by Harry Roldan
“Just last night Arthur Wax escaped police custody from his hospital room. Mr. Wax had been shot by local authorities due to Mr. Wax having attacked one of them.” The news lady said. How deep did these guys really go? Should I just give in and save myself the trouble? I really didn’t want to deal with this any longer, but where’s the fun in that?
“I don’t believe this! What are we going to do?” Shy whispered.
“Well, he always wanted to be a celebrity. It’s just that the cops want to love him instead of adoring female fans.” The news lady continued on the story:
“Local law enforcement is handing out a twenty thousand dollar reward to whom ever spots him and calls his whereabouts in. They also advise that the public should not try and confront the man. He is very dangerous. This is Jacenta Miller, bringing you the latest news, until next time…” And that was that the news was turned off. I got up from the lobby area and went towards my locker only to be blocked by Billy.
“You know where he is, don’t you? You want the reward money.” Billy accused me.
“Billy, how dare you accuse me! Why would I want to get twenty thousand dollars in reward money when working with you is a reward all in it self.” I shoved myself passed him.
“They will find him, you know that!” He yelled.
“Billy, isn’t there any time that you don’t talk?” Shy interrupted. “How about you go find Wigs, and you let someone more capable run this place for a day, like me.”
“Oh, missy, I wouldn’t dare let your bumbling behind run this place, but you do bring up a good idea. I can be a hero! And I can be on tv once I catch him.” Billy nearly clapped his hands at the thought.
“You may want to lose some weight. You are heavy enough without the fifteen pounds the camera adds on.” I winked at him. He was about to say something when Pearly walked in.
“And, there he is! Mr. I-make-all-my-runs-in-record-time-on-the-first-day.”
“That is too long to put on a plaque, isn’t it?” I said as I brushed by Pearly and Billy to head out.
“He will run dispatch until I get back,” Billy declared.
“Are you out of your damn mind? I knew you were crazy, but insane? I didn’t think you had crossed that line yet,” Shy said. “He has only been here one day!”
“Well, you could learn a lesson from this young stallion.” Billy gushed as he patted Pearly on the back. I was enjoying this.
“And there we have it! A Billy in training. You are basically a certified douche now,” I said to Pearly. “Congratulations.”
“My dream come true, I tell you.” He responded far less enthusiastically than Billy had hoped.
“It is easy. Just shout out where it needs to go, and get one of these slackers to do the run. I will be back in an hour or two, so you don’t have to worry,” Billy explained. Shy just looked at a loss.
“Boy, you are on my lists. And to get off it, you have to do some major kissing ass,” Shy huffed as she took one of the used bikes from holding to use for her runs.
Billy left as soon as he tossed the head set on to Pearly. Me and Shy left to do our runs. It looked like Shy wanted to give Pearly a good old beat down, but he was doing as he was told, so she really couldn’t be that mad at him. Billy was the one that she should be pissed at. Come to think of it I should be mad at him too! Wigs was one of us, and he was innocent. He was just caught up in my situation. How was I to find Wigs, and then it occurred to me. Pearly! He had to know where Wigs was; he worked for Mr. Wonderful.
I was done with my first part of the day routes quicker than anyone that day. When I got back Billy still wasn’t there. What a douche. He was trying to cash in on Wigs. But at the same time this was my chance to get some answers from Pearly.
“Hey, I have to tell you, you look like you were born to kiss ass,” I commented. He was working behind the dispatch area like Billy told him to do. I sat on a stool that was by the dispatch area.
“Speaking of ass kissing… I know what you are going to ask me. Where is he? Aren’t you supposed to be puckering them up?” Pearly pointed to my lips.
“My lips are chapped, but how about I shove my foot up there?” I responded. I don’t like to kiss ass. Kicking it is another story.
“Well, by the way you handled that one guy last night, I’m not going to get on your bad side.” Pearly responded.
“Your on the job training is coming along nicely.” I winked at him. He wasn’t that bad.
