Running Away
It was 8:25 a.m. and an old Volvo was speeding along St George Road, heading out to Silverton and down to Leadville.
Frank Richardson was driving, looking straight ahead with anger plastered on her face. Jenna sat beside him on the other seat, staring out of the window. Her hair was loose and it covered half of her face. Frank glanced sideways at her face and then heaved. He couldn't see her face but he knew she was sobbing silently. He tightened his grip on the steering as more anger erupted within him like a volcano. Running was hard for him as much as it was for Jenna. He felt that he was leaving a part of himself behind, a part that he had cherished all his life. He was leaving his farm, his inheritance— the only thing that his mother left him which, apart from the fact that he earned a living through it, held a huge sentimental value for him. Frank felt like he was running away from his mother's memory and legacy, his roots and everything that made him Frank Richardson. But he consoled himself with the fact that it was worth it. Jenna was the love of his life and he would do anything to ensure that nothing came between them.
"Did you tell Mrs Lydia about this?" said Jenna, jolting Frank out of his thoughts.
"Yes. Why?" said Frank.
"Oh my God! You shouldn't have."
"Really? Look, I've known Lydia for almost 25 years. You saw it yourself how she loves and cares for me. I get it, this should be top secret but Lydia isn't just anybody. She was my mum's best friend. I trust her. There was no way I could have left Silverton without letting her know."
"Frank," said Jenna, hesitating for a second, "are you aware that I didn't tell my parents about our running away? 'Cause I knew it wasn't safe! Either they would try to stop me or they would divulge the information to Leonardo under duress. But you told Mrs Lydia? Are you aware of the potential danger of that?"
Frank gave a dry chuckle. "Perish the thought, sweetheart. I know Lydia too well. She cannot tell anyone what I told her, if that's what you're thinking."
There was an uncomfortable pause for several minutes until Jenna started sobbing loudly. Frank applied the brakes and pulled over at a corner of the road. There was very few traffic on St George Road.
He snuggled closer to her and held her in his arms. "I'm sorry I told her. Please stop crying. You know it breaks my heart to see you this way."
"It's not really about Lydia," Jenna sniffled, "I'm just scared for my parents. I don't know what Leonardo would do to them."
"No, you don't have to worry about that. Leonardo might be many evil things but he doesn't hurt old people, unless they are his direct enemies. This is common knowledge."
"Still, I'm so scared."
Frank kissed her on the forehead. "I'm scared too, but I know everything will be all right soon. We should be in Leadville before 10 P.M. And by tomorrow afternoon, we'll be out of Colorado. We'll go somewhere far where Leornado and his blood-thirty dogs cannot find us. When things are stable, we'll call your parents and tell them we are safe. So stop crying, okay?"
"Okay."
Frank raised her head up and gave her a long, passionate kiss on the lips, and she returned the kiss with equal fervor, throwing her arms around him and hungrily sucking his lower lip. Frank was taken aback by the sheer passion of her kiss, but he knew that she was desperately trying to find a release, a sweet distraction from all her fears and worries.
Frank broke the kiss when Jenna grabbed his crotch.
"For real?" he said, smiling. There was a saucy glint in his eyes.
"Yes," said Jenna.
"Sex in the middle of the road?" he said, laughing now.
"But we are not in the middle of the road. I need it now."
"I think we should continue our trip, baby. Don't forget why we are running. We'll have enough time for bedroom jigs when she get to Leadville."
"You're not listening to me!" said Jenna. She sounded edgy now, almost unhinged. "I need it now. I'm nearing breaking point. The feeling is paralyzing. Let's just do this for a few minutes. Please."
"Okay, okay, baby," said Frank, "You know I'm here for you." And then they started kissing again. Jenna stopped after a moment and removed her pair of denim jeans, and a few seconds later, the action began, right on the sidewalk on St George Road.
Somewhere else in the heart of Silverton, Bull stood in front of Lydia, towering over her. There was a Beretta pistol in his right hand.
"What the fuck are you talking about, old lady?" he barked at her, "thought you said they'd be leaving by ten?"
Lydia appeared unruffled. "I'd be lying if I said that's not what he told me around 6 p.m. when he was packing his bags. Had no idea he was gonna leave two hours later."
"Fuck!" Bull spat. "Shit just got a bit more difficult for me now. I had thought I'd get this over with quickly and then return to the fun of the night!"
"Hey," said Lydia, studying Bull's face, "what do you plan to do with him? Kill him? Remember that's not our agreement."
"What fucking agreement are you taking about? The only agreement was that you give me info and you get paid. Simple."
"I said not to kill him."
"And who the hell are you to tell me what to do?"
Lydia wanted to say something but stopped short of saying it. Then cleared her throat and said, "Where's my balance? I did give you info."
Bull inched closer to her and then said, "It's in my pocket, the half grand. But first, tell me exactly where they are headed. I'm sure he told you. You said he regards you as a mother." Bull was smirking now.
Lydia swallowed hard, trying rather unsuccessfully to hide her guilt.
"The money first," she said.
Bull reached inside his pocket, brought out 500 dollars and handed the notes to her.
"If you hurry now, you might just catch them at St George Road," said Lydia . "They're in an old white Volvo. They're headed for Leadville."
"Good," said Bull, "Frank dies tonight." And then he walked briskly away.