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KHYLA
I felt sorry to get rid of the harness on my tummy... now I was fond of it. Moreover Matthew and I agreed that it wouldn’t be suitable for the new identity change.
Now we are in José’s garage and we are preparing to go, loading the trunk of a black Renegade Jeep with new appropriate clothes, some food and fuel tanks. I didn’t know that José was so efficient. As soon as Matthew showed him his escape plan through the Sierra, he managed to retrieve from the attic of his house padded down jackets and trekking shoes for the both of us, plus many tanks of fuel because, from his point of view, the less we stop at the services stations, the better.
I embrace our benefactor with much emphasis, whispering a thankfulness full of pine, then I get up on the Jeep looking forward for Matthew to take place and leave. Their salutation, of course, is more sober and contentious, made of bumps on the shoulders and “We’ll see soon” said in a mid-voice.
A few seconds of waiting and Matthew is back to my side. He turns on the engine and starts off in the streets of San Francisco. I observe the both of us in the rear-view mirror. The new disguise has been designed to make us similar as much as possible. We both have ash blond hair and brown eyes, but in fact we are very different, both for the shape of the face and the skin tone. My is more olive, while his is pale. It isn’t easy to understand if it is so because of the three years spent under the neon-light of the jail. I think I have to wait to be in Mexico to discover it. Yes, because I’m truly convinced that, sooner or later, I’ll go to Mexico with the man I love, with Tracy’s good peace. Even though, as soon as this name echoes in my mind, I realize that it won’t be easy as I hope. I’ll have to be very persuasive to make Matthew understand that it’s time to leave the dreams of the past and to create a future with me, and I’m not really sure to have the necessary astuteness and sex-appeal to succeed in this challenge.
This time again, luck plays on our side. Even though the police are looking for us, we can get out of the city without any special effort.
Listening to the radio, it seems the cops are everywhere excepts where we pass. When I say this to Matthew, he laughs: «I told you there was nothing to be worried about. I always know what I’m doing ...»
«Almost always» I answer. «For example with that gun in the office of Tracy’s father... you made me really scared.»
He becomes serious at once.
«You were scared for nothing. I would never shoot that man, even though he ruined my life.»
«And who is going to reassure me about it?»
I would like to trust him, but I don’t know if I should believe him or not.
«Take the gun from my pocket.»
What’s his idea? It’s not easy to interpret his request, anyway I decide to do exactly as he said.
«And now do check the gun’s magazine.»
I check. There’s not even a bullet. Suddenly it’s all clear to me.
«Do you mean you faced George with an empty gun? You got a screw loose.»
«I had to make him believe I was armed, Khyla, otherwise he would never reveal where Tracy is.»
«But when you’ve escape, you fired exactly with this same gun.»
«Yes, it’s true, but there was only that bullet in it. If you noticed, I fired without the intention to hurt anyone. The alternatives were two: to use a toy gun or a real one. I opted for the real one to strike more fear and to persuade the police of my peril, however I’m not a bad person. I hate to use violence.»
Even in this case I would like to believe his words, but I know for sure it’s not as he says. Making violence is not just knocking or hurting or procuring a long trail of death and pain, making violence is also creating addiction, psychologically harassing someone. And I, in this regard, am the victim of Matthew’s violence. I’m depending on him, his smile, each word he says. I’m self-destructing in the name of this love without future. Even though often is enough a small gesture to convince me otherwise, I know that Matthew doesn’t love me and certainly doesn’t respect me. If he really cared for me, he would stop fleeing. He would face justice and would find the way to testify in my favor to the authorities, instead he’s ruthless using me as a shield for his purpose. Instead he is amused by shredding my dignity. He sees me as the remedy of a night, not the woman to share his life with. But I don’t want to surrend. I want to believe that my love will be enough for both.
FRED
«There we are» says Raven, carefully pointing her gaze to the window of the garage. I park in a free space and get out of the car, then go quickly to the garage’s entrance. When I get in, Raven is right behind me and we head straight to the shop owner, who turns out to be tall, with wide shoulders and a tight and round ass. He welcomes us with a smile. He still doesn’t know what he has to expect. Raven had decided to change before following me, and in civilian clothes we could look like two tourists looking for a car to go visiting the Californian Parks.
