Nowhere to Run - Chapter 21

    There was a small Italian restaurant a few blocks away.  It was a beautiful night so they walked the short distance. With the big Tennessee moon above them and a million stars twinkling down, they walked hand in hand. It was such a perfect setting Evie could almost believe they were a normal couple just out for a stroll. They reached the restaurant much too soon to suit her. She almost wanted to suggest they walk further, just to enjoy the night.

Because it was so late there was no wait for a table and the hostess seated them right away. After they ordered, Evie, determined to lighten the mood, proposed a toast.

     She held up her wine, “To new beginnings.”

     Michael smiled warily and tapped her glass with his. “You think this is over so easily?”

     Evie shrugged.

     “After the incident with Black Bart I thought you’d be more grounded in reality.” Michael said, wondering what he could say to convince her to go to Mexico.

     “Can we not talk about it now? I just want to enjoy dinner. Let’s have one evening without the Team on our minds.”

     The food arrived and Evie chatted happily about a future she envisioned.

“Maybe the southeast.  A little town where everyone knows each other.”

     “A house with a white picket fence?”

     Evie smiled, “Yes, perfect. And we could live there like normal people.”

     “We?” Michael asked. Pleased beyond belief she had used that word. Maybe she would stay with him after all. “I told you it would be better if we got out of the country. We could live on the beach in Mexico.”

     Evie frowned, “That's not normal.”

     "Someone lives there. It must be normal for someone, somewhere."

     "Normal is a home, in a town with neighbors."

     “Mexico has that.”

     “It’s not the same.”

     “Would it matter so much?”

     “Of course it matters. I want a real life.”

     “Evie," he lowered his voice, “It’s not over. I don’t know what I can say to convince you how much danger we’re still in.”

     Evie held up her hands, “Please, not tonight, Michael. I just want to enjoy the meal and feel normal for a change.”

     “Okay,” he agreed reluctantly. He owed her at least one night free of worry. There would be enough to think about tomorrow. If she wasn’t going to leave the country with him, he would have to figure something else out. He knew in his heart he could never leave her alone and if she didn’t want to wait in Mexico for him then he had to find another way to execute his plan and still keep her out of harms way.

     The chatted amicably for the rest of the meal. Evie talked about her dream to be a graphic artist and how she hoped to someday go back to school.

     “Why did you quit?” he asked as he sipped his wine.

     Not wanting to admit she had bent to Scott’s will she simply said, “My mother died. It was a rough time.”

     Michael nodded, “I lost both my parents when I was in my early twenties.”

     “That must have been hard. Both, at the same time?”

     “Yes, car accident.”

     “I’m sorry.” She reached out to touch his arm.

     “Yeah, me too.” He covered her hand with his own, “So what about the rest of your family? Any sisters? Brothers?”

     Evie shook her head, “No, just a few cousins that I don’t really know.”

     Michael couldn’t help but smile. “We’re more alike than we realized.”

     “You don’t have any family either?”

     He shook his head.

They had just ordered coffee when Evie stiffened. Her eyes grew wide as she stared past Michael to the front of the restaurant.  

     “Oh my God!” she instinctively ducked down, holding the napkin in front of her face.

     “I see them.” Michael said calmly.

     Evie looked up and saw Michael staring at a point behind her. He was using the decorative mirrors on the wall to track the two men who had just entered. It appeared by some horrible twist of fate, that Ned Janerone and one of his henchmen had chosen this restaurant for dinner. What they were doing in Beaver Creek was anyone's guess but Michael hoped it had nothing to do with that sweet, old couple from the motel in West Virginia.  If the Team had gotten to them…

     “Evie, go to the restroom. In the hallway, there is a window. Go out it and get the hell out of here.” He pulled the keys to the Blazer out of his pocket and handed them to her. “Drive. Get the hell out of this town and just keep going.”

     Taking the keys, Evie followed his direction without question.  Her whole body shaking as she tried to walk inconspicuously to the restrooms.

     After Evie disappeared down the hallway, Michael moved to her chair so he could face Janerone. He had to stay long enough for Evie to get away. The men were seated a few tables away now. Still oblivious to the fact that their prey was so close. Ned and another man Michael didn’t recognize took the menus from the hostess and flipped them open.

Michael waited patiently. Watching them order and get their drinks. Chat a bit as big plates piled high with pasta came out and was set in front of them. Mentally he willed Evie to run far and fast. He prayed she wouldn’t do anything stupid.

