Escaping Parker, page 6
As the day drags on, and the sun is setting, I’m getting close to finishing up. All that’s left to do is wait for it to dry so Alice can get all her stuff back up. I’m pretty tired, and just want to take a shower and go to sleep. That’s when Alice calls for dinner.
“The living room looks real nice. Parker. Thank you for helping Alice,” James says, giving me a small smile when I sit at the table with him and Alice.
“Thank you, it was my pleasure. It was actually really calming to paint.” I stifle a yawn. “Where is Rig?”
“He went into town to grab some stuff; he should be back in a little bit,” Alice answers.
“Oh.” I suddenly feel a bit unsafe without him here. Horrifying thoughts of Steven finding me rush through my mind. How could Rig leave and not tell me, explain what to do if he found me?
My stomach sours and I just want to go disappear to my room for the night. Obviously I’m tired and thinking irrationally. It’s crazy how vivid I see the worst scenario play out in my head, like an overly dramatic suspense movie. Except mine doesn’t have one of those happy endings that make you all soft inside; mine ends with my family standing over my final resting place. My body trembles. Alice puts her hand on my arm, trying to pull me from my own haze.
“Thank you for dinner. I’m going to take a shower and get some sleep. All this running is finally catching up with me.” I excuse myself from the table and put my dish in the sink.
I bring some clean clothes to the bathroom to rinse off before I turn in for the night. I take my time as I let the hot water relax my nerves and pretend for a moment that I’m back at my parents’ house, where I was young, and not involved in this crap.
I finish up, not wanting to be selfish and take all the hot water. Maybe Rig plans to take a shower when he returns. I dry off and do my daily assessment in the mirror, searching my reflection as my old self is starting to come back to life. Now, a tiny light glints at the end of the tunnel.
When I get back in my room, clothes are folded neatly in the middle of the bed, ones I don’t recognize from the duffle bag. I grab one shirt off the top and see my size on the new store tag attached to the shirt. Nothing fancy, just a couple new tank tops and some new jeans. I don’t know where they came from, but I have an idea. I just wonder how he knew my size.
“Those are the right size, right?” Rig asks from the doorway.
“Yes, how did you know?” I ask, delighted to have some clothes of my own.
“I checked your old clothes before I discarded them. You know, because I had to get rid of anything anybody could have recognized you in. I figured you would feel better in clothes of your own, and something that fit instead of the clothes in the bag.”
“I’m not picky, those clothes were fine.”
“I’m not saying you are. Look, it was just something nice I could do for you; there was no hidden agenda or message there.” He holds up his hands, signaling he means no harm.
“I know, just next time you leave, can you tell me? What if something happened, or he showed up and you weren’t here? I need to know these things to make me feel more at ease.”
“I’ll let you know next time. I just went into town to grab some groceries and these clothes. I wouldn’t have left you here alone if you weren’t going to be safe, you know that.”
“Where are we, anyway? I still don’t know where here is?”
“Kansas. Concordia, Kansas. Nowhere land, off the grid.”
“Ok, well I’m pretty tired. I think I’m just going to bed. See you in the morning.” I take the clothes and put them on the top of the dresser.
“Alright, goodnight. Oh, I meant to tell you . . . the living room looks nice.”
“Thanks,” I say, and watch him walk out of the room closing the door softly behind him.
My nerves feel settled since the shower. I keep telling myself that I needed that hot relaxing shower, even though I know the real reason I’m better is because Rig is back.
Tonight I fall right asleep.
I spend my time here helping Alice get things done, and the house is really starting to look nice inside. Rig works really hard outside, which limits the time we spend around each other. I guess that’s not a bad thing.
After dinner, I offer to wash the dishes and give Alice a break. I’ve offered before, but she always says I’m a guest and not to worry, but tonight I insist. I scrub a plate while Rig helps clear the table, piling the dirty dishes on the counter next to me.
“That’s all of them. Want me to wash, and you can dry them?” he asks, leaning back against the counter.
“It’s probably best that you dry them. I don’t really know where all this stuff goes, and you are more familiar with this kitchen than I am.”
“Okay. Sounds like a plan.” He takes a white towel hanging from the oven handle and starts to dry a bowl.
It’s pretty quiet between us as we both focus on getting the kitchen done. I decide to lighten it up, because the silence is unnerving. I grab a handful of suds from the sink and toss it at Rig’s face. I chuckle and watch them slide down his cheek to his chin, and a tiny part of me wishes I were those bubbles.
He glares at me with a hint of smile showing, and I know I have just asked for it. He scoops up bubbles and tosses them back at me, but his hand is full of water. I’m soaked, and I can’t do anything other than laugh and be shocked. I retaliate, throwing water and bubbles on him, and the kitchen is filled with laughter. I It feels great.
He goes to throw a towel at me, and I block it, knocking a glass to the floor, shattering it. Instantly, the light-hearted feeling is replaced by anxiety. I’m reminded of the many glasses and dishes that Steven has broken in a rage.
