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It’s a quarter past eleven and I’m really frightened. No one said anything about Mathhew’s tranfer. What if it was a wild goose chase? There are many things that Bart and Matthew didn’t think about. Maybe the email sent by the hacker didn’t arrive or, worst, somebody could understand that it was a false request and they opened an official investigation.
From a certain point of view, it would be better. So I could avoid this madness. On the other hand, I couldn’t look at Matthew anymore if our plan didn’t succeed.
While I nervously walk along the corridor, Mary stops in front of me asking to go in the office with her. As soon as the door is closed, she boldly says: «Do you know the last new? Your Matthew is going to be transferred in San Diego. Did you hear something about it? »
«Absolutely not!» I exclaim self-confident. Who knows what’s the divine punishment for the perjury?
«The boss asked me to accompany him with Jess, you know... the beautiful driver? I’d like to, but Stan is jealous and if he comes to know that I was alone with another man, he would leave me. So I thought of you. I’m sure it would be good for you to see your man going away from here and from your life once and for all. »
«What are you blethering about? Matthew is not my man» I firmly answer, as the embarrassment catches me. I feel guilty because I didn’t tell my friend about all my feelings for Matt and all that happened between us.
She laughs with stentorian voice, and then observes me as if she wanted to dig me: «Stop making me a fool. We’ve known each other for a long time and I understand when you like somebody. You can hide it to everybody, but not to me. Yesterday you asked Matthew to help you rearrange the office, and when I got in, I found it more disordered than before. »
«How can you know? You weren’t here yesterday.»
«I have my informants. For a packet of smokes, they would even sell their mother. Gary told me everything. I believe that he too thinks that you have a story. You’re not so smart.»
This time Mary is right. Because of a disruptive passion we forgot to be cautious and now the risk is really big. I decide to trust my friend and to tell her the truth. Maybe, if I can take her on my side, there’s a hope. It can’t be worse than now.
«Yes, I really like Matthew. He knows how to make my head spin.»
«Don’t you feel better, now that you told someone? That’s the way I like you. There can be no friendship without sincerity.»
Mary smiles and it seems her features are more relaxed and serene, so I calm down. I decide to dare a little bit more.
«I guess you think that I’ve been stupid enough throwing myself in his arms and that I have to deal with a despicable being, but what you don’t know is that Matthew is better than what we thought. He is the innocent victim of an unjust justice system. He’s paying for no fault of his own, believe me! »
«Don’t you think that’s a bit of an exaggeration? I can understand falling in love with a detainee, but to believe in his bullshit...»
To these words I tell her all that Matthew confessed, but her expression remains skeptical. So I understand it’s useless to waste my breath. Whatever I told her to prove Matthew’s innocence, she wouldn’t believe me. So I skim over.
«How much do you think the rumors about the “simpathy” we have towards each other have spread? »
«Stay calm, Khyla. Not too much. The people, here, mind their own buisiness. The only one worrying me is Gary. He’s an asshole, but if you want I can hold him off. »
«How?»
«Trust me. I’m working here since more time and I know how to manage them. But now I want to know the why of this question. Whatever happened between you and Matthew, is about to end. He’s going to be imprisoned in San Diego’s jail.»
My legs start shaking. To speak or to shut up? The truth is that we are friends, and I don’t want to lie anymore. Or would it be better to keep silent? Our plan is well thought out, but dangerous. It might end up in the worst way. Plus, in such a precarious situation, having an extra ally could change our fate... at least mine. Matthew would be lost anyway. «Mary, sit down for a moment and listen to me. There’s no transfer to San Diego.»
«Now you’re talking to me as if you sniffed cocaine. What the hell are you saying? Of course Matthew is going.»
«No, it’s a con. He just want to evade and I’m going to help him.»
«You what?» she shouts, getting up.
«Low your voice, you don’t one someone to be suspicious, do you? During the transfer I’ll release him and he’ll pretend to kidnapp me. »
«No, you’re crazy, completely mad. You’re about to become an accomplice of a criminal.»
«I’ve already told you he isn’t a criminal! » I exclaim sure.
«How are you not getting this?! Even though he was innocent, for the low he’s guilty anyway» she retorts.
Mary’s got her eyes all bulging out, distraught by my confession. I have to keep her quiet: I don’t want her to go and tell everything to our bosses. I take her by shoulders and speak decisively: «Listen, maybe I’m crazy, but this is what I’m gonna do and I’m not going to change my mind. »
«Why are you telling me this? » she asks woozy.