Watching as Ned wound a hefty wad of pasta around his fork and pushed it into his mouth, Michael gave a little wave, getting his attention.  Janerone’s gaze locked on his nemesis and he started to choke. Michael smiled and lifted his glass in a toast.  As Ned struggled to swallow his spaghetti, he slapped the man next to him and pointed in Michael's direction. The man with him did a double take and reached for his gun.  Ned stilled him with a hand on his arm and glanced around the restaurant.  Counting the exits, the bystanders, calculating possible losses. After the fiasco at the boarding house, he had to be careful.  

Scanning the crowd for the girl, he sent his companion to check the restrooms. Then looked back at Dimitri, who was still smiling and lifted his glass, again, in salute.

     “Bastard!” Janerone muttered as he got up and made his way over to Dimitri’s table.

     “So, you're alive.” Ned remarked as he took a seat at the table.

     “Did you expect less?”

     “We thought that was Bart’s body back in the house but we couldn’t be sure until the lab reports came back.”

     “No dental records?”

     “We’re still checking.”

     "So was Bart an accident or a victim?"

     Ned frowned. "Bart was a loose canon. His time had come."

     "And John Drake? What was he?"

     "A fool" Ned answered and Michael's eyes hardened.

     "Look, I know he was a friend of yours, but he never should have stuck his nose in where it didn't belong."

     "And me? What did I do?"

     Letting out a deep sigh Ned shook his head, "You were in the wrong place at the wrong time."

     "We were all in the wrong place that day, Ned. You included."

     Ned took a sip from the other wineglass on the table. Something caught his eye and he slowly turned it around, looking at the lipstick stain on the rim. Then he glanced at the hallway by the restrooms. 

     “Don’t bother.” Michael said. “The girl’s gone.”

     “Is that right?”

     Michael managed a small smile. He had to maintain the illusion of an upper hand. That man Janerone sent to check out the restrooms was taking entirely too long. He could only hope Evie had listened to him and gotten away.

     "You were always the one with the best poker face, Dimitri. That girl could be hiding under this table and I’d never know by looking at you. You could have gone far in this business."

     "This business is going to Hell, Ned, and you know it."

     “So you say.” Janerone glanced toward the restrooms again.

     “What will it take Ned?” Michael asked as he sipped his wine.

     “Take?” Ned looked surprised by the question.  He reached for the extra wineglass and downed it in one gulp. He motioned the waitress for a refill.

     “To get you off my back. Money?” Michael clarified, “How much do you want to say the charred remains in that house were mine?”

     Ned frowned as his companion came out of the hall empty handed.  

     Relief washed over Michael as the man shrugged. It meant Evie had escaped. Looking down Michael noticed the mud on the man’s shoes. He must have gone out the window looking for Evie. He only prayed she would keep running this time and not try to play Wonder Woman again.

     “Let me get this straight,” Janerone leaned forward and rested his forearms on the table. “You’re gonna pay me to say that Bart Long’s remains, are yours?”

     Michael nodded.

     “Well, Dimitri I don’t know. Where would you get that kind of money?”

     “I’m not without resources.”

     Janerone studied the man across from him.  Years ago he had considered Dimitri Michaels the best in the business. Also, a friend or as close a friendship as could be formed in their line of work. But the Team made it clear in the beginning; there would be no backing out.  They pledged their lives away for the cause.

      Over the years Janerone didn’t always agree with the orders handed down to them, but he always followed them with out exception. He was a soldier and a soldier always followed orders. Now, here was Dimitri asking the impossible. The funny part was, at one point, he would have been willing to help the guy out. Before he had flushed his career, he might have considered letting Michaels go. He knew the Team had to work out a better retirement policy. But after all Dimitri had put him through, he wasn’t sure he could keep the hate for this man at bay.

     “Do you know the ridicule you caused when you trussed me up like a roasted pig, back at the house?”

     “It couldn’t be helped.”

     “The apple was unnecessary.”

     It was the only gag I could find.” Michael laughed.

     “I’m glad you find it so amusing. I promised myself I’d kill you for that.”

     Michael’s eyebrow lifted in question. He knew his fate with the Team was doomed, but he never really believed Ned would be the one to kill him.

“We were friends once.” Michael said. In fact, if anyone could understand why Michael had wanted to leave the Team, it would have been Ned.  He had seen what went on there and Michael could tell by the look in his eyes that he didn't condone it.

     Janerone leaned in closer, “Then you know, I always keep my promises.”

     Janerone’s companion joined them at the table. He was young, muscular and blond. He had the look of ex-Marine all over him. From the precision crew cut to the spit-shine on his marine issued combat boots.

     “No sign of her.” he said as he took his seat.

     Ned Janerone nodded. “Bobby Penrose meet Dimitri Michaels.”

     “Pleased to meet you, sir. You’re something of a legend around here.”