Rig’s eyes fill with pity. “It’s not a big deal, don’t worry. It’s just a glass,” Rig says, but I’m already so deep in my head, it goes in one ear and out the other.
Rig gently touches my arm, trying to get my attention. “It’s ok. You are fine, please don’t worry about it. That might have been your reaction before, but it’s not anymore,” he calmly states while I look at him.
“You’re right. It’s just a glass. Shit, let me get that picked up.”
I bend down to pick it up, and at the same time Rig goes to get it as well. We almost bump heads, and our faces are close together I can feel him breathing. My heart speeds up.
“I got it.” I pick up pieces of the glass, trying not to look at his lips. God those lips.
He shakes his head and walks away, while I try to calm myself down. He comes back with a small dust pan and hand broom, sweeping up the tiny shards of glass on the floor.
“Don’t move, you don’t have shoes on and I want to make sure I get it all.” Out of nowhere, he picks me up and walks me into the living room, setting me down by the couch. This closeness is not good for me; it’s doing things to my already foggy head.
We stand there looking at one another, not moving, and butterflies take flight in my stomach. Everything feels so wrong, yet so right in this moment. I know this isn’t good for me, but that makes me want it even more.
Alice walks in, holding an envelope, instantly breaking up this thing going on between Rig and me. “I have your next destination.”
“Great, thanks. Well, I guess it’s time to pack up and get going,” Rig says, grabbing the papers and looking at them as if nothing had happened.
“Just like that?” I ask, sad to be leaving Alice and James.
“That’s how it works. Get your stuff ready, we have to get going.”
I nod and walk to my room to pack my stuff. I wonder if this is always how it’s going to be: every time I start to get comfortable in one place, it’s time to leave. Never having that stability I crave so much.
Once I’m done, I wait in the living room for Rig, so we can get on the road to the new place. There really isn’t any point to ask asking where.
“Well, let’s go,” Rig announces when he walks in the room.
Alice and James are waiting at the door. “Parker, dear, it was a pleasure to have you here. Thank you for all of your help. We couldn’t have done it without you.” Alice pulls me into a tight hug.
“Thank you for having me. I wish we could have stayed longer.”
“You’ll be just fine. Trust Ryan, he will not let anything happen to you. And start letting down those walls,” she whispers in my ear before letting go.
“Alright guys, thanks again for having us. We must get going now.” Rig smiles and opens the door.
When I open the backdoor of the car, he says, “You know you can sit up front if you want to.”
“I didn’t know. Okay, I’ll do that. Then I can bug you more while you are driving,” I joke.
It’s starting to get late, and I’m sure I’ll be asleep in no time, once again making me horrible company.
“Do you think we could stop and get an energy drink or something? I’m pretty tired and you must be also.”
“Yeah, we can do that first. You know, you don’t have to try and stay awake; you should get some sleep,” he says as he climbs into the driver’s seat.
“I know, I just don’t want you to get too bored. It’s fine, I’ll sleep when I really need to.”
“Okay.”
After stopping at a local convenience store for drinks and snacks, we start driving endless miles of open road.
“So what is it that you love so much about what you are doing?” I ask, fiddling around with the bag of snacks.
“There are a lot of things. But this, right here: driving, the feeling of not being trapped, being able to travel open roads not congested by city traffic, and finding hidden places that most people don’t know about. I also get a huge rush knowing I’m winning. It’s really enjoyable knowing I am taking something from someone who took it for granted. My head works in a sick sorta way. Does that make you uncomfortable?” he looks over to me, his eyes making his point clear.
“No, not uncomfortable, maybe a little worried, but nothing compared to the feelings I’m so used to having. Do you think this constant need to look over my shoulder will ever go away? Always feeling panic and fear of being caught? You know he said the next time he found me, I would never be able to run again because he would kill me?”
“I won’t let that happen, not on my time. I won’t ever leave you alone until I’m certain you are not in danger. Like I have said before, this isn’t something that will happen overnight; it takes months, sometimes years.”
“Well, I hope that’s a promise you intend on keeping, because I not sure what kind of match we are to the people who he associates with. I know things, things that will bring a whole bunch of people down if I said a word. That’s why he is so certain on keeping me, and if he can’t keep me and be assured I won’t talk, then there is no use to have me around.”
“Well, that’s no longer your life, you have my word. It’s all about adjusting now, figuring out where to go from here, and what will make you happy.”
“It’s going to take some time. I’ve been so overwhelmed with the way he crowded me for so long, being alone doesn’t sound half bad,” I say with a yawn.
“Why don’t you get some shut eye? We’re going be on the road for a while,” he says, and I glace at the clock, noticing it’s already 9:30pm
“I’m just going to rest my eyes for a bit,” I say with the full intention of falling asleep for a while.
Loud whistling noises jolt me from my sleep. Fireworks light up the sky not too far off in the distance. In my confusion, I start counting off the days I have spent running, and it hits me.
“Why didn’t you tell me it was the fourth of July?” I ask.
