by Tracy Sharp
“Of course you did. She was a woman out in the snowstorm. And you felt you owed her.”
“The snow was so thick by then I could barely see two feet in front of the car. She led me to a narrow road leading through the woods.”
Toby stroked her hair, listening.
“The snow was heavy on that road. It wasn’t very well travelled. I slowed and told her that we’d better go back. My car was going to get stuck in the snow, and we’d be in trouble. I had no cell phone. Couldn’t afford one. We’d freeze to death.” Robyn sat up, placed her legs over his, wrapped her arms around them. “She giggled. A strange, little-girl giggle. It made the hair rise on the back of my neck. When I looked at her, she had a huge kitchen knife in her hand; her arm was up, ready to stab me with it.”
Toby stared at her, wide-eyed. “Good Christ.”
Robyn shook her head. “I just froze. Stared at her. She wasn’t giggling anymore. She wasn’t smiling. Her eyes looked dead. Like there was nobody home. You know? Like the collectors look.” Robyn trembled, hugged her knees.
“Holy shit.”
“She said I’d been screwing her husband. I told her it was over. She said it was over all right. All over. I told her that she would be hurting her family if she killed me. She’d go to prison. She told me that her family was dead because of me—dead—and that after she killed me, she’d be following them.”
“Jesus,” Toby breathed. “How did you get away from her?”
“The knife came down and got me in the back of the shoulder just as I grabbed the door handle and fell out of the car. I just started running. I ran back toward the road.” Robyn stared out into space, back there in the ever-darkening woods, silent, sparkling snow falling all around her. “I just kept running. But the snow was so heavy. It was like trying to run away from something in a bad dream, and you’re running in slow-motion. I remember falling. Thinking it didn’t matter. I couldn’t live with it. With what she’d done because of me. I thought I deserved to die. I remember just laying in the snow, waiting for her.”
“Did she catch up with you?”
Robyn gave a slow shake of her head. “She fell on the knife. Bled to death in the snow. That’s what the police told me, later, at the hospital.”
“Who found you?”
“A man with a pickup truck plowing snow. He lived around there. He almost plowed right over me. I was passed out. I wouldn’t have noticed.”
“Robyn, you’ve had a lot of close calls. You know that?”
Her gaze flicked to his face. “Yeah. I guess I have.”
“You’re supposed to be here. There’s no doubt about it.”
Her brows furrowed. “But why? After what I’ve done?”
“You didn’t do it. It just happened. You made a mistake. You had no way of knowing what the results of your affair with that slimeball professor would be. I know it’s easier said than done, but you have to forgive yourself for that human mistake.”
Robyn moved her hands through her hair. It felt stringy. “Right. I’ll get right on that.”
“You’ve got a purpose, and somebody up there is counting on you to fulfill it.”
She met his serious gaze. “I guess I’d better not fuck up, then, huh?”
Chapter 11
Again, they took turns keeping watch while the other slept. Robyn and May shared a bed, May snuggling back into Robyn’s belly, and Robyn cocooning her, curling around her.
Robyn woke in the night to use the bathroom. Hearing voices, she peered out the window, moving the curtain back a little.
Toby and Zed sat in two rickety chairs outside the room. She couldn’t hear what they were saying, but the sound of their voices was comforting.
When she climbed back into bed, she stared into the dusky, blue room for a while, her thoughts chasing each other like rabid things.
The heavy knock on the door seemed to come far too early, but when Robyn looked at the clock radio on the bedside table, it read eight-thirty.
“Rise and shine, my lovelies.”
Zed. Wonderful.
She heard water splashing in the bathroom. Toby was taking a shower. She let out a long breath and pushed herself out of bed, padding barefoot to the door.
She peered through the peephole to see his wide smile, all teeth.
“Jesus,” she murmured. She wasn’t sure who was scarier. The collectors or this nut job. At least he’s on our side.