«Hello! What can I do for you?»
When I’m closer, I pull out the badge and show it to him. I read a little fright in his gaze, that I interpret as a sign of guilt, but his face returns imperturbable in a flash and he smiles again as if nothing had happened. Ok, I have to deal with a tough guy.
«Hello agent, what’s the matter?» he asks pretending to be indifferent.
«I think you already know» I answer with the harsh tone of someone that doesn’t allow replies. But he replies: «I’m sorry to contradict you, but I don’t know anything and did nothing.»
These words make me very angry. I take him by the shirt’s cloak and shout on his face: «How dare you? I’m not going to let you bullshit me! Khyla and Matthew were here and I want to know where they are now!»
«You are mad! Didn’t they do a psychological test before taking you in the police academy? I don’t even know who you’re talking about.»
Raven forces me to leave him and I obey, but I’m angry as a bull in front of a red cloak. Next time I’ll twist his neck.
«You don’t understand who you are dealing with» I continue. «You have to tell me everything you know, otherwise...»
He provokes me repeating: «Otherwise what?»
What a dick! I’m nearly going to kick his lower part of the body, so that he could go to sing in a choir of white voices.
I step again in front of him, ready to give action to my thought, but Raven stops me by holding my arm. She pulls my ear near her warm mouth and whispers: «Let me try. You’re not going to obtain anything, this way.»
She’s a shit! Does she mean I’m a stupid? But I could permit everything, to a woman like her. I step backward and she speaks in my place.
«José, it’s useless to deny. We are looking for an escaped prisoner, Matthew Ross, and his hostage Khyla Freemont. All the media are talking about them. I can’t believe that you didn’t hear anything.»
«I never look at the tv.»
«Anyway we know for sure that they took a taxi and asked to be brought at your address.»
«This means nothing. They could get off the taxi here and heading everywhere.»
«They could... You are right. But don’t you think that is a little bit suspicious that Matthew is from your same neighborhood in Los Angeles?» she insists.
José seems to feel the blow, but then he persists: «And even if he did? Do you know everyone that live in your street? Knowing the names of those living in your same building, would be enough.»
I can see Raven’s hands shaking with impatiens. If she gives up, I’ll use the stronger manners right away. I’m going to change his distinguishing marks, if he keeps on denying the evidence.
She plays her last card.
«All right, I see that you are not going to admit that you helped those two. There’s no problem. Just in front of your garage, there’s a bank’s video surveillance camera. I’m going to ask the director to give me the registrations of it. If they show us that you lied, we’ll close your business and you’ll be arrested for perjured testimony.»
Raven turns and walks sensual and quickly toward the exit. I look at José and notice that he is very pale. I could take advantage and give him a punch on his nose, just to feel the sensation of his cartilages crumpling under the weight of my strength. Nevertheless I decide to overlook and run to Raven, to walk beside her. Moreover, I like the idea of the bank.
As we are getting out, a voice that seems to come from the underworld, hisses: «Wait, agents.»
We go back to José looking at him interrogatively.
«If I decide to tell you what I know, will you save my back?»
«Sure» exclaims Raven with an encouraging smile. «Just tell us where they are»
«I don’t know. I can just tell you that I gave them a Jeep to go through the Sierra.»
We get out with the certainty of having made a strike. Raven is euphoric and I’m satisfied a zillion percent. She’s about to take the transceiver and give indications to her team, but I stop her.
«Don’t.»
«Why? They can’t be very far. If we alert the agents, we can succeed blocking them before they get out of the city.»
«Please, listen. That Matthew is mine. I want to be the one to put him in jail again.»
«Aren’t we going to take unnecessary risks?»
«If you’re quacking in your boots, you can go back to your office with the heating under the pavement.»
«Of course not. I’m going to follow you wherever you’ll go.»
And so we go. This time that son of a bitch drowned without the innkeeper. He has counted hours now.