“Well, I’m a quick learner. Especially when bodily harm is involved.” He said as he was going through the packages. “Arron, package has to go to Broadway,” Pearly called out, as he handed the envelope package to someone.
“No way, man, I’m on lunch,” He said with a smirk across his face.
“Must be nice to eat the entire day huh?” Pearly mumbled. I intervened.
“Can you please do this? If you don’t I’m going to have to go to Broadway, and I just got back.” I said touching his arm.
“Well…uh…ok only because you asked, Luna,” Arron responded with a blush. He took the package and left the dispatch area.
“You see, Pearly? Just takes a woman’s touch.” I said, as he shook his head.
“What does, girl?” Shy asked as she walked in. We’d had to go opposite ways today, so we didn’t have the chance to ride together.
“Showing these guys how stuff gets done.” I boasted. Shy stood next to me.
“You got that right. If I was behind that dispatch area I would have things done already, but nooooooo Billy is a fool, and hired a bigger fool to replace him.” She smirked.
“Shy, he isn’t all that bad. He looks like a lost pup behind that dispatch area.” Shy merely snorted and crossed her arms.
“So, lets get down to the details. Where is he?” Pearly seemed a little hesitant with Shy around. “She knows everything. She wouldn’t leave me alone about it. And I thought I was annoying.” I rolled my eyes.
“Girl, you haven’t seen persistence yet.”
“And I hope I don’t have to,” I retorted as I gave Pearly a stern look. “Don’t make me let Shy loose on your butt.”
“All you have to know is that he is safe, and no one can find him but me,” He whispered.
“I’m pretty sure I have to know more than that,” I said as I stood up from the stool, which didn’t help because I dropped a few inches. Being short sucked sometimes, and other times had its advantages. Even though I couldn’t remember any of them at the moment. “So, the question that you have to answer is this: when can I see him?”
“I can’t really tell you right now. We don’t know. Those goons are looking for him. They keep replaying that news story from this morning like he robbed an old person out of their medication money,” Pearly said wearily.
“Wigs rob an old person? That isn’t Wigs. He would try to hit up a child before an old lady,” I replied. “Listen, they want me just as bad. Well, maybe not since they haven’t made me into a felon yet. If they do, I better have done something really bad. I want to be out there in style you know?” I said smiling at Pearly. And that is when the knot in my stomach returned in force. Damn, why does it have to happen when I was having a somewhat decent day? I knew Wigs was safe. Billy wasn’t here, and no one was trying to beat my ass. Well, at least the first half of my day was good.
“Local authority figures have located fugitive Arthur Wax. He was just seen fleeing from a super market.” I heard the news lady inform. The tv had been on all day since the Wigs incident. This lady must be happy as a nerd at a science fiction convention since she was having her fifteen minutes of fame over this story.
“We have our own Natasha Spitter on the scene covering the story live. Natasha, what do you have?”
“Well, I’m here with one of the employees of Quick Marts and she is saying that he went in and bought some what?” The reporter turned to the freakishly tall Quick Marts attendant.
“Well, first off: Hi mommmmmmmmmm!!!” The attendant said.
She was taking advantage of her two minutes of fame I see. “Well, he was hooded up, and he came in walking with a limp. I found him to look suspicious, so I just eyed him down. He went straight towards the naughty magazines. That is a popular section in our store. He bought three nudie magazines, and when he lifted his head to pay I recognized him. I quickly called the cops once he left, and you know the rest. And another thing…Monica, I’m on tv bitch!!!” I smiled. I liked this girl, even though she called the cops on Wigs but it wasn’t her fault.
“Enough of that…Jacenta back to you.” The reporter said. I stopped paying attention, and turned to Pearly.
“Well, don’t worry about not telling me where he is. I’m pretty sure I can figure it out all by myself. He is going to want to fondle those magazines that he just purchased.”
“Cops will be all over, and with the real cops will also be your favorite bunch of people.” Pearly reminded me.
“I was starting to miss the whole running for my life thing.” I had to go after Wigs even if it meant I would have the police force on my ass.