«Because you’re my friend, you’ll have to cover me, even denying evidence. You’ll have to pretend that I just was in the wrong place at the wrong moment. Matthew wants to flee, I think to Mexico, and I want to go with him. If they believe that he’s got a hostage, they’ll probably move cautiously, leaving us more chances of moving. But if they know that I’m his accomplice, they won’t be scrupulous. They’ll come and kill both of us. »
Mary looks at me with a mixture of fear and tenderness.
«Why do you want to help him? »
«I told you! He’s innocent...»
She doesn’t seem to believe my passionate assertion.
«Stop changing the subject. I want you to be sincere to me, Khyla. You really love him, don’t you? »
I bent my head and finally give voice to my feelings. And then I feel better.
«Yes, I never felt something like this. I’m alive just when I’m with him. At first I believed that it was just physical attraction, but a few days were enough to understand that I really love him. I’m prepared to lose my freedom and my life, to give him the possibility to be happy.»
«And do you think he reciprocates your feeling? »
«Not at all. Matthew’s heart is taken. But he engaged me so much, that I’m prepared to be content with the crumbles, to stand beside him. »
She takes my hand and caresses it to give me strength and warmth.
«Yes, you’re crazy, the victim of a madness really unique, in its gender. But you’re my best friend. We always helped each other. »
She gets up from the chair and embraces me.
«Be careful, please» she tenderly whispers.
I can feel my face damp with tears, but they’re not only mine. We’re both silently crying. Even though we usually are optimistic, we know that this could be the last time we see each other. After some emotional moments, we get back to work. There are still some details to care for, before the escaping.
It’s all ready. I just have to go and fetch Matthew to bring him to the penitentiary police van.
«Matthew, it’s time to go. Move your ass...» I say with the hardest tone. Actually I’d like to be far from here, in his arms telling him to love me and imploring him to love me till the end of our lives. That’s why I decided to help him.
«Here I am.»
I handcuff him and tell him to hurry up. He obeys without speaking, but looking at me with one of those deep gaze able to distraught me.
«You’re looking forward to get rid of me, aren’t you? » asks him ironically with low voice.
«No time to joke. If I get angry, I really get you to San Diego’s jail and leave you there to rot. » I say kicking him on the calf.
«Ahi! You’re hurting me! Look, I know the right way to revenge» he sniggers. This threat full with allusions is enough to make me feel a deep heat invading my bowels.
Out in the courtyard, we go toward the van ready for the transfer. Waiting for us there’s Jess, a very kind new employee.
«Come on, Khyla. Let him on, or we’ll be late. Do you need help? »
«No, I can manage.»
«I go to start the engine, then. »
I lead Matthew on and order him to sit down. While Jess is whistling, I open the handcuff and put in his pocket the false revolver. I had taken it to prevent my colleagues to find it during the usual search, then I wink to him and go beside Jess.
He starts to talk about this and that and to tell jokes:
«Do you know this one? Los Angeles police, CIA and FBI want to show who, among them, has the most prepared men.
The President submits them to a test. He frees a rabbit in the forest and then asks the men to find it.
First the CIA agents. They put informers between the animals, question the trees and then, after three months, they say that rabbits don’t exist.
Then it’s the FBI turn. After two weeks without clues, they burn the forest including the rabbit.
Finally is the Los Angeles police’s turn.
They come out of the forest, with a bleeding raccoon, roughed up.
The raccoon screams: «Ok, ok! I’m a rabbit! I’m a rabbit!»
Jess laughs aloud, but I didn’t like the joke. On the contrary it disturbs me a lot. The newspapers are full with episodes in which the American policemen use every means to stop the crimes. What if some of them beat us? What if none of us comes out alive?
«... Khyla, why don’t you laugh. Did you listen to me?»
«Nice joke» I say lost in thought continuing to watch out to control where we are. Thank to Google Earth, I memorized the road to be sure of the signs. As soon as we get near a Chinese restaurant beside a Laundromat , I’ll start to sing. This is the signal to let Matthew know it’s time to get in action.
«Khyla, read that sign» says Jess.
«Fuck! The road is closed for work in progress. We have to go through an alternative one» I exclaim aloud to let Matthew hear me.
«Where’s the problem? We are not in a hurry to go back in Los Angeles. And I don’t think the detainee will complain. Our tour will be only a little longer than we thought. »
Oh God! This trick will jeopardize our plan. What if because of the deviation, we could not go to the point agreed with Bart? We could escape anyway, but with these uniforms on, we won’t get too far.
