by A. American
A little more relaxed, the man replied, “Yeah, almost every day the feds come through.”
“Through where?”
“Here,” he replied, pointing at Danny’s house. “They go through a couple of houses every day. Always the same ones.”
“Have they been here today?” Mike asked, looking back toward the road.
“We wouldn’t be out here if they hadn’t. We hide out in the woods when they show up.”
“What other houses do they go through?”
“I don’t know . . . one of them is down the road, like near the main road and somewhere on that street to the left down there.”
Mike looked at Danny and shook his head. They knew which houses they were checking every day.
Mike asked Jeff to go get the buggy and pick him up on the way back. “Danny, you stay here with them. This shouldn’t take long.”
“What? Why me?” Danny looked at the three. “I don’t want to stay here with them.”
“Suck it up. I’ll be back soon,” Mike said, walking away.
Danny stared at them intently. The silence clearly unnerved the girls. In an attempt to mitigate the awkwardness of the situation, he cleared his throat.
“You’ve got a nice place,” the young man said. Danny narrowed his eyes at him as he continued, “I mean, I know it’s been messed up, but it’s a nice house. And we really didn’t do any of that.” He pointed toward the tree line, “We dug a pit out there, and that’s where we, ya know . . . go.”
One of the girls spoke, “We really do have to pee in a hole. We wouldn’t wreck someone else’s house.”
As much as he wanted to hate these people, Danny just couldn’t bring himself to do it. He understood their situation. Hell, he was nearly in their situation.
“Where’re you guys from?”
“Kinda all over. I’m from Pine Hills.” He pointed to a blonde girl. “She’s from Orlando.” He nodded to the redheaded girl who had been screaming her head off. “And she’s from Ohio.” Danny looked at her with raised eyebrows. “Don’t ask,” she said.
The blonde brushed dirt from the knees her filthy jeans. “We just sort of came together.”
“I can relate.”
“How’d you guys end up together?” the guy asked.
Danny waved a hand at him. “We’re not going to get into that.”
The blonde cocked her hips to the side, her hands resting on them. “They’re looking for you guys, aren’t they?” she said with a knowing smile. When Danny didn’t answer, she continued, “What’d you guys do?”
“We didn’t do anything, and they aren’t looking for us.”
“Don’t worry, man, we ain’t going to say anything. Hell, I don’t even want to see them,” the young guy said.
Mike wheeled around the side of the house in the buggy, with the smoker in tow. He waved Danny over. “Take the shells out of his shotgun and toss them over the fence and let’s get out of here.”
“I want to fix the doors. I don’t want to leave the place like this.”
Mike grabbed his shoulder. “Look, man, I know it’s hard to see your home like this, but it’d be a waste of time. They’ll just tear it down again.”
“He’s right. Plus, anything you do to try and fix it might raise their attention. Probably better to let them think we’ve never been here,” Jeff said, then pointed to the small group. “Unless they tell them.”
Danny replied, “I don’t think they will. They’re scared shitless as it is.” He went over and emptied the gun, throwing the shells into the neighbor’s yard where they were staying. “You can get them when we leave.”
“Hey, man, where are you guys staying?” He hesitated a moment. “Can we come?”
“Sorry, you can’t come right now, but we’re up on Hopkins Prairie if you find your way there.”
Danny climbed into the backseat and Mike took off around the house. Jeff turned and gave Danny a confused look. “Where’s Hopkins Prairie?”
“It’s up north of here. Figured if they did get caught, they might try and give us up. Hopkins Prairie is thirty miles north of here.”
Jeff nodded approvingly. “Send ’em on a wild-goose chase.”
“Damn right!” Mike whooped and they sped off.
Chapter 33
Jess and Mary were heading back to their room after another dreary day of serving breakfast. Mary was kicking the dirt as she walked, head down. “Jess, are you sure you want to try and escape? It seems awfully risky, the more I think about it.”
Jess rubbed the back of her neck. “Yes, I am!”
“I was just thinking, you know, that old saying about the grass ain’t always greener and all.”
“At least there is grass.” Jess gestured toward the fence some six hundred meters away. “And it’s my choice if I walk on it.”
Mary glanced up at her. “Jess, it ain’t that bad! I mean, really. We’re warm, safe and dry. We’ve got plenty to eat. There’s even a doctor here. You can’t guarantee any of that on the other side of the fence.”
“Yeah, but were still not free, we’re prisoners. Just because they say it’s for our own good doesn’t make it any less true. I don’t need or want them to tell me what’s best for me. Let me decide.”
Inside the room Jess fell onto her bunk, laying her arm over her eyes.
“I’m going to take a shower,” Mary said as she gathered her things.
“I’ll be right here.”
Mary left and Jess fell asleep. She woke up later when the door opened. Still half-asleep, she asked, “How was your shower?”
“I figured I’d take one after,” a man’s voice answered.
Jess bolted up on the bunk. The creepy man who had harassed her on her walk home was standing in front of the door.
“What are you doing in here?” Jess yelled frantically.
Slowly he reached up and took the toothpick from the corner of his mouth. “Why can’t you be more like the rest of the bitches around here? You know this is going to happen; just go with it. I promise you’ll like it.” He reached down and unclipped his pistol belt, laying it on the table.