-5-
Good Bye
“Girl, I’m coming with you!” Shy said as she gripped my arm. I was about to say no, but she was like me: stubborn and would have followed anyways.
“Ok, I may need you for a distraction. You are good at causing a ruckus.” She smirked at me, and we both walked our bikes outside, mounted them and were off. I thought I heard Pearly shouting after us but I didn’t care. I had to get to Wigs before the goon squad. I knew where that Quick Marts was. It was around fifteen minutes out. I couldn’t believe Wigs would risk going out just to see some boobs in a magazine. If Mr. Wonderful was as well connected as I thought he was, he must have known that Wigs was on the most wanted list. Well, maybe not. As I was thinking I was weaving around people and traffic, and Shy had trouble keeping up.
“Girl, slow your ass down! It looks like you have a rocket up your ass,” Shy called out as she was trying to catch up.
“I told you this morning you were too heavy for that bike.”
“Oh, girl, I know you don’t want to get into a battle right now.”
“You are right, Wigs would be pissed that me and you did that without him.” I smiled. So did Shy. She knew she wasn’t big.
We got to the Quick Marts parking lot rather quickly, and there was still news crews and reporters all around. Wigs had to be long gone from here, but which way did he go? If he was smart, which I had doubted for quite sometime now, he wouldn’t go back to his house. I also hoped that Mr. Wonderful would be trying to locate him as well. My instinct had me going north. I don’t know why, so I just went with it, and deal with the problems as they came.
While trying to find Wigs it occurred to me that Billy was out there looking for him too! What would we do if he saw us trying to find Wigs or protect him? Then I saw some police troopers running a few blocks down.
“Over there.” I pointed in the general direction.
“What?” Shy said. I pointed over to where the police were racing down another block. “Luna, what are you pointing at?” Shy questioned again.
“The cops over there, damn girl.” I replied.
“Luna, all I see are black dots moving quickly.”
“What?” I turned to look at her and felt my vision shift. This was odd. When I turned back to the scene the cops had become black dots to me as well. What was happening to me? Awesome. Another super power I had no control over, but at this time I could not speculate. “We have to hurry, I think they are up ahead by a few blocks.” I said trying to avoid the whole conversation on how I saw them from almost a mile off. And it worked. Shy didn’t question me at that moment. We went right towards the crowd of cops. The news story had really spread, since there were a lot of people around. Too much to control; what was Wigs thinking? And at that moment I saw Billy.
“Shy, Billy is over there,” I whispered, as we got closer. Shy seemed to notice when her eyes were able to see what mine were seeing.
“So what are we going to do?”
“I have to be the beauty and brains of this operation?”
“Please girl, you know the fellas look right past you to look at me.”
“Yeah cause you’re taller. Give me those six inch hells you wear, and it would be fair game,” I replied. Shy smiled. But honestly what was I going to do? Then it hit me. “Ok, you go ahead. Stall Billy. Tell him you are here to help him, and you want to split the reward money,” I suggested, hoping that Shy would go with the idea. After around thirty seconds of silence she smiled.
“Ok, I like the idea. Messing with Billy.” I sighed in a big relief.
“Ok, I’m gong to take the back alleyway, that I can try to cut the cops off and see if can get Wigs out,” I said, and I hurried off without saying anything to Shy. I had to move with haste. I didn’t know how much time I had. I raced down the alleyway, and then made a left at the end, and raced down a side street. I was now on the other side of the crowd, and that is when I saw Wigs come out of the end of a side alleyway. Why didn’t the one alleyway I got my ass whooped in have an exit? Maybe if it did I wouldn’t be in this mess.
“Wigs,” I pretty much whispered and was amazed when he stopped at the sound of his name and looked in my direction. I waved at him, and he quickly ran towards me. He made it to me faster than I seen any human run. “Damn that serum stuff kicked in, huh?” I said as I embraced him.
“Luna, I’m just happy that you came to your senses and recognized how studly I am.” He said as I let go.