I feel the droplets of sweat pounding my forehead. To avoid Jess suspicious, I say that the uniform is too heavy for Los Angeles weather. I often turn to look at Matthew, trying to read in his eyes his thoughts, but his gaze remains inscrutable.
After going through minor roads for about a dozen minutes, we finally are on the main street again. The problem is: did we overpass the right point? I’m trying to understand exactly where we are, but I’m too worried to reason clearly.
At a certain point, at the end of the street, I recognize them: the Chinese restaurant with the red lanterns and the Laundromat with the green sign. I swallow. This is the last chance for redention. Do I really have to be Matthew’s accomplice? Maybe I can still save me. But if I do this, I will completely loose his trust. If I decided not to go on, when we’ll get to San Diego’s jail, they’ll immediately understand that the tranfer is rubbish and for Matthew would be the end. No, I can’t trait him.
Strumming my pain with his fingers
singing my life with his words
killing me softly with his words
killing me softly with his words
telling my whole life with his words
killing me softly with his words
«What a beautiful voice you’ve got, Khyla. You’ve got talent, you know? You could become a professional singer» Jess comments with a witty smile. He’s talking about my vocals, but meanwhile, he looks at me in an unequivocal way, as if he was guessing my size. Probably, continuing to praise me, he is wondering what the size of my bra is. Damn! Can’t sleazy men stay away from me?
I continue to sing aloud, but nothing happens. Could Matthew have changed his mind? Maybe he thinks that the plan is awful, with uncertain results. Now I’m singing with low voice because I want to hear any movements coming from the back of the van. Nothing. If Matthew doesn’t get in action within a few seconds, the game will definitely be over. I mentally countdown, when suddenly a male voice bursts between Jess and me.
«Stop the van immediately, if you don’t want me to blow your brain! »
«What...what do you... mean...» he blethers. I turn and see Matthew pointing the revolver at the back of Jess head. Because of the tension, the poor man looses the control of the van. It begins to skid dangerously. I have to hold myself not to bump my head against the windshield.
«Did you understand? I’m not joking. Stop it! » shouts Matthew, with his voice transfigured by anger.
He moves the gun and shot a bullet that stucks in the top of the van. So it wasn’t true that it was toy gun! If we stay alive, I’m going to find a way to revenge.
This time Jess can’t do but obey Matthew’s order. The van stops just in front the Chinese restaurant and Matthew starts threatening me: «Get out and open this bloody trap. »
«No, please, leave her alone. I’ll open it» implores Jess while sweating.
«Don’t worry, it’ll be all right» I whisper to him, lightly touching his shoulder to reassure him. I’m feeling sorrow for him. He’s so scared that he’s trembling all over his body.
«Give her the key and put the hands and the face on the steering» says Matthew. Jess obeys and I get out in a hurry to open the rear door.
Matthew jumps down and points the gun at my back, whispering to me: «Stay calm. There was only one bullet. »
I’d like to tell him that I put my life and my future in the hands of an asshole, but there’s no time. He leads me toward the basement under the Chinese restaurant. He knocks three times and the door opens right away. We go down some steps in the dark and there we are in a dirty room, filled with cardboard boxes.
«We chose this place because it’s owned by a friend and because, if they come to look for us, we can hide behind the boxes» Matthew explains while I’m looking around worried. In fact I’m not calm at all. There could be some rats. He stops pointing the gun and put it in his pocket.
Bart comes with the clothes, laughing aloud.
«I can’t believe it! You really succeed! I wouldn’t have bet a penny on your escape. »
«Cut it out and throw that bag. We aren’t safe yet. How much do you think it’ll take before the driver calls the police? »
Matthew pulls out the clothing and the other accessories, gives them to me and, noticing my shyness , shows me a sheltered corner behind the boxes. Bart controls the van from a little window.
«So far it seems all right, but there’s no time to waste. »
Yes. I have to move on, but my hands are hard and don’t seem to want to obey the orders. I can manage dressing and put the wig on, but I have problems with the colored contact lenses.
«Matthew, I can’t do it! » I desperately whisper.
He runs to me already prepared to resume the flight. He wears torn trousers, a trendy shirt and his beautiful features are mixed up by wig, contact lenses and black fake moustache.
Thank to his help, in a few seconds I’m ready too. We can hear a lot of police sirens coming from outside. Bart suggests moving on if we want to save our skins. We run in the opposite direction to that of the entrance. What’s Matthew’s intentions? How does he think to escape from the police? I don’t know what to think, and then I see it: a door that opens directly on another road. So I understand that maybe we can still hope for the best.
