Yeah, I was sure Elaine wouldn’t be so proud of me now.
When I was eleven, I was caught for shoplifting. I was just trying to get something to eat. I went from having the shit scared out of me because I thought I was going to jail, to being put into a group home for troubled children. So yeah, the system was supposed to save me that time, but it was just a little too late. And as it turned out, that wasn’t the right answer either. I quickly learned that no one gave a shit about a kid like me.
So I ran.
Then ended up being caught again and tossed into another group home. This cycle went on until I found something better. I realized that as an adult, I wouldn’t be given the same leniency as a child. If the cops got a hold of me, it would be jail. I wised up and found someplace that I could fit in.
I rubbed my head again.
This was the worst time to take a trip down memory lane. I felt like I couldn’t stop it. Somehow this whole thing had blown a hole in the side of that box I kept locked up tight in my brain. Everything was flowing out and filling my mind with the things I wished I could just run from.
I’d been doing it a long time now, that running thing.
Only as I sat here in this room with an annoying humming noise coming from the lights while I waited for the detective that was determined to make my life hell to come back in, I realized something big.
That I was tired of running.
-15-
Silas
“I’ve got an idea, but you’re not going to like it,” Hunt said and I didn’t like his tone. He was calling and I knew it had to be for a reason. I had a feeling I wasn’t going to be happy with whatever it was.
“Whatever it is, I can already tell you it’s not a good idea.”
“When have I ever failed?”
“Really?” I sighed and with much reluctance, gave into curiosity. “What is it?”
“I’m going to kidnap her when she comes out of the police station.” Yep, he was right, I didn’t like that idea one single fucking bit. “Hear me out.”
“I don’t think I want to. This has got to be the worst idea you’ve ever come up with. I mean, I know you can do some crazy shit and get away with it, but this…” I shook my head even though he couldn’t see it.
He wasn’t reckless. He didn’t come up with stupid plans and make a mess of things. He was usually much better than this. Then again, this was his deal and maybe I had to just trust him here.
“You know how you always give me shit for the cars I drive?” he asked not sounding a little bit amused. And it was true. He drove boring, everyday cars. The kind Mr. Office Man would drive. Or a family with two kids. Yeah, safe and good on gas. Not flashy at all like the ones I had. “Well, you won’t be making fun of it now. How many other blue sedans are out there? Too many to think of.”
“Yeah, I get what you’re saying. But how the hell are you going to pull that off. And why? Oh, and why the fuck would you even think of something like that?!”
“Calm down. From what I gather, you’re in no condition to get upset.” There was no humor in his tone.
“Huntsmen,” I said through gritted teeth.
“You’ve created a mess,” he said and I couldn’t even argue with him there. “Let me clean it up.”
“Fine. But I’m going to need to know all the details.”
“I wasn’t up there, but I’m guessing they think she knows what happened. I don’t know her well enough to have any clue if she’s going to tell them something or not. But assuming they let her go, they aren’t going to be done with her either way. If she talks, they are going to have follow up questions. If she doesn’t, there’s a chance they could know she’s lying. So they aren’t just going to let her walk out of there and go on about her life.”
“She lived with the Paragons for years, you really think she’s going to talk?”
“That’s a good point. All the more reason to go with my plan,” he said pointedly. “I’ll grab her, make sure it’s seen, maybe even caught on tape. They’ll more than likely think it was someone associated with the dead guy. And no, I don’t need you to give me details. I know how to cover my tracks. I’ll get her out of the city safely.”
“And if they chase you?”
To that, he grunted. Like how could I even doubt his skills?
“A city with this many people. I’ll lose them easily enough.”
