Read Online Final Masquerade by Cindy Davis - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Cindy Davis
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rose and went into the bunk area, unrolled a wad of paper towels, wiped her face and blew her nose.
"Get back out here. I want to talk to you."
She obeyed, still keeping her face averted as she buckled herself in the seat.
"You thought I'd leave you after what we went through to get you out of there? I'll have you know, my reputation in that place is mud now. I used to get Five Star treatment. Now I'll be like O.J."
"Drop me off at the next exit."
He tossed a cigarette butt out the window. “Why?” Receiving no reply he continued, “We gave them the slip. It's over. Relax."
"It's not over.” It'll never be over. Paige stared at the black highway, mesmerized by the rhythmic flickering of oncoming headlights reflecting through center jersey barriers. She leaned forward and checked the side mirror, but couldn't see behind them. She finally spoke her thoughts out loud. “It'll never be over."
"I get it. When they realize the cab isn't coming, they'll know you—"
"The cab is coming. I did call one. I thought it would give us a little extra time, but after it waits a few minutes tooting its ass off, the lady in the red sweatshirt will know something's up. Then she'll come looking for me. Maybe she already did. That was probably her in the doorway. One way or the other, it won't be long before she's either in a vehicle right behind us, or on the phone to her backup."
"You've been watching too many gangster movies, my girl. Sit tight. It'll be okay. You'll see.” He pushed the truck another five miles an hour faster and reset the cruise control. “By the way, what's in that bag you're so all-fired determined to protect? Is that why they're after you? That why you were so upset when you thought I'd left you? Gee, and I thought you were worried about my welfare."
Paige thrust the curtains apart and threw herself on the bed.
"Terrific,” Chris murmured. “Spoiled little rich bitch thinks she can run everybody's life."
She buried her head in the soft chenille spread that smelled of fabric softener and aftershave. Paige lay there for a long time, letting the scents calm her. Finally, she sat up. “I told you before, if you know too much, they'll kill you, just like they'll kill me if they catch me. Now, let me off at the next exit. Please, Chris, just do it.” She dropped her head into her hands. “I knew this was a mistake."
He took his foot from the throttle and the drone of the engine increased a notch.
"No! Don't slow down!"
"Tracy, come up here so we can talk. It'll be all right, you have to be patient and see."
All he had to do was wait; he'd see she was right. But she did as he requested. When he was lying in the street with his blood and brains all around him instead of inside, he'd say to himself, gee I wish I listened to her. Paige leaned her head back and stared, unblinking, at the white dotted line. Miles and miles of mesmerizing white lines. Few headlights appeared, no taillights. What it meant was there'd be no one to help when the woman in the red sweatshirt and her cohorts finally caught up with them.
"I didn't make out my log back there."
"So?"
"I was supposed to be sleeping. If we get pulled over, I'm in violation."
"That's the least of your problems right now, don't you think? Are you tired?"
"Couldn't sleep now if I tried.” He chuckled.
"I know the feeling. I've pumped a couple gallons of adrenaline over the past few days."
"Okay, let's look at this from their point of view. They'll think we're in this huge vehicle with nowhere to go but down the highway. People have this impression of a tractor-trailer's size. They're surprised when they see us turn or back up in small places. Anyway, let's take the next exit and see if we can hide this thing. We'll—"
"Where do you hide a big yellow monstrosity like this?” she interrupted.
"In a swarm of bumblebees.” He moved his foot to the clutch and downshifted. The engine's tone raised an octave. “Maybe we can discombobulate them by
"Get back out here. I want to talk to you."
She obeyed, still keeping her face averted as she buckled herself in the seat.
"You thought I'd leave you after what we went through to get you out of there? I'll have you know, my reputation in that place is mud now. I used to get Five Star treatment. Now I'll be like O.J."
"Drop me off at the next exit."
He tossed a cigarette butt out the window. “Why?” Receiving no reply he continued, “We gave them the slip. It's over. Relax."
"It's not over.” It'll never be over. Paige stared at the black highway, mesmerized by the rhythmic flickering of oncoming headlights reflecting through center jersey barriers. She leaned forward and checked the side mirror, but couldn't see behind them. She finally spoke her thoughts out loud. “It'll never be over."
"I get it. When they realize the cab isn't coming, they'll know you—"
"The cab is coming. I did call one. I thought it would give us a little extra time, but after it waits a few minutes tooting its ass off, the lady in the red sweatshirt will know something's up. Then she'll come looking for me. Maybe she already did. That was probably her in the doorway. One way or the other, it won't be long before she's either in a vehicle right behind us, or on the phone to her backup."
"You've been watching too many gangster movies, my girl. Sit tight. It'll be okay. You'll see.” He pushed the truck another five miles an hour faster and reset the cruise control. “By the way, what's in that bag you're so all-fired determined to protect? Is that why they're after you? That why you were so upset when you thought I'd left you? Gee, and I thought you were worried about my welfare."
Paige thrust the curtains apart and threw herself on the bed.
"Terrific,” Chris murmured. “Spoiled little rich bitch thinks she can run everybody's life."
She buried her head in the soft chenille spread that smelled of fabric softener and aftershave. Paige lay there for a long time, letting the scents calm her. Finally, she sat up. “I told you before, if you know too much, they'll kill you, just like they'll kill me if they catch me. Now, let me off at the next exit. Please, Chris, just do it.” She dropped her head into her hands. “I knew this was a mistake."
He took his foot from the throttle and the drone of the engine increased a notch.
"No! Don't slow down!"
"Tracy, come up here so we can talk. It'll be all right, you have to be patient and see."
All he had to do was wait; he'd see she was right. But she did as he requested. When he was lying in the street with his blood and brains all around him instead of inside, he'd say to himself, gee I wish I listened to her. Paige leaned her head back and stared, unblinking, at the white dotted line. Miles and miles of mesmerizing white lines. Few headlights appeared, no taillights. What it meant was there'd be no one to help when the woman in the red sweatshirt and her cohorts finally caught up with them.
"I didn't make out my log back there."
"So?"
"I was supposed to be sleeping. If we get pulled over, I'm in violation."
"That's the least of your problems right now, don't you think? Are you tired?"
"Couldn't sleep now if I tried.” He chuckled.
"I know the feeling. I've pumped a couple gallons of adrenaline over the past few days."
"Okay, let's look at this from their point of view. They'll think we're in this huge vehicle with nowhere to go but down the highway. People have this impression of a tractor-trailer's size. They're surprised when they see us turn or back up in small places. Anyway, let's take the next exit and see if we can hide this thing. We'll—"
"Where do you hide a big yellow monstrosity like this?” she interrupted.
"In a swarm of bumblebees.” He moved his foot to the clutch and downshifted. The engine's tone raised an octave. “Maybe we can discombobulate them by
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