She opened the door, irritation edging her voice. “Why didn’t you just let yourself in? May’s still sleeping.”
“Because it locks when you close it, and I don’t have the key. Anyway, I’m starved. Let’s get some food.”
May sat up, rubbing her eyes. She blinked several times, trying to wake up. “They didn’t find us?” Her little voice was thick with sleepiness.
Robyn sat on the bed next to her, reached out and rubbed her arm. “Nope. They haven’t. We’re still safe.”
“For now,” Zed said, just as Toby came out of the bathroom. His dark curls were still wet.
“For now, what?” Toby gave May a wink and a smile. “Hi, peanut.”
“We’re safe for now,” Zed said. “From the cops, at least. I’ve been listening to the radio while you all have been catching up on your beauty sleep.”
“And?” Robyn said.
“And there’s nothing about a little girl being kidnapped. No AMBER Alerts. Nothing.”
Toby’s eyebrows lifted. “Well, that’s interesting.”
“The cops aren’t after us. The question is: why? That makes me more nervous than if they were on our tail.”
“The cops want Spider,” May said, her eyes large. “I heard him telling my mom.” She nodded her head. “Yeah. He’s scared of the cops.”
A wide smile crossed Zed’s face. “Well, then. That would explain it.”
“They’ll look for us on their own,” Robyn said. “No cops.”
Toby ran a hand over his morning stubble. “I don’t know if that’s a good thing or a bad thing right now.”
“Aw, come on Toby.” Zed laughed. “Are you kidding me? They looked like a couple of losers staggering out of that bar last night. I don’t think we need to worry about them.”
“Easy, will you?” Robyn shot Zed a sharp look, then tipped her head toward May.
“Sorry, kid,” Zed said.
“S’okay. I think they’re losers, too.” May’s face was solemn.
Zed grinned.
May bit her lip, then said, “But Spider killed somebody.”
Toby, Robyn and Zed looked at one another.
“Really?” Robyn said.
May nodded her head. “He said he did it before and he can do it again.”
Robyn wanted to ask May who Spider had killed, but she didn’t want to stress the little girl out. There was no way a kid her age should even know what killing or dead really was.
“A guy,” May continued, as if reading Robyn’s mind. “Spider shot him with a gun. He showed Mommy his gun. Took it out and waved it around yesterday. He said he gave that guy cement shoes.”
“Oh, lovely,” Robyn murmured.
May wrinkled her nose. “Why does a dead guy need shoes?”
Zed tilted his head back and laughed. “You’re alright, kid.”
Toby smiled. He shrugged. “Maybe he was cold?”
May gave a little shrug, lifting her small hands. “Maybe. Maybe being dead makes you cold.”
The smiles fell away from everyone’s faces.
“Yeah. Maybe.” Robyn patted her arm. “Come on, sweetie. Are you hungry?”
May nodded. “Can we get chocolate-chip pancakes?”
“We can get whatever you want,” Robyn said.
“As long as they have coffee,” Toby said. “Man, I need it.”
“Me too.” Robyn was jittery enough, but she wanted the warmth of a cup of coffee. She helped the little girl up. “We need to get you some clothes, little one.”
“Is there a Walmart around here
? I love Walmart.” May’s little face brightened.
“I’m sure we could find one,” Toby said. “Seems there’s a Walmart on almost every corner.”
“We don’t have a lot of time to go shopping,” Zed said, clearly annoyed. “This is what I was afraid of.”
“Look, I doubt anyone is going to come after us in a crowded store,” Robyn said.
“You’d be surprised,” Zed said. “That may be exactly where they go after you. Depends on how badly they want you.”
Depends on who is after you, too. Robyn thought of the collectors. They could pop up anywhere. “We’ll make it quick.”
“You’d better.” Zed turned and headed out the door.
