Nowhere to Run - Chapter 26 & 27

Finally, she reached a yard with a small child’s playhouse. It was pink with yellow shutters and sat in the furthest part of the yard. The house beyond was dark, the neighborhood sleeping.

Exhausted. Unable to run any further and totally disorientated, Evie crawled inside the tiny house.

“Just till morning.” She whispered. “In the light, I’ll be able to find the car and get out of here”

Curling up in a ball she huddled in a corner of her tiny hiding place, hugging the black bag to her chest, she closed her eyes.

                          ****

     It was dawn when a barking dog awakened her. Cold and damp in the little house, a fine mist of morning rain wafted in through the little windows and she shivered. With the black bag still clutched to her breast, Evie crawled out of the little house and pulled the black skullcap off her head. She rubbed a hand through her hair and wiped the sleep from her eyes. There was a pool in the next yard. That house was quiet and hoping the homeowners might still be in bed, Evie climbed the fence. Splashing cool water from the pool on her face and the back of her neck, she stretched out her stiff muscles and thought of Michael. Was he still alive? Her heart ached. He had done this so she could be free.

Looking back at the house, Evie could see the upstairs curtains were open now. It was time to go. Heading for the street, she soon discovered that even in the bright light of day, she had no idea where she was. With no car, she had to figure out another way to finish Michael’s plan. She owed him at least that much. Checking the things in the bag, she found plastic cases with small, silver discs inside. Ten of them. And some small black square cases. It was their evidence about the Team.

“Michael,” she whispered. “If you’re out there, hold on. I’ll get this done. And I’ll come for you.”

     Trying to appear nonchalant, Evie strolled along the quiet road. Except for the occasional dog walker, she didn’t see anyone. It was still very early and although she was a little lost right now, she knew where she had to go. She only hoped the small black bag had enough in it to do the job.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

     Michael sat in a small room on the bottom floor of the Team’s building.  He was tied to a chair with hands bound behind him.  One eye almost swollen shut and a trickle of blood fell from his discolored lip.  His head hung down in exhaustion.

     “Well, Dimitri,” Foster Chambers lifted Michael’s face and studied his handiwork. “Are you ready to tell me what you did with those disks?”

     Michael pulled back out of the man’s grasp and glared at him with his one good eye. “What disks?”

     “Still making this hard on me? Not a wise choice, my friend. Before we’re done I will know exactly what you did with them and where you’re little girlfriend is hiding.”

     The man stepped back and raised his fist again.  The solid impact rocked Michael back in the chair, toppling it over. Chamber’s stood over him. “Ready now? Or should I break out the electricity?”

Michael didn’t answer. The floor was cold and felt good against his swollen, throbbing face. He thought of Evie.  If they were still beating him that meant Evie had gotten away. That thought almost made him smile.

***************

Evie stopped in a small shop and bought herself a change of clothes, pink T-shirt and a big purse.  She changed in the dressing room and used their restroom to freshen up.  Too afraid to go back to where they parked the car, Evie stopped in a pharmacy and bought a couple of cosmetics, first aid tape, a brightly colored scarf and a box of hair dye. Then she headed to the bus station. Her feet ached and she had the beginnings of a dull headache starting behind her eyes. With each step she prayed for Michael. Hoped, by some miracle, he had escaped and was on his way to their final destination. But deep in her heart, she knew they had him.    

     The bus station was just as busy as she hoped.  People bustling here and there. The ladies room was jammed.  Two young girls were washing up in the sink and a harried looking mom was trying to change the diaper of one very active toddler.

     Taking the next available sink, Evie dunked her head and applied the hair dye.  Several women groaned and complained about the smell, but Evie ignored them and pulled a tube of eyeliner out of her bag.  She worked it on dark and thick and then slathered on the eye shadow and blush. By the time she rinsed out her hair and blew it dry on the restroom hand dryer even she was shocked by the image reflected in the mirror. Moroccan Red hair and deep black eyeliner made her green eyes leap out.  She blinked to make sure it was her. Normally, she never wore much makeup. Just a little mascara and perhaps some lip-gloss. She retrieved a short skirt and a pair of pumps from her oversized tote and slipped into them.  A costume like this had worked for her before and she could only hope it worked again. Even Michael would have a hard time recognizing her now.

     Evie sighed and repacked her bag. Thinking about what Michael had taught her about not leaving any evidence behind she took some paper towels and wiped the excess dye the sink. Then she buried the box at the bottom of the trash.

Taking a deep breath she hitched her bag up on her shoulder and walked back out into the station.  Men smiled at her appreciatively, taking in her long legs and short skirt.  A young boy stopped to gawk in her direction and his mother yanked him away and glared at her. Evie had to smile. It looked like this disguise was going to work after all.

“One way ticket to New York City, please.” Evie pushed the money across the counter.

The man pushed the ticket back at her and she took it with trembling hands. This was the hard part. If they were going to get her it would be here, at the bus station. Evie found a newspaper on a bench and scooped it up. She found a seat in the far corner and opened the paper, using it to shield her face until she heard the announcement to board the bus.

It wasn't until she was finally settled in her seat in the back of the bus and it pulled from the station that she could relax. She put her feet up on the seat next to her to discourage company. If they were going to grab her, they would have done it at the bus station, right?

"So far so good." She murmured to herself as she let the rhythm of the bus rock her to sleep.

****

Michael lay on the floor of his cell. Foster Chambers was taking a lunch break. There was no cot, not even a blanket. They had taken his shirt, belt and shoes; he lay there clad in only his jeans on the cold dank floor thinking of Evie. Hoping she was still alive and on her way to end this nightmare. She was strong and he knew she could do this. He only hoped she knew it, too.

Groaning, he rolled over onto his back. His fingers gingerly touched each of his ribs, feeling to determine if any were broken. They were sore, swollen and Michael figured at least two were cracked. His face was bruised and dried blood trailed from his nose and mouth. Eyes so puffy could barely see. Rolling onto his side, Michael pressed his sore face against the cold floor again.

They had begun by simply beating him with fists, but had quickly advanced to other devices. He was sure two of his fingers were broken. But they hadn’t killed him, yet, and that only meant one thing; Evie was still alive.  He closed his eyes and pictured her long blond hair and wide green eyes. He thought about their last time together. How beautiful she looked standing in the sunset, her hair a halo of gold around her. He took that image now and held it in his memory like a warm blanket. Remembering how they made love. Her image gave him comfort and strength and kept his hope alive. It pushed the pain that wracked his body to a more endurable level and Michael knew when they finally killed him it would be that image he took with him to the other side.

Suddenly, the door to his cell was flung open and that dark voice came at him again.

     “Round two, Dimitri.” Foster ordered, “Drag him outta there.”