She jumped to her feet. “Don’t you fucking come near me!”
He smiled and rolled his sleeves up. “We can play games first. I like games.”
Jess looked at the door. She was trapped; there was no way around him. Her eyes darted to the pistol in the holster lying on the table. He saw it and laughed. “Not a chance in hell, darlin’.”
He started to move around the table. She waited for a moment, letting him get closer, then darted around the table in the opposite direction. Once she was on the other side, he grabbed the table, driving it into her and pinning her to the wall with a maniacal laugh.
“Where you goin’ now, darlin’?”
He was a big man, and strong. Leaning across the table she could smell the coffee on his breath and it made her sick. In sheer panic she reached for his face, trying to shove her thumbs through his eyes, but his reactions were fast too. In one seemingly fluid motion, he grabbed her by the back of the head and slammed her face into the table. Like a flashbulb moment, she saw the table for only an instant as it rushed toward her, and then it was blackness.
• • •
When Jess started to come to, it took a second for her head to register the intense pain screaming throughout her body. Her head was pounding, and her neck was burning. A searing pain racked her throat. She was groggy and everything seemed far away.
“Jess, are you okay?” She heard the words but they weren’t registering.
Gaining her senses, she kicked her feet out and pushed herself back against the wall.
“Jess, what happened?” Mary was kneeling in front of her. “Oh my God, what happened?” Mary cried, pulling the blanket from the bed and covering her.
Jess looked at her then down at herself and pulled the blanket up. She couldn’t speak, just shake her head. Mary had tears running down her face, her hand covering her mouth. “Jess, Jess, oh my God, what happened, what happened to you?”
Jess’s eyes darted around the room. She was still unable to speak.
“Jess, you stay there, I’m going to run get help.” She jumped up, running out the door. She returned a few seconds later with Kay. “Oh, not again,” Kay whispered as she rushed over and knelt down beside her.
“Oh, you poor thing. Jess, I’m so sorry.” She put an arm under her. “Let’s get you up.”
“Kay, we need to call someone. We need to tell someone,” Mary said urgently.
“Honey, there’s no one to tell.”
“What about the security people? You mean we can’t ask them for help?” Mary, so usually even-tempered, was beginning to sound hysterical.
Kay shook her head. “I know, I know, and I’m sorry, sweetie, I really am. But we can’t trust that will lead to anything but more heartache. Come on, sit up.” Kay helped Jess into a chair.
“Mary, go to the kitchen and get a bowl of hot water and washcloth and soap,” Kay said, looking Jess over. She was gone in a flash, her hands still shaking.
“Look, Jess, I know this is horrible, but do not tell anyone. I’m sorry to have to say that to you.”
Jess sat there numb, unresponsive. Kay tried to smooth her hair, holding her face in her hands. When Mary returned she used the cloth to clean the blood from Jess’s nose and cheek.
Once she was cleaned up, they helped Jess into her bed, covering her with a blanket. Kay took Mary by the hand and led her outside.
“Mary, you have to keep this to yourself. Don’t say anything. I’ll handle it, you understand?” Kay whispered gently but firmly.
“But we have to tell someone! Someone has to do something about this. This can’t happen,” Mary replied, starting to cry again.
“I know, but if you tell the wrong person it’ll only be worse, trust me.” Kay looked at the door. “Keep an eye on her. Is Fred back yet?” Mary shook her head. “Then stay here in the morning. Don’t worry about breakfast. I’ll come check in on her, okay?”
Mary nodded, wiping tears from her face. “Has this happened before?”
Kay’s face fell. Looking down she said, “Yes, it has. It has happened, more than it ever should.” She grabbed Mary by the shoulders. “You have to be strong for her right now. Can you do that?” Mary nodded. “Okay, then go back and be with her. She needs a friend now. I’ll be back soon.”
Mary went back in and sat at the table. The small room suddenly had a different feel, a darkness to it. She didn’t want to touch anything—everything in the room seemed tainted now. She noticed a smear of blood on the table and shuddered.
When the door opened, Mary screamed and jumped to her feet, knocking her chair over. Fred stood at the door looking at her like she was crazy. “Um, you all right?”
Collecting her wits, Mary grabbed Fred’s hand and stepped outside. Fred was confused. “What?”
Mary bit her nails, tapping her foot up and down. Fred held her hands out. “What the hell?”
“Something happened.”
“Okay, what happened?”
“Something happened to Jess. Something bad.”
Fred looked at the door. “Like what? Did she get hurt?”
“Something like that. . . .” She trailed off and the realization dawned on Fred. She mouthed the word and Mary quickly nodded her head. Fred felt sick, partly because of her own recent experience.
“When did it happen?”
“Earlier today. It’s all my fault,” Mary wailed as tears began to cascade down her cheeks.
“How’s it possibly your fault?”
Mary wiped her face. “I left her. I left her alone and went to take a shower. I shouldn’t have left her.”
“Are you insane? It’s not your fault, and you need to get that out of your head. If she went to take a shower and it happened to you, would you blame her?”
Mary looked off and shook her head.
