by Michele Hauf
“Which car are you taking?” Rich asked, looking over the eight assorted types of vehicles.
“I’m taking mine. The Ghibli,” she said, chin stuck out in defiance. “And I don’t have to tell you anything. I just told you that because you’d know when I drove it out anyhow.”
“Can’t let you do it,” Rich said, arms crossed in front of his chest, a sly smile on his face.
“You can’t stop me,” she said, her voice controlled, attitude determined.
“Well, I am bigger and stronger than you. And I did tell your father I wouldn’t let you get into trouble. Or something like that. Besides, if you just turned sixteen today, you probably don’t have your driver’s license.”
“I have my learner’s permit.”
“Yeah, well, you have to have another driver in the car for that to work. I don’t see one around.”
“You’ll do. Come on. Let’s go.”
“Whoa! Whoa!” Rich uncrossed his arms and took two long strides to stand in front of her. “I can’t go anywhere with you.”
“Why not?”
“You’re underage. I’m not. I’d get busted for… Well, it’s pretty much illegal for anyone to take you anywhere without your parent’s permission. Where are you headed at two in the morning? Why don’t you wait until daylight and go with someone else? Lord knows you have enough people who care about you.”
“How about you?”
“You’re going to make me crazy, woman. I just told you…”
“Well, if you won’t take me where I want to go, would you do me a favor?”
“Like what?”
“Take me to your place…”
“Nope. Still underage.”
“Not that. What I want is to move my car off this property to somewhere Nanny Elsa won’t find it. I’ll bet my studded earrings that you have friends or family in the area where we can park the Ghibli.”
Rich rolled his eyes. It was a very nice ride. He’d wanted one for years. With Maseratis, older was better, too. “Five miles down the road is my uncle’s place. He has a big garage with lots of classics in it. We could probably slip another one in. But if you don’t own this, you’re stealing it. That’s grand theft auto. That comes with more than a scowl and a slap on the hand.”
Vickie opened up her backpack and pulled out the title. She had filled in her name as the buyer and backdated it to two days earlier. “See. I got it the day before my birthday.”
“All right. Do you think you can follow me down the road? If you don’t speed or weave all over the place, you shouldn’t be pulled over and asked for your license. One question, though. Why do you want to move it? I’d be taking a big chance – or putting my uncle in a lurch – if your dad reports it stolen and it’s found at his place.”
Vickie didn’t answer right away, her lips working back and forth as she thought of a good excuse.
“You know, I may be a lousy liar, but that doesn’t mean I can’t tell when someone else is lying to me,” Rich said sarcastically.
“I didn’t lie. I didn’t say anything!”
“Yes, but you were thinking about what to say, and it wasn’t the truth. Just tell me. What’s the worst that can happen?”
“Nanny Elsa was trying to steal it from my father. Steal it through blackmail. He said it was my sixteenth birthday present and it is. I just can’t keep it here until she’s gone. She won’t be back tonight, but they might – probably will – let her out of the hospital tomorrow. I don’t want it here when she gets back. She wouldn’t know it’s missing for a long time anyhow because it’s more of a summer car. It’s usually stored in the garage all winter.”
“Now see? Wasn’t that easier? I can believe that’s the truth. So, I see you have gloves. Leave a note and we can be on our way.”
“You believe me?”
“Did you lie?”
“No.”
“Okay, let’s go.”
Vickie grabbed the key out of the lockbox, scribbled, “I’ll be back soon. Love ya, Dad & Mom!” on the dry erase board next to it, then got in the Ghibli. As you always told me, Dad: soon is relative!
Rich hit the button and waited for the garage door to open. “You go first. Wait until I get my truck out, and then follow me.”
Haltingly at first, Vickie backed out. Don’t blow it, woman! Reverse is just like going forward, except exactly opposite.
Rich rolled his eyes at her inexperience behind the wheel. Daddy probably always backed it out for her. She should make it down the road to Uncle Phil’s house without a problem, though. The roads were dry and well-lit.
