Nowhere to Run - Chapter 24

The next morning they quickly packed the blazer and went over the campsite carefully so as not to leave a clue that they were there.  He wasn’t all that confident in their abilities to elude the team and took nothing for granted. The tentacles of the team were longer than anyone could imagine.  He wasn’t going to leave them anything to give them a lead.

     “I don’t understand why we’re moving? This is a great site.”

     “We don’t stay more then one night in any place. If The Team even gets a hint we’re in the area they’ll be able to find us.”

     Evie stowed the last of the gear in the trunk of the Camaro. “Why would they even think we were heading right into their own home town?”

     “Hopefully not. But it’s better to be prepared for the worst.”

     Climbing into the driver’s seat, Evie started the engine.  Michael opened the passenger side door slid in.

     “Where to? We have a whole day to kill before we go tonight.”

     “North. There’s a place I want to show you that I think you’ll like.”

  They were silent as they pulled the car out and got on the highway heading toward Richmond. Each knowing that this was the last leg of their journey.

The sun was bright and as they drove out of the park, the morning birds were in full voice. It was almost hard to believe that they were going from this solitude and peace to raid the offices of one of the most ruthless of all the government branches.

As the time drew near to put their plan in action, Michael was regretting even suggesting this crazy scheme. Perhaps they should have just run again. Kept going. Maybe even to Mexico as he had originally planned. Sooner or later they would have found a safe haven. Right?

Wrong.

Michael knew in his heart that wasn't true. No

matter how much he wished it so. They had to end the nightmare, so Evie could be free. At least from The Team. There was still the issue of Scott and his threats. The man that might still be out there, looking for her.

     “Do you still love him?”  Michael clenched his jaw making a small muscle along the side jump. He hadn’t meant to ask that.  It was none of his business. He wasn’t planning to ask anymore about Scott and then he just blurted it out like a damn fool. What was it about this woman that made him act so impulsively? Definitely not normal for him. “Sure, I know some women stay, even when no one else understands why. But if Scott showed up now, all apologetic and saying he was sorry and still loved you, what would you do?”  

Before Evie could answer, Michael continued, “As for any relationship we have, its probably occurring because of the intense situation we’re in. Emotions were a funny thing when under stress.”

“No,” she answered, her eyes on the road. She wanted to elaborate because it was, after all, Michael. He was asking was a simple question. Maybe, she owed him more of an answer.

     “I’m not even sure where he is.” Evie added, her hands tightening on the steering wheel. She chanced another glance in his direction and saw he was frowning.

     “It wasn’t good.” She began. “From the beginning, I thought it could be, but—“  

     “But you stayed with him for, what? A few years?”

     “How do I explain? It was kind of complicated.”

     “Still, you chose to stay?” Michael asked, watching her closely.

     “He doesn’t know where I am now and I plan to keep it that way. I never want to see him again.”

     Michael nodded thoughtfully, putting it all together. “You were hiding in that boarding house just like me.”

     Her lips pressed together, fending off those stupid tears she felt prickling behind her eyes. He was figuring it all out. “Janerone told you this?”

     “Janerone said you were living with Scott Benson, he was jailed and you changed your name. Then you moved to a boarding house. Just the basics.”

     “He was a big dumb jerk and I hate him.” Evie sighed. “Is that what you want to hear?”

     “Yeah.” Michael shrugged. “You know you’re stronger then you think.”

Evie shot a skeptical glance his way.

“You are. Sometimes when you go through something like that, it makes you stronger.”

“There’s a theory behind reincarnation and how each lifetime was like a practice. You had a new lesson in each life and moved forward toward heaven as you successfully lived each one. Your lives give you knowledge, intuition if you will, to complete the challenge of your next life. A better life. Making you stronger as you went along accumulating lives.”

“And you believe that?” He asked.

“I have to.”

****

     They stopped for lunch in a park just outside of Richmond. Putting some food in a plastic grocery bag, Michael led her down to a stream. Following a trail leading up to a small clearing. The stream ended under a cascading waterfall. 

     “Oh, Michael, I think we’ve found Eden.”

She was standing by the stream, silhouetted in the late afternoon sun. It lit her from behind causing her blond hair to shimmer like a halo. He felt a pang of temptation as he looked at her. An angel in Eden. She looked so good standing there smiling at him, so happy. He wished they could stay in this paradise forever.

Unable to resist, he rose and moved to take her in his arms. He lifted her chin with a gentle touch and brought his lips down to hers.  Touching softly at first, then more possessively. His strong arms pulling her tightly against him, one hand reached up to tangle in her long soft hair, as his kisses became more passionate.  It felt so good, so right to hold her like this. He trailed hot, burning lips down her throat and into the hollow at the base of her neck.

     “I have no right to want you like this, Evie.” his whisper was hoarse as he moved his hands over her body. “What are you doing to my brain?”

     “Michael,” she murmured, “I love you.”

     “We can’t talk about that now.” he started, then stopped and caught himself. Pulling back, he looked down at her. She was beautiful standing there. Slightly swollen lips, eyes full of emotion. “I just want you to know, whatever happens tonight—“

     “Nothing bad will happen.”

     “But if it does—“

     Dropping his hands to his side, Michael said, “We should go over the plan again. And eat. You’ll need your strength.”

     Evie just watched him make sandwiches. Oblivious to the fact that she had just said the three most important words in the English language and he didn't return them. For a moment it seemed like he was going to tell her the same. It was on the tip of his tongue when he stopped and pushed her away. Like a wall falling between them something shuttered down behind his eyes, shutting her out.

     “Michael, talk to me.”

He looked up from the sandwiches and watched her standing there with misery in her eyes.

When he didn’t answer Evie turned, “I’m g-going for a walk.”

He watched her go, unsure whether to follow her or not.  He started to go after her, moved on impulse more than thought. Then he stopped himself. She was almost out of sight now and with an aching heart, he watched her disappear into the woods. 

“You’re an ass.” He told himself. They could both be dead in twenty-four hours. What they were about to do tonight was so dangerous there was no guarantee they would succeed.

     He went after her. Running though the clearing and into the woods where she had disappeared. He called her name out as he crashed through the underbrush and suddenly there she was. Sitting on a fallen tree, her head in her hands.

     “Evie” he whispered, unsure of how to do this, “I’m sorry. I’m being a jerk.”

     She shook her head and held up a hand to ward him off. “No, Michael, please. I just need to be alone for a bit. Please go back.”

     But he was not to be put off that easily. He took her by her shoulders and pulled her to her feet. Actions were easier for him than words, he pulled her into his embrace. “I’m sorry.”

     “Quit apologizing!” She tried to push him away. “Just leave me alone for a while.”

     He was immovable. He held her tightly, dragging his lips against her silky hair, “Please Evie, I was wrong.”

     “Wrong? Do you even know what you’re talking about?” She shoved him back. “I said the big three and you said, we can’t talk about that now. What the hell was that?”

     “I just want you to be prepared.”

     “Ha!”

     “You know that anything could happen tonight. I want—“

     “Stop! The only thing that can prepare me for tonight are the big three.”

     “Three, what—“

     “Nothing can prepare either of us for tonight.”

     “But—“

     “Michael, we’re ready. I know all I can know about guns and punching and these men. That’s not what I need right now.”

     Evie stepped closer and looked up into his blue eyes, now darkened with the desire mirrored in her own. “Right now, there’s only one thing we both need.”

     “I love you, too.” He said, knowing she was right. “God help us, but I love you too.”

     Smiling Evie pulled him back to where the car was parked. “Think we could set that tent up one more time?”