     Michael shook his hand, “Thank you, Bobby.”

     The man turned back to Janerone, “So should we whack him here or take him out back?”

     Grimacing at his colleague's crudeness, Ned shook his head. “We have to find the girl, too.”

     Bobby Penrose turned to Michael, “Where is she?”

     “I sent her home to her family.”

     “Nice try,” Janerone commented, “but she has none. We checked.”

     Ned pulled a note pad from his coat pocket and read. “Born Evelyn O’Brien, orphaned and adopted by the Haine’s before her first birthday. The father walked out on them when she was five. Her and the mother had quite a good relationship from all reports. She died when Evelyn was 20. When that happened, your sweet Evelyn moved in with her boyfriend Scott Benson, a complete bastard. Stayed with him a couple of years until he beat her so bad she landed in the hospital. She pressed charges and he got six months. At sentencing he vowed to kill her. Nice guy, huh? After that she changed her name to Evie Jones, not very original, by the way, and found her way to that boarding house you were hiding in. He's still looking for her by the way. He got out about a month ago. Hired a private detective and all that. I pity her if that bastard gets his hands on her. Better we should find her. At least that way it will be quick and easy.” Ned looked up at Michael. “How long have you two been involved?”

     It took him a moment to answer. The facts Janerone had just rattled off spun in his mind. Anger flared at the thought of what that bastard Scott had put her though. And guilt. All Evie had been looking for was a simple, quiet life and he had brought the violence back in. Michael looked away, pretending to be bored with Janerone’s recitation.

     “So what is this? A book report?” he asked.

     “Perhaps its time to step outside.” suggested Janerone, getting to his feet.

     “What?” asked Michael sarcastically, “You’re not going to shoot up the restaurant?”

     When Janerone frowned, Michael continued, “I’ll bet that boarding house fiasco cost the Team big time. Did you get your ass chewed out on that one?”

     “All the more reason to kill you.”

     “Did you meet Barney Fife?” Michael asked innocently.

     “The moron with the sheriff’s badge?” Janerone asked, “I’m sure you thought that was just hilarious.”

     “It would have been great to have seen your face on that one.”  

     "Using my name in that little charade was an insult. Another reason to kill you."

     Michael didn't understand that, "Your name?"

     "You know what I mean, signing out as Nancy and Mickey Janerone. Or was that her idea?"

     It was all Michael could do not too laugh. He hadn't seen the papers Evie signed. She was too much. First telling people Ned was her brother and now this.

     Seeing the amusement on Dimitri's face irritated Janerone.  This little game of cat and mouse was over. He wanted to take his prey out back and let Junior here put a bullet in his brain. Be done with this game once and for all.

     “Let’s go.” Janerone put his hand inside his coat now and motioned to the door. Penrose moved behind Michael, ready to assist.

     Seeing he had no choice, Michael stood and with Janerone in the lead, the three made their way to the door.

The restrooms for the place were through a doorway leading to a short hall. Evie went down the short hallway and found the window at the end. She turned the lock and tried to push it up. It wouldn't budge. Not an inch. Whacking it with her hand gave her no help either. She was starting to panic when the door behind her flew open and in walked two teenage boys. They were laughing at some crude joke as they entered and immediately looked chagrinned when they saw her.

     Smiling Evie motioned to the window. "Can one of you men give me a hand here?"

"Oh sure," the shorter of the two came forward.

"I just need some air and the window is stuck."

"The window?" the other one stepped up now too. "We can do that. No sweat."

It proved tougher than they thought and while they grunted and groaned over the task Evie moved up the hall to peek back at the restaurant.

Michael was just sitting there watching Janerone and the other man. The waitress was just putting their drinks on the table.

"Hey lady! We got it!"

"Thank God." Evie ran back to the window, "I mean, thank you. You've been very helpful."

With that Evie pushed the screen out and sat on the sill. She turned back once to thank the boys who were standing there, mouths agape.

"I'd appreciate if you didn't tell anyone about this, okay?"

They nodded as they watched her swing her legs over and drop down to the ground below.

"And close the window, please?" She called to them.

Evie dashed behind the restaurant and over one street. Then she ran, full out, back to the motel to get the Blazer. Once there she slipped into their room to grab the duffle bag Michael always insisted they keep packed and dragged it out to the truck.

Inserting the key, she fired up the engine and floored it back to the restaurant. Easing the truck into the alley beside the grocery she watched and waited. It wasn’t long before she was horrified to see the tall man with blond crew cut come out the same window she had used.  She watched as he went to a blue Ford at the end of the lot and an opened the door.  After a moment in the car the man turned back with a flashlight in hand. He searched all around the restaurant’s parking lot and started walking across the street towards her. She lay down, pushing herself under the steering wheel as she watched the flashlight play over the windows of the car.

