25

 

 

I froze for a second, then stepped off the road and into the nearby brush. The car was darked out and the engine wasn’t running. The moon overhead and the street light in the distance cast just enough light on it for me to be sure it was the same car that had almost rear-ended me outside the Steer Inn.

As I stared at it, I tried to make out shapes in the front seat, especially the driver’s side. It didn’t take long to figure out that no one was in the car. Or if someone was, he’d ducked down.

Behind me, I heard the unmistakable sound of snapping twigs and shuffling feet. The cops were coming out of their eagle’s nest. I needed to get the hell out of there.

I stepped back up onto the road and took off running. My knee exploded in pain with each step. I’m sure my gait was more of a stumbling lurch than a run, but I still covered ground. As I passed the blue Taurus, I half-expected a door to shoot out and knock me off my feet.

Nothing happened.

I hazarded a quick glance inside as I passed.

The car was empty.

I turned the corner and left King Pigeon Lane, continuing to shamble along until I reached the next street over and found my car. It took me a few seconds to catch my breath and slide the key into the door, but after that, I fired up the Toyota and drove out of Namaste Estates as quickly as I could without looking like I was running rum out of the North Carolina backwoods.