“Trust me you are still a dud, but you are my dud. I would love to catch up on how are your bullet wounds and things like that, but I’m pretty sure you have a bunch of people with pitch forks chasing you.”
“The wounds are healing faster than I thought they would, so I can run.”
“Ok, but if I leave your ass behind, I still get brownie points for trying to save your ass,” I said. Wigs nodded and he started running ahead. He was fast. I couldn’t believe how fast he was. What was in that serum? And is that one of the powers that Mr. Wonderful thought I had? For some odd reason I didn’t have any trouble keeping up with him on my bike. Actually I was ahead of him on my bike after a few minutes, pedaling faster than I ever have before. I felt we were far enough away form the crowd where they wouldn’t be able to find us.
“Look, Wigs!” I said, while pedaling, and I pointed to an alleyway where we could hide and not be seen. I pulled over and got off my bike. I normally didn’t ride that long, hard or fast. Certain, uh, places needed rest. Wigs entered after. He was a bit winded. I, on the other hand, was breathing without a problem.
“What is wrong with you? How is it that Mr. Wonderful let you out of his sight?”
“Well there is an easy answer to that…” He started. Then a knot in my stomach clenched, almost making me bend over in pain. I didn’t understand…we were safe. I didn’t see anyone out to get us. Then I was taken by surprise. Wigs shoved me into the wall. A pain shot right through my spine as I slid down to the ground.
“Is this the way we are showing our affection?” I shook off the hit, and stood up. I sensed him about to swing at me, I ducked and he missed. I regained my balance and quickly turned around to face Wigs.
“Ok, I understand all the times I rejected you my have made you crazy maybe, but this is a bit much, isn’t it?” What was he doing? Was the serum attacking his brain or something? Wigs rushed me, and I wasn’t ready, and he pinned me against the round as I tripped and he landed on me. “Wigs, if you had waited a little longer I would have caved,” I responded trying to keep calm. Truth be told I was in total shock, and afraid at the same time. A good friend had turned against me. The same friend that saved my life was now trying to cause me harm.
“They want you, Luna, and I’m bringing you to them,” Wigs growled as he had his arm to my throat. My heart sank. He was working with them now? How long had this been going on?
“Well, I guess it is only fair since they we
re first in line,” I choked out. Even though I was hurt by Wigs words I needed out of this situation. Then a familiar burst of energy went through my body. “Wigs even though this one on one convo is wonderful, you are pissing me off.” I wedged my right arm against his chest and pushed. He seemed to jump off me, and he landed on the ground. I got up quickly, and turned to Wigs. He quickly stood up and faced me.
“I’m pretty sure that your ass got shot by them, so forgive me if I’m a bit confused. Is that the way you guys play?” I said trying to figure out why Wigs would all of a sudden try to bring me in instead of help me.
“Luna, you know I like the rough stuff.” He again rushed at me, but I was ready for this move. I side stepped him, and at the same time brought my elbow down across his spine, and he fell to the ground. I could feel the tears swell up in my eyes.
“WHY!” I cried out as he looked up at me.
“They want you. They say you can help cure me. They need to run test on you to see what makes you special!” Wigs growled.
“I’m not special! I’m the same girl that you have worked with for two years.” The tears started free falling onto my cheeks.
“This is a tough world, Luna, and people need to do what they need to do to survive. And turning you in to them is the only way I will survive.”
“Mr. wonderful has a counter antigen! He can help you! Just stop it!” I said not even bothering to fight the tears. He stood up and faced me, he was no more than ten feet away from me.
“He tried that, but the antigen is only engineered for his dna, whatever that means. That was the final straw. If he could have helped me I would have stayed on this side, but I need to play for the team that is going to win.”
“Well, I guess you chose the wrong team! I’m not going to let you take me.” I was hurt badly, though not physically. This was bad, but at the same time I needed to pick myself up during this crucial time.
“Finally, you said something I liked.” A voice said from behind Wigs, and my heart jumped in a good way.