“I thought you knew what day it was. I’m sorry, but you aren’t missing anything. Keep your eyes over there.” He points at the horizon, where a spray of white sparks fills the air.
“It’s not your fault, it’s not like there’s really anything to celebrate being on the road, anyway. I just thought maybe Alice would have said something.”
“Holidays aren’t really their thing.”
“You know, this is one of my favorite holidays. I love watching the flashing lights illuminate the sky, never knowing where to look next, but somehow they are always right in front of you.”
I continue to watch the show off to the side and imagine I’m back at home, sitting in the backyard with my family after a BBQ, with my cousins running around chasing each other with sparklers. The Fourth of July was always a big deal in my house; a time when our family would come together, swim, and just enjoy being around one another. There was always more food than needed, topped off with desserts before we would all find a spot for the huge firework show hosted by the local high school. Our house was right on top of hill overlooking the school, and it proved to be the best seats in the house.
I wish I was back with them and not this far away, but I hope that they would be proud of the choice I made in running so I could be free from Steven. Which is kind of fitting, considering the holiday it is.
I wake up at sunrise, my neck sore from sleeping sitting up. I really need to take a break and get out of the car and stretch my legs.
The sun casts an orange and pink glow across the sky, breaking through the clouds. I’m unable to take my eyes off the breathtaking view.
“It’s beautiful, isn’t it? You’re usually still asleep and don’t catch them.” Rig rests his forearms on the steering wheel, looking out of the top of the windshield.
“It is, I’ve seen nothing like it before.” I stare out the window a bit longer.
“Well, you’ve been missing out on a lot, then, if you haven’t seen anything like this before. It rained a bit list night, nothing too much, but that’s why it’s that color. The sun is reflecting off the clouds.”
“So how much longer do we have till we are there? Do you want me to drive for a while so you can get some sleep? You must be tired,” I offer, not wanting to change the subject, but he’s been driving through the night.
“We have about eight more hours, but I’m ok right now. I don’t think you should be driving. If you happen to get pulled over, they are going to ask for your license and we can’t risk that. I’m ok, really.” He adjusts himself, like he isn’t comfortable sitting there.
“How about we pull over somewhere to eat? You have to be starving.”
“We could do that. I’ll find something close, and we can find a rest stop or a park somewhere and eat. How about that?”
“Sounds good to me.”
He checks his phone, and we drive a couple more minutes until we get to Wally’s, a rundown drive-thru. We order some not so great coffee and breakfast sandwiches, and find a nearby park.
Rig brings a blanket from the trunk. “Can you grab the coffee and the food?”
I follow him to a spot under a tree, where he sets up the blanket and I distribute the food
“Thank you, you must be so hungry and tired from driving all night. Are you sure you’re going to make it the rest of the day? Do we have a certain time we have to be where we are going?” I take a sip of coffee.
“Yeah, we’ll be fine. Don’t worry about it, I keep a good schedule.”
Rig is in no rush to get a move on once we finish our food, so I take this time to just sit back and relax a bit, not all cramped up in a car. I lie back with my arms propped behind me, tilting my head and enjoying the sun’s warmth. We both get lost in our thoughts for a while, acting as if nobody is looking for me, and we aren’t on the run. It feels nice to stop for a second and just be.
“We should think about getting back on the road now.” Rig squints over to me.
“Just another minute, please. I need this more than anything right now,” I admit. He doesn’t fight me on it, and I savor the last moments sitting here feeling weightless, like nobody can hurt me right now.
A few minutes later, I start grabbing the trash, putting it in the bags to throw away, not needing Rig to tell me my time is up. I know it is, and I don’t need it ruined by his bossiness. Even though I’m secretly loving his bossiness.
About a half hour into the drive, his phone rings, which is something that hasn’t happened yet. I haven’t seen him on his phone other than to use GPS. He quickly glances over, puts on his earphones, and accepts the call.
Everything he says is very curt, nothing I can try and catch on to. Just a bunch of Uh-huh and I see. He grips the steering wheel with white knuckles, making me sort of alarmed. He finishes up the call and rips the earphones out of his ears, letting out an aggressive fuck under his breath. If that’s not distressing, I don’t know what is.
“What’s going on?” I ask cautiously, not wanting to cause anymore irritation.
“Nothing you need to worry about. I have it under control.”
“I can see that. But if it has something to do with me and this trip, I would like to know so I can be prepared for anything.” He needs to know how hard it is to not be in control.
“Other than Steven hiring a top-notch P.I. to retrace all the steps you have taken leading up to the meeting with Andrew, nothing at all. Yes, we are secretive and most people don’t know a thing about us, but private investigators work way different than the authorities. They’re in it for the money, this is their job. They get paid to find hidden stuff. Police get paid to make an effort, and they still have a job as long as they’re writing tickets and arresting people.”
I freeze up, because I know whoever he has hired is an informant for the Cartel. They could find the littlest things anywhere because it’s their job to keep the boss happy, and since their life depends on it, they are damn good at it.