“Go away.” Evie whispered and ducked her head down. “Please, go away.”

Finally, the flashlight left and she heard the crunch of gravel as the man walked away. Breathing a sigh of relief she eased back up onto the seat, peeking out to make sure the man was gone. She was up just in time to see him lever himself back through the same window he had come out of.

Logic told her that they wouldn’t just shoot up the restaurant. They’d have to bring Michael out the front doors, wouldn’t they? All she had to do was wait. And pray.

Michael had gotten them out of enough jams in the past week; she was confidant he could get himself out of that restaurant. And when he did she’d be waiting.

     Putting the truck in gear, she drove around to the back of the restaurant where she found the blue Ford and tried to lift the hood. When it wouldn’t open, she went back to the Blazer and dug through the duffel bag and found the arsenal Michael had acquired. She took the silver stiletto and keeping low she snuck over to the Ford. Taking long hard strokes she plunged it repeatedly into three of the tires.  She was just about to go for the forth when a family came around the corner. Evie jumped back into the Blazer and headed around front. 

     They were just coming out on the sidewalk and Michael was measuring time. Waiting for the opportunity to make his move.  Penrose had a gun in his back and he could feel the rookie was just itching to use it.  Janerone was checking out the parking lot, no doubt, looking for Evie.

Michael could only hope she was smart enough to keep running. Remembering what happened last time he had told her to get lost, he too, scanned the parking lot. Praying she was smart enough to know the hooker outfit wasn't going to work on these guys. He could only hope she had listened to him this time and gotten out of Dodge, but something in his gut told him differently. He had come to understand that Evie had a lot more spunk than he ever gave her credit for. And it scared the hell out of him.

     “Wait here,“ Janerone instructed. “I’ll get the car.”

     He looked Michael over once more then said to Penrose, “Don’t take your gun off him.”

     Penrose smirked and shifted from foot to foot as if anxious to shoot and Michael figured they didn’t come any greener than this guy. He just hoped he wouldn’t have to kill the kid.

     As soon as Janerone rounded the corner there was a screech of tires and the black Blazer veered off the street and jumped the sidewalk. 

     “What the fuck?” Penrose yelled, swinging his gun in the direction of the truck.

Michael could see Evie’s frightened face behind the wheel. He shoved Penrose to the right as he drove for the bushes to the left of him. The Blazer barely missed them, screeching to a halt a few yards away.

     Rolling to his feet Michael lunged for the Blazer, yanked open the door and hurled himself inside.

     “Go! Go! Go!” He shouted as he righted himself in the seat.

     Evie jammed her foot down on the gas and gunned the engine just as Penrose was coming to his feet. Janerone came running and stepped in front of the truck, gun drawn, aimed right at Evie.  She screamed and hunched down in the seat starting to pull the car to the right. A shot cracked the air and shattered the windshield sending a million spiderweb veins stretching across their vision. Evie immediately tried to stop the truck, but Michael anticipated her move and his foot came down on top of hers. He yanked the wheel to the left. Just clipping Janerone with the left front fender. The man went down and Evie screamed.

     “Oh God! We hit him!”

     “Its okay, Evie.” Michael pressed down on the accelerator.

     “No, no, Michael. I hit him! Oh God! I hit him!”

     “He was trying to kill us Evie!”

     That silenced her. She sat still, ramrod straight, staring at the road ahead as Michael tried to steer the truck from the passenger’s seat.

     “Switch, places.” Michael ordered, shifting as close to Evie as possible and reaching around her. He lifted her up and over his lap to settle in the passenger seat.

Relieved at not driving anymore and she slouched down, wrapping her arms around herself. "Oh God, Michael, what if I killed him?"

"Don't worry, I saw him get up." He lied.

She sat a bit straighter, "You did?"

"Yeah, he's fine."

Evie looked behind them, but they were already too far from the parking lot.

     “I can’t believe they’re not on our tail yet.” Michael muttered to himself as he checked the rear view mirror.

     “Oh,” Evie looked over at him.  “I flattened their tires.”

     “What?”

     “I stabbed them with this.” Evie picked up the knife from the console. “I thought it would be a good idea.”

     Michael’s eyes widened as he took the knife from her.  She never stopped amazing him.

“You flattened their tires?” He smiled.

“Only three of them. Then I heard someone coming so I couldn’t get to the last one.”

Michael laughed, putting one arm around her shoulders he pulled her close and kissed her hard and quick on the mouth.

     “Lady! You're a wonder!”