Billy sees Axel’s lights turn south at the beach entrance and vanish behind the dunes. The microbus goes out of sight in the other direction. He cuts off his own lights before turning onto the beach and following Axel toward the river. But for the shrinking taillights of the microbus in his mirror, there’s no sign of other beach traffic. When Axel’s brake lights brighten and halt, Billy stops too. He judges the truck to be forty yards ahead. He’s certain Axel can’t see him back here in the blackness. Then the truck’s lights go off and Billy can no longer see him either.
What’s he doing? Waiting for somebody?
Can’t just sit here.
Billy backs up in a semicircle and behind the cover of a dune, the 4Runner facing the sea. He waits a moment, then turns on his lights and wheels back onto the beach and heads toward the river. He could be anybody … a guy and his girl looking for a more private fuck spot. He lowers his right window.
You got the advantage on him with your lights, he thinks. You’ll be able to see him in the cab as you move in, but he can’t see you. Pull up next to him, toot the horn, and ask real loud if there’s a public toilet around. Soon as he starts talking, turn on the interior light and give him one good second to see you before you raise the .45 so he can see it … then boom!
When he draws close enough for his lights to illuminate the cab, he doesn’t see anyone in it. He stops alongside the truck, holding the .45 pointed out the window. He scans in front of the truck and spies a yellow gleam deep in the far-off dunes. House lights? In the red cast of his taillights he sees the sign on the chain post. He backs up to put his headlights on it, sees the chains and the trail it’s blocking.
Goes to the house, he thinks. That’s where he’s gone.
He backs the SUV into a space between dunes and cuts off the lights and motor, grabs an extra magazine from the console, and gets out into the soft rain. No telling who else might be there, but so what? Move fast enough and you might catch him before he even gets to them. Best if he could see you before you do him, but fuck it, put him down first chance you get and split quick.
The .45 in hand, he hustles up the trail at a jog.