Rich added a scribbled postscript note to her quick ‘See ya later’ message and included his cellphone number, then backed his truck out. After making sure she was still following him, he pulled out his phone and dialed.
“Roger? Yeah, I know it’s late. I’m glad you gave me your card. Vickie has the Maserati and is bringing it to my Uncle Phil’s place up the road. Yeah, she said something about Nanny Elsa and making sure it was out of her clutches or something like that. Just don’t go filing a stolen vehicle report. She has the title and it’s signed over to her. I don’t know your signature, but everything looked to be in order. I figure I’ll let her do her thing, and then bring her back to your place in my truck. No, believe me, I know she’s underage. I’d rather cut off my right arm than bother her! Yeah, well, if I didn’t escort her, she’d be off on her own to parts unknown, ripe for trouble with whoever found her. She may be smart, but she’s also good-looking and has an expensive car. She’s a target for every flimflam man and Romeo on the east coast. I’ll keep in touch. She doesn’t know I’m contacting you, so let’s keep it that way. And hey! Thanks for trusting me. That means a lot. See ya!”
5
On the Road
January 4, 2008
“Are you sure it’s okay to leave it here? I’m sorta rethinking this. I still have to go someplace before Nanny Elsa gets out of the hospital and that’s my only ride.”
“How far? Can we be back before anyone knows you’re missing?” Rich asked. “I’ll drive.”
Vickie took the map out of the console and opened it up. Where in the hell is Wolf Whistle, West Virginia? I can already tell he’s not going to let me go anywhere by myself. The key is in the locked dropbox now, so I can’t get it back. Damn! “Hmm. We’re here and I want to go south.”
“That’s what you said. What I’m wondering is how far south. What’s the name of the town?” She’s stalling. She doesn’t know where she’s headed. Fine. I have plenty of fuel. I’ll play along for two hours, and then I’m hauling her back to Daddy. Hopefully, not kicking and screaming, but back to her parents, just the same.
“Woodstock.”
“New York? There’s no way…”
“No, Woodstock, Connecticut.”
“I know where that is, but it’s east of here, not south.”
“Oh, I must be holding the map upside down.”
“All right, we’ll go. But you try and get some rest. You get to drive us back home. Do you think you can handle this beast?”
“Um, what beast?” Vickie asked, blushing because she had been staring at the five o’clock shadow on his face. Or three A.M. shadow.
“This three-quarter-ton truck. Here. We’ll find out soon enough. Use my coat as a pillow.”
Rich reached behind the seat, grabbed his denim and sheered-wool jacket, and handed it to her. His spread-arm movement scented the air with male musk and fatigue, a faint hint of leftover cologne adding a spicy tang to the aromatherapy that made her lady parts tingle.
“Okay,” she said, hoping she didn’t sound as breathless as she felt, “I’ll try to sleep. It’s been a wild and crazy twenty-four hours.”
Rich cranked up the fan on the heater. “Yeah, well, I certainly didn’t see me taking an underage woman across state lines in the wee hours of the morning, either,” he said, then realized that he had just said that aloud.
“Hmm?” she as
ked, snuggling into the soft, fleecy interior of his coat that smelled like her hero.
“Nothing. Just get some sleep.”
Two hours later, the weary driver pulled into the all-night diner. The thunk-thunk of the truck passing over the curb and sudden absence of road noise awakened the damsel on her mission of discovery. “Wait. Where are we?” she asked, biting off the next question of, ‘And who are you?’ as she realized who he was: her gallant knight, escorting her on her quest.
Her smile of contentment widened. What he didn’t know was that her final destination was West Virginia. Even if she couldn’t find it on the printed road map, someone along the way was sure to have heard of Wolf Whistle!
“I have to stop for coffee and something to eat. You could use a big breakfast, too,” Rich said, his voice rough and dry. He swallowed and tried to clear his throat, but the noise came out lusty – sounding more like an invitation to foreplay than a search for spittle. “And I need water, lots of water. The heater dried me out.”
Click. Vickie unbuckled, leaning forward as she wiggled away from his coat. “You need this more than I do now.”