“Who did it?” Fred asked.
“We don’t know; she hasn’t said anything since it happened.”
“What are they doing about it?” Mary told her what Kay had said and Fred threw her hands in the air. “That’s bullshit!” She paused, taking a deep breath before revealing her own story. “It almost happened to me on the trail, but one of the guys stopped it. God, poor Jess. This is unbelievable.”
They went inside. Fred went to Jess’s bunk and sat on the floor. The only thing visible was a shock of messy blonde hair. While Mary puttered around the cabin, Fred sat rubbing Jess’s head, getting madder by the moment. She was going to find out who did this and make them pay for it, one way or another.
A knock at the door brought them both to their feet. Kay stepped in, surprised to see Fred.
“Oh, hey, Fred. When did you get back?”
“A little while ago. Shocked to come home and find this,” she said, with an edge in her voice.
Kay looked at Mary. “How is she?”
“She hasn’t moved, been just like that all day.”
Kay sat on the bed, pulling the blanket down and trying to roll her over to see her face. Jess resisted and stayed facing the wall. Kay patted her head and stood up.
“She needs time right now.” She looked at Fred. “How was the trip?”
Fred pushed her out the door. “Fuck the trip, what are we going to do about this?”
“Look, I told Mary that you have to be careful who you tell, or it can get worse for her and you guys.”
Fred stared at her, the fury building. “You know some asshole tried to do it to me on the trip?”
“No, I had no idea, I’m sorry.” Kay took a deep breath before continuing, “Look, it happens and everyone knows it. I’ve seen it that they make a show of punishing the guy if the woman makes enough of a fuss, but I’ve also seen it go the other way. I’ve seen it get worse for the woman for telling.”
Fred crossed her arms. “You know, that’s the same thing I was told: it can get worse. Is that how they keep women from reporting it—it’s all okay as long as no one says anything?”
Fred could see Kay was genuinely upset. “I know it sounds horrible”—she looked at Fred imploringly—“and it is, but what can we do? They have all the power.”
“Then we need to take some of it back.”
“How? How could we possibly do that?”
“Don’t you worry about it. I’ll take care of this.”
“I don’t know what you’re thinking about, but it’s probably already been tried,” Kay continued. “I told Mary to take tomorrow off and watch Jess. You do the same, see if you can get her to come around.”
Fred smiled. “Thanks, Kay, I’ll do that.”
“Good. I’ll have someone bring you some dinner this evening.”
“That would be wonderful, thank you.” Fred went back into her room.
Mary was still sitting at the table when Fred came in. “Anything?” Fred asked.
Mary shook her head. “Same.”
“Would you be okay if I left her for a minute? I need to run and do something.”
“Yeah, sure.”
“I won’t be long, promise.”
Mary smiled. “Okay.”
Fred walked toward the back of the camp to the motor pool. She looked for Aric as she weaved through the rows of trucks, but she couldn’t find him. She saw another one of the guys from the trip, who told her that Aric was off duty. She asked where he stayed and the guy gave her directions. It didn’t take long to find his room.
Fred knocked on the door. From inside, a voice shouted, “It’s open!” She opened the door and peered in. Aric was stretched out on his bunk in his boxers and a
T-shirt. When he saw her, he smiled and sat up.
“Hey, Fred.” He waved her in. “Come in, but hurry up and close the door. We’re not supposed to have chicks in here.”
She stepped in and closed the door. “So I’m just a chick, huh?”
He made a show of looking her up and down. “You do seem to have all the right hardware.”
“Nice of you to notice.”
Aric smiled. “So what’s with the visit?”
“I need a favor.”
In a really bad impression of the Godfather, he said, “You’ll be forever in my debt,” and started to laugh.
Fred winked at him. “What, my credit’s no good here?”
“Oh, quite to the contrary, it’s an open line. So, what do you need?”
“I need one of those cans of that stuff, Skull, or whatever it is.”
“Skoal. What do you need that for?”
“Well, I am a chick and chicks like to shop, ya know?” She sat down beside him. “But I don’t have any money.” She gave an exaggerated frown and tilted her head to the side.
Aric smiled. “So what’s in it for me?”
Fred leaned over, putting a hand high on his thigh for support. She turned his face toward her and kissed him. “How’s that?” His face flushed red, but he tried to play it off.
“It’s a nice sample.”
She leaned back. “Well, if you liked that”—she paused and looked down at his crotch—“and we both know you did, you’ll certainly like the rest.”
Aric’s knee started to bounce. He leaned back, locking his hands behind his head as if in deep thought. “All right, I’ll give you a chance.” He got up and went to his wall locker, returning with a can. He held it out, but as she reached for it, he pulled it back slightly. “If anyone asks, you didn’t get it from me.”
Fred took the can with a flourish. “I won’t tell a soul.” She kissed him again and brushed her hand over the front of his boxers. “Thanks.” She left him standing there and started back to her room.
Walking back, she thought about the tough spot she was in. She actually liked Aric, but he was one of them, and that complicated things. Why can’t the world just go back to being normal? She clutched the can in her hand as she walked. Skoal made her think of her dad, and her heart swelled with sadness. She missed him so much.
