunk town, as BJ liked to say. I was still laughing to myself as I pulled over at the earliest opportunity. Maybe, just maybe, this would all turn out to be fine after all.
I placed the call, and hope sprang up in me as she answered. “BJ? I’m an hour away from Harrisburg. Where are you?”
“You’re what?”
Suddenly less optimistic, I fiddled with the strap of my seat belt. “You heard me. Don’t tell me I drove all this way for nothing.”
“This isn’t a good idea.” Her voice sounded sad. Small.
“I’m not letting you leave without seeing you, so tell me where you are.” Hopefully my firmness would get through to her.
“Fine,” she sighed. “I’m at the bus station.”
“All right. See you soon.”
I pulled out again and found my way to the highway’s on-ramp. The fact that my lover was sleeping in a bus station killed me, even if it was only for one night. I would’ve gotten her a hotel if I’d known she was going to put herself through that. Even with her leaving me, I would’ve made sure she was comfortable.
The on-ramp lay ahead of me. Pushing the gas pedal, I glanced into the rearview mirror — and my heart nearly stopped.
The same blue car was directly behind me.
How likely was it that a car was on the same highway, pulled off at some unknown small town, and got back on at the same time I did?
Logically, there was only one answer.
I was being followed.
TWENTY-TWO — BJ
Half of me wanted to wrap myself around Leanne as soon as she came through the door. The other half wanted to walk out of the bus station before she could even get there.
Resting my head on my backpack, I debated my options. It wouldn’t be fair to leave after she’d spent so much time coming to find me. But if I did wait here and see her, I’d get sucked back in again. I already knew I wouldn’t be able to resist her.
My mom’s words echoed in my head: I should do what made me happy. Leanne made me happier than anything. I just didn’t believe we were right together.
I closed my eyes, wondering where she was now — which city she was passing, and how much longer she would be. As the minutes ticked by, it occurred to me that I could always go out and hitch another ride, drive away from her and not look back. Trouble was, I was too weak. I couldn’t let myself do it.
The revelation that she’d wanted me to be her girlfriend had come as a surprise… and not an unpleasant one. It was more than I could’ve hoped for. Before the conversation where she’d basically accused me of being after her money, I would’ve said yes. If only she hadn’t heard me on the phone with Bryan, we could’ve been happy right now.
My phone vibrated, and I picked it up to look at it. Leanne was calling again.
What did she want? I’d probably say something stupid if I picked up. She’d be here soon anyway.
I pressed “end call.”
TWENTY-THREE — LEANNE
I dropped the phone in my lap. Making a call while driving was completely unlike me, but the situation was getting urgent. The blue car was tailgating me now, riding my bumper as if the occupant wanted to run right into me.
The highway was quiet at this hour. There were a few cars around, but no reason for the blue one’s driver to act like this. I was forced to conclude the tailgating was no accident.
Damn, I wished BJ had picked up. Maybe she’d fallen asleep in that bus station. I would’ve liked to tell her what was going on… get her opinion on when I should call the police.
Again I glanced into the rearview mirror. The blue car’s driver was a blonde woman, and the fact that I didn’t recognize her made my heart pound even harder. Sometimes others in my profession were harassed, but I couldn’t think of any woman who would want to target me like this. The only connection I could make was my last conversation with Randy Tripton.
“Get me my money by six tonight. You won’t like what happens if you don’t.”
Even as my blood ran cold, I told myself I was wrong. Randy was a con artist, not a violent offender. He was only dangerous to other people’s money. Not to mention, he was a man — and an awfully chauvinistic one. If he ever hired out his dirty work to a crony, it’d be a male one.
But there was more than that. Something Tripton had said earlier.
“My last lawyer stopped paying enough attention, so I dealt with him.”
I’d assumed Randy meant he fired the man. I’d assumed I’d already been dealt with.
What if I was wrong?
The blue car lurched forward again, and I sped up more to get away from it. Was this woman seriously trying to crash into me? I looked at her again, trying to memorize every detail of her face in case I needed to describe her to the cops later.
She was heavy-set with wavy hair, gaudy jewelry around her neck. A decidedly middle-class-looking woman. I squinted to see her eyes narrowing as she sped up once more.
What the hell? She came around my side this time, pulling up evenly with me. Even as I slammed my foot down to go well over the speed limit, she kept pace with me. My heart pounded even harder. Whatever this woman wanted, she was serious about it.
The blue car veered to the left, and I nearly screamed. My eyes bulging with terror, I pulled onto the shoulder of the road and brought my car to a halt. I wasn’t going to drive a second more until this maniac was gone.
But instead of leaving, her car pulled over and she stepped out. Fumbling, I managed to get the locks to click. This would have been a good time to call 911 — except that my phone clattered to the floor between my feet as the woman approached. I shrank back, wishing I could melt into my seat and disappear.
I stared out of the window, hoping my fear didn’t show on my face. The woman bared her teeth in a smile as she gestured for me to roll down my window. As if I was going to let her anywhere near me! I shook my head.
I knew she probably wouldn’t take no for an answer. At this point, it would’ve been too much to hope she’d shrug and drive off.
&n
bsp; Still, a thrill of fear went through me as she pulled a handgun out of her purse.
When she made the roll-down motion again, I did as she asked. And when she told me to step out of the car, I did that too.
“There’s been some kind of mistake,” I said, my voice quavering. “I’m not the person you’re looking for.”
“Leanne Stevenson, attorney-at-law?” She must have seen confirmation in my eyes, because she continued. “About time you stopped. I’ve been after you for ages, and I was just about sick of driving. Thought you were going to stop in that one town, but no.”
“What do you want from me?”
“Allow me to introduce myself. Barbara Tripton.”
Randy’s wife?
“My husband doesn’t take it too well when the people he wants dealt with try to skip town.”
I squeezed my hands together, suddenly chilled. I’d been right — this was his doing. He was worse than the typical sleazeball. He’d sent his wife after me with a gun!
“I wasn’t trying to skip anything,” I said as calmly as I could. “I have business in Harrisburg. In fact, I need to be on my way now.”
She laughed, fingering the pistol. “If only it were that simple.”
My breath came more raggedly. Was I honestly looking at the end of my life? I wasn’t ready to die. I’d accomplished so little of my plans, and I hadn’t even begun to enjoy their fruit. In fact, other than the time I’d spent with BJ and Teensy, I’d barely enjoyed my life at all.
Everything was always work, work, work. Do the hard part now. Reap the benefits later. As I stared at Barbara Tripton, I realized BJ was right. I needed to get some joy out of life before it was too late… if it wasn’t already.
As if she’d read my mind, Barbara ran the barrel of the gun along the length of her palm. “I’m not going to kill you. That’s not what this is about. My husband would never ask me to murder anybody.” If I wasn’t chilled enough, her smile sent more ice through my veins. “I’m just going to take back what’s owed.”
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