Rich stared at her breasts bouncing around an arm’s reach away… “No,” he said, his voice now even lower and more guttural. Primal. “On second thought,” he said, and pulled it onto his lap. “I’ll meet you inside. Gotta get fuel.” He shifted in his seat, moving aside his early morning discomfort, glad he had the jacket for cover in case she looked over.
“All right. Oh, and thanks. You’re a great white knight. Well, all the white knights were the good guys but you’re great. I guess they were all white, too – as in Caucasian – back in the feudal days of England. Oh, ignore me. I haven’t had coffee yet and I’m rambling,” Vickie said and opened the door, trying to leave the truck with at least a little dignity.
But, you’re so cute when you babble! Rather than try and speak without a full voice again, Rich gave her a two-fingered wave of farewell. He paused before heading to the gas pumps and pretended to look for something in the console, waiting to make sure she entered the café. Two years until you’re eighteen… Two years from now, will you be even more intriguing? ‘Two years of torment until she is yours.’ Double-damn you, gypsy!
“Hey, Roger! It’s me, Rich. Sorry, my voice is shot. We’re in Connecticut. I’m stopping for fuel and breakfast. I think this short trip will get her grounded to reality. Yeah, I know she’s just a kid. She’s on some quest for a unicorn or justice or something. Sorry. I need coffee. Just checking in. She’s fine. Yeah, well, I’m hoping she calls you. Text me if she does. She’s a good kid. Yes, yes, I know she’s still a kid. Hey, the gas guy’s here. Talk to you later. Click.
“How did I get myself into this?”
All fueled up and ready for coffee, Rich entered the small Mom and Pop restaurant. Momentary panic buckled his knees as he searched the room and didn’t see her.
Vickie came out of the ‘His and Hers’ bathroom that was located right behind him and stood quietly, watching him search for her. When she realized that his level of concern wasn’t irritation but terror, she decided to stop tormenting him.
“Looking for me?” she asked, a slight smile of mischief brightening her eyes.
He spun around, an audible gasp of relief escaping. “Who else would I be looking for?” he said, his voice raspy as a baseball fan after a double-header, his emotions mixed with frustration and joy. Seeing a table already set for the next customer, he took the glass of water and guzzled it down with a quick glug-glug. “Let’s sit here,” he said, his voice rehydrated and back to near normal. “I’ll be right back.”
The weary driver, still attired in formal dinner clothes less the tuxedo jacket, stopped at the checkout counter and souvenir shop. A pair of U Conn sweatpants and a long-sleeved tee that read ‘Woodstock: Still a great place to be’ would draw less attention to a man escorting a female minor. While waiting for the cashier to ring up his sale, he overheard an older man pause his walker at their table and address Vickie.
“Good morning, Ria. How’s your dad doing?”
Knowing that he couldn’t be talking to her, Vickie continued to read the ‘Stuff you didn’t know about Connecticut’ advertisement and trivia flyer that was on the table.
“Hmph!” the senior muttered and continued to the cash register, frustrated that he had been ignored.
“Hey, Alice,” he said when he got to the cashier. “What’s Ria doing in here without Doc? Her old man never lets her go anywhere by herself. Plus, she ain’t old enough to drive yet.”
“Are you sure that’s her?” Alice asked, looking around Rich to get a better view. “Nah. There’s a definite similarity, but Ria’s not that skinny. This one looks half-starved.”
The old man nodded in agreement. “Yeah, plus she doesn’t have those cute little elf ears like Ria. Damned if they don’t look enough alike to be twins, though.”
Rich took his change, headed into the restroom, then opened the door again quickly, looking back at their table to make sure she hadn’t taken off in his truck. He shook his head, trying to clear the brain fog of fatigue. She couldn’t do that. He still had the keys. He splashed water on his face. That helped a little, but what were those locals saying about her being a twin? They didn’t know that she’d had her ears ‘fixed.’ He only knew because that was the reason why her godmother had pummeled Nanny Elsa.