†
They did make it quick, not bothering to try anything on May. She knew what her size was, and chose a couple of pair of jeans—one light blue, one dark with flowers on the hem—and a couple of tops. Robyn grabbed another pair of pajamas for May, and a jacket with a hood, and as they rushed down the aisle on their way to pay for their items, Robyn caught May looking with longing at a Barbie doll. She wouldn’t dare ask for it, clearly used to not asking for what she wanted.
Robyn grabbed the Barbie and handed it to May, who stared first at the doll, then at Robyn with awe and adoration. “Thank you.” Her voice was barely a whisper. “Thank you so much.”
Robyn smiled, her heart swelling. “You’re welcome.”
They reached the cash register just after Zed and Toby, who each had handbaskets full of snack foods. Zed also carried a case of soda under his arm; Toby had a case of bottled water.
“Looks like we’re set,” Robyn said.
Zed nodded toward the Barbie. “Secret weapon?”
“You bet,” Robyn replied.
He gave May a smile and a wink.
May shrank behind Robyn. “He scares me sometimes.”
“He scares me sometimes, too. But he’s good to have on your side.” Robyn placed their items on the counter to be checked out.
Toby ruffled May’s hair. “New friend?”
May nodded. “She’ll help keep us safe.”
“Good deal,” Toby said, opening his wallet and handing a couple of bills to the cashier.
Robyn wanted to kiss him. Toby was sweet. He’d make a really wonderful dad one day.
If they made it out of this alive.
†
Robyn’s stomach growled as they drove around, scanning the area for a good place to stop for breakfast.
“I like pancakes,” May chimed from her new kid’s booster seat.
“You do?” Robyn said.
“Uh huh. Blueberry and chocolate chip are my favorites.”
“That sounds good to me,” Toby said. “I’m sure we can find a place that does good pancakes.”
“How about there?” Robyn said, pointing out a silver, old-time diner. “I bet they make great pancakes. Diners always do.”
“The Coffee Pot,” Toby read from the sign mounted on the front of the place. “I like the sound of that. It’ll work.”
Zed came up beside them as they found a place to park. It was a small, hick-town diner in a small, hick town. Nice and forgettable.
“You guys go for it. I’m going to hang out here.” Zed slammed his truck door shut.
“You have to eat, Zed,” Robyn said. “We can’t battle anything if we’re too weak to fight.”
“I can eat out here where I can see what’s coming.” His eyes scanned the area, like a bird of prey. “You go on ahead. I’ll stay out here and keep an eye out.”
“You need to eat, too, Zed,” May said, her face solemn as she looked out the open truck window.
Zed gave May a loopy smile. “I’m okay, kid. Thanks for looking out for me, though. I’ll grab something later.”
“Sure,” May said.
“I’ll get you some take-out. What do you want?” Toby said, refusing to take ‘no’ for an answer.
“Anything I can eat is fine. Thanks, man.” Zed sat on the edge of the bed of his crew cab, arms crossed, busying himself with watching the cars entering the lot.
“Okay.” Robyn sighed. It wouldn’t be a bad idea for somebody to keep watch. He was like a Rottweiler. He took security very seriously, which was good.
Toby unbuckled May from her seatbelt, then lifted her under the arms and helped her to the ground. She wore a pair of pink and white sneakers with her blue jeans, and watched them as they walked toward the diner.
“He really doesn’t like me,” May said.
Robin moved a hand over May’s silky, dark hair. “Oh, I don’t think it’s that he doesn’t like you, sweetie. I think he just doesn’t know how to act around people.”
“Yeah,” Toby said. “He isn’t exactly a people person.”
“I know he doesn’t want me around.” May continued watching her sneakers.
“Hey.” Toby stopped, knelt in front of May, lifting her chin so she’d look at him. “We want you around. We don’t really want him around, but he’s good to have around in case we need him. Understand?”
May nodded. “’Cause he’s good at fighting bad things.”
“Right. So don’t you worry about him, okay?” Toby ruffled her curls.
“Okay.”
Robyn’s heart fluttered.
Toby caught her smiling at him and flushed. He gave her a lopsided smile.