That’s a mother’s defensive move, not a godmother’s. And if I have this figured out right, Vickie is chasing down clues about what her nanny has been blackmailing her parents with. Could it be that the Thornwhistles adopted a twin and this Ria is the other one? Grace does look enough like Vickie to be her mother. Crap. I gotta eat and get some sleep. Maybe if I could see this Ria, I’d know. Something is up if she really does look like Vickie’s twin.
Rich approached the cashier after he came out, dressed as a tourist or local, not a hungover partier. “Excuse me,” he said. “I have a little problem I wanted to see a doctor about before I got further down the road. Is there one around here?”
“Yup. Doc has a clinic a ways outside of town. Not that this is much of a town, but he likes being remote. He thinks city air isn’t good for him and his daughter. That doesn’t stop him from coming in and getting a nice stack of blueberry pancakes and a side of bacon once a month or so. Here. Let me draw you a map. He doesn’t take appointments. ‘Just show up when you’re ailing,’ he says.”
“Sounds like my kind of man.” Rich watched the gnarled hands draw a simple map on the back of a paper placemat. “Just tell him Alice sent you. Not that it’ll get you a discount. He just asks folks to pay what they feel his time is worth. If they can’t afford that, they usually work out something with jams and jellies or knit caps and afghans. He’s pretty easy going.”
“Thanks. I think I’ll give him a little time, though. It’s still pretty early. My cousin and I were just passing through on our way back from a big shindig in Massachusetts. Silly me. I totally forgot to bring a change of clothes. A plate of pancakes and side of bacon with a double-strength cup of coffee sounds great. She should know what she wants to eat by now, too.”
“Be right there,” she said.
“Hey, Cuz,” Rich said as he slid into the booth.
“Cuz?” Vickie asked softly.
“Hey, cousins are fine to be traveling with,” he whispered across the table. “Remember, I could get in a lot of trouble just being with you. Give me a little alibi or validation or something, okay? Now, what do you want to eat?”
“I’m not hungry.”
“I don’t know if you even know what hungry is anymore. You’re shivering because you don’t have a calorie to burn for heat. While you’re with me, I want you to eat. And I don’t mean just move your food around on your plate and pretend, either. I’ll order for you.”
“No, that’s okay. I’ll have an egg white and mushroom omelet, no cheese.”
“Bullshit.”
“Ew! That would taste ter
rible with eggs.” Vickie sneered, then burst out laughing.
“Pancakes and bacon with coffee and an orange juice,” Rich said.
“That’s too much,” Vickie started to protest.
“That’s for me.”
“Oh. Dang. That sounded pretty good.”
Rich looked up and saw the cashier, now his waitress, marking on her notepad. “Double that order except you know how I want my coffee.”
“Sure thing, Cuz,” she said with a wink.
“I can’t believe I ate half of that pancake and three pieces of bacon.”
“It was only one pancake, even if it did fill half the plate. So, on another subject, where are we going? I mean, why are we going?”
“I want to find out what Elsa’s holding over my parents’ heads. I know that comb she said was her family heirloom has been in my father’s family for generations and was going to be mine. I guess she didn’t know that I knew, or she wouldn’t have tried to tell me such a bodacious lie. And the Ghibli! Dad bought that just after I was born. It was our summer touring vehicle. She knew that I knew, too, because she’s been my nanny since before I was old enough to read. While she was gone, I snooped in her room. I found her ledger of ill-gotten gains. It lists everything she’s taken, who she took it from and when, and its estimated value. That woman could probably buy a villa in France if she wanted. Why would she stick around?”
“Greed.”
“Huh?”
“Greed. Plain and simple. She wants more. It’s a sickness. I see a lot of it. Mr. A. has a home with ten bedrooms and twelve baths, so Mr. B. thinks he needs one with fourteen of each. Mrs. C. has a three-carat diamond ring, so Mrs. D. wants three-and-a-half carats. Truth is, one bedroom per person in the house is plenty, and it’s only tradition that says a wedding ring is even necessary.”
“Yeah, diamonds aren’t for everyone,” Vickie said with a snort. “They seem to get some people in trouble. Hence the hair comb Elsa extorted from my dad.”