“You’re a nice man, Toby. You know that?” Robyn took May’s hand as they continued heading to the diner.
“I have my nice-guy moments, I guess. Don’t let that get around, alright?”
“Are you having one now?” May asked him.
“I don’t know,” Toby said, grinning at her. “You tell me.”
May nodded. “I can’t tell. You always seem nice.”
Toby tipped his head back and laughed. “Well, don’t you tell anyone that, either, okay? I have a reputation to uphold.”
“Uphold?” May asked, her nose wrinkling.
“Keep up.”
May walked a little faster. “I’m trying. If I walk faster then I’ll be ahead of you.”
“No, no. I have a reputation to keep up.”
“Oh.” May frowned. “But you’re keeping up great. What’s a reputation?”
Robyn chuckled. “Oh wow. This could be interesting.”
“At the very least,” Toby said.
†
After a huge breakfast of blueberry pancakes, bacon, and sausage, Toby paid the check, which included a “the works” breakfast for Zed, and they headed back out into the shiny day.
The sun was so bright that even with her sunglasses, it seemed almost blinding to Robyn. “I feel like a vampire. That sun is killing me.”
“Yeah.” Toby placed his sunglasses on one-handed. “That happens when you don’t sleep much. Maybe it happens when you’re running from minions from the dark side. You end up being a little like them.”
“Maybe we’re a little like them to begin with,” Robyn muttered. “Maybe that’s the whole problem. We wouldn’t be in this mess if it weren’t for me chasing down… what I was chasing down.”
“That doesn’t make you like them, Robyn. Just means they could exploit you easier. They look for weakness. You weren’t exactly at your best at the time.”
God bless him. Where was he when she’d needed him most?
Right where she was when he’d found her. That’s when she’d needed him most.
As they approached the vehicles, Zed jumped down from the truck. He moved gracefully for being such a muscular, stocky guy. Robyn supposed that being in the business he was in, you’d have to be quick on your feet and not stumble. You couldn’t afford to.
“Thanks, Toby. That hit the spot.” Zed pushed his Styrofoam container into a plastic bag he’d apparently had hanging around in his truck. He threw the bag onto the passenger seat.
Robyn didn’t want to think of what horrors resided in the dark reaches of that truck.
“See anything interesting?” Toby asked him.
>
Zed shook his head. “Nope. Doesn’t mean there isn’t anything interesting seeing us, though. You know?”
Toby nodded. “I do. We’d better get moving. We’re burning time here.”
Robyn wondered if it really mattered. She had the distinct feeling that the collectors knew exactly where they were. They were just biding their time until they could catch them unaware.
She had the feeling that Toby knew that, too.
Her head throbbed suddenly. She winced, placing a hand across her forehead.
May stopped walking, looking up at her. “Sore head?”
“Yeah. Just a headache. Not enough sleep. I’ll be okay.”
“We can stop and get something for that, if you like,” Toby said, opening the back door to the truck. “Hop in, squirt.”
May giggled. “Squirt!”
Toby winked. “You like that, huh?”
May nodded. “Yeah. It’s funny.”
He crossed his eyes and poked his tongue out the side of his mouth.
May squealed with laughter.
Toby laughed himself, buckling her in. “Okay, squirt. You’re all set. Sit back and enjoy the ride.”
May giggled again, watching Toby with the same kind of adoration Robyn was starting to feel for him herself. She blinked, sighed, and climbed in the truck herself, trying to squelch the sudden, sharp ache in her chest.
“Do you want to stop somewhere?” Toby asked her, starting the truck.
“Yeah, thanks.” Robyn found herself wishing she had something stronger to take. Something to dull the ache she felt deep inside of her. The one that never seemed to go away, just receding before returning full force. The one that took her breath away. It could be dulled, if she buried it under the numbness of any number of substances.
Like the sparkly, glowing powder Toby had hidden somewhere.
He might’ve tossed it.
