Truth or Consequences

[SecretDesires]

Abbey turned to Candy. "You two were engaged?" Candy nodded. "And he dumped you without a word." Again Candy nodded. "And now he shows back up in your life with a murder rap on his head and asks for help." Candy nodded and shrugged, a smile on her face. She knew Jac was sweating this one out. She also knew that, if she was okay with Jac than Abbey would be to. The other woman just had to make sure things were really okay. Abbey tended to be a bit over protective at times.

Abbey cocked her head and gave Jac a hard stare. "He give you a reason for breaking your heart?" Candy had to laugh as she saw Jac squirm.

"Says he wanted to keep me out of danger," She said a twinkle in her eye.

Abbey's reaction was instantaneous. She looked wide eyed at Jac, threw her head back and laughed. Shaking her head she said,"And how long did you say you were together?"

Turning to Jac, all anger at him gone she winked at him. "Listen, sweets, I have been trying that same thing for five years. Doesn't work, does it?"

Grabbing Mike's arm she said,"Okay, so we go off into the lion's den. This might be fun." Reaching up she undid her hair and unbuttoned a couple of buttons on her blouse to reveal her cleavage. With a smile she added,"We'll double team the cute teller this time. I can sacrifice and provide the distraction."

Mike rolled his eyes and undid his apron heading to the wall and the secret door. "Don't expect us any time soon," He said and they both disappeared.

Actually it was a little over a half an hour before the wall swung in again and the pair entered a huge smile on Abbey's face. It had seemed forever as Jac and Candy waited in silence, nothing to say that seemed appropriate to the situation and the relief on Candy's face as she jumped up from the table where she had been sitting.

"Did you get whatever was in the box?" She said anxiously and Abbey nodded, patting her huge handbag.

"That and dates for the next two weekends," Her secretary replied with a satisfied smile.

Going to the table Abbey reached in and grabbed a handful of things, dumping them on the table. The pile was impressive. There were three stacks of hundred dollar bills, some personal items that did not seem to connect to the case but which she could not be certain about until they had solved the puzzle, and a folded up piece of paper.

Jac immediately started going through the things, putting them away in his pockets as he did so until only the paper was left. Before he could open it though a bell in the room buzzed signalling that Mike had customers. Excusing himself the large man made his way upstairs as Abbey, Candy and Jac bent over the paper.

It seemed to be a map but of what and where Candy couldn't tell and she had no time to discuss it with the others. Suddenly from up above them they heard the sound of a shotgun blast and shouts of anger.

Rushing to the wall, Candy opened it and rushed out calling back,"Mike's in trouble!" And running up the stairs from the wine celler to the bar above.

When she got there she immediately saw that Mike might not be the one in trouble. The brothers were there, bandages and all and Mike had the shotgun he kept behind the bar leveled at them. One of them was holding his arm, blood seeping through his fingers as he glared at the bar keeper but both turned to look in the direction of Candy as she came stomping up the stairs.

With a curse they forgot the danger the man behind the bar posed to them and lunged for her. Kneeling, she whipped her pistol from her side holster and aimed for the nearest one's thigh, letting off a round and hitting him squarely but not having enough time aim for the other one. Rolling to the side to avoid a collision course with the human bulldozer, she faintly heard the sound of a whistle just past her ear and a scream of pain from her would be attacker.

Completing her roll, she came up and saw Jac there, a look of fury on his face glaring at her attacker who was on the floor, a knife sticking from him. The man bellowed again and got up, kicking his brother who was rolling on the floor in pain, blood flowing from his leg. Candy had a feeling this was not over yet.

 

[Zirconn]

Jac

The thunderous sound of a twelve-gauge shotgun shell going off brought him back to earth, after being high on the success of both Abbey and Mike. He really owed these two for their help. The three stacks of hundred dollar bills would help in a very fine way indeed. And the map… But that last thought was shelved for later, even as his triumphant look disappeared from his face like wax melting away. He wanted to tell Candy to wait before going out, but all his words hit was the wine rack now revealed totally by the sliding wall. He remembered well Abbey’s words, “Doesn't work, does it?”

“No shit, it doesn’t. Ah Hell!” would have been the reply, as he burst pass a frozen Abbey, out the door and upstairs.

The emergence of the Bruiser Brothers, Matt and David, did not surprised him at all. What did surprised him was the speed of which they have figured out Abbey’s dupe, and followed Mike and her back to the bar. They certainly did not look like goons from movies, where stupidity ruled. These two used their heads and watched Bert’s apartment like a hawk. This was a turning point for Jac, as he had always considered these two to have more brawns than brains, but now by them showing up at the bar, they had an equal amount of brains and brawns to carry out their master’s orders.

There was no time to think as he saw Matt lunging forward for Candy, who had put David down first. It was an almost automatic reactionary thought as the knife left his palm. His weight was behind that throw, and the knife buried deep into Matt’s leg, on the inner thighs. Unfortunately, Jac was out of practice, and the knife missed the vein that ran through it. Nevertheless, it bought him valuable time to close the distance.

The boot that connected solidly on Matt’s chin brought a sweet sounding crunch to Jac’s ears. Out like the lights. That however, worked both ways, as it gave David the time to get up and put a bear hug on Jac. The size of David gave the impression that he could press the sap out of tree trunks. This was the thought as breathing became impossible for Jac. He felt his life being squeezed from him. Even though with shotgun pellets and a bullet in the body, David still had the strength to make shit come out from holes of Jac.

“LET HIM GO, YOU BASTARD, OR I SWEAR I’LL SHOOT…” Candy shouted above the din and confusion.

The reply was a wicked grin as David turned to let Jac face Candy and the gun. There was no clear shot for her or Mike. Worse if Mike ever got the shotgun off again. And a wicked laugh, even as blood was flowing freely from David. And the bear-hug got tighter by the second. And if Jac did not do something soon to extricate himself, more than likely Candy would shoot through him to get to David. And she would probably enjoy the trigger pulls as well…

Jac arched, and slammed the back of his head against the broken nose of David. His heel to the groin was simultaneous to the head butt. This double prong attack gave Jac the opportunity to pry David’s fingers apart, as far apart almost to the breaking point to release the bear-hug. That worked. And breaths returned to Jac in huge spurts, making his ribs feel raw. He then saw that David was still on his feet. So a swift leaping side-kick to David’s chest that slammed him to the wall of the bar. This was followed by anger and all the frustrations that showed itself with the reverse roundhouse kick to David’s face. Not contented as he was still standing after those hard kicks, Jac leapt up into the air for one those “helicopter” reverse roundhouse kicks with the heel of his boot connecting solidly to the chin.

That last kick felt so good that Jac actually grinned as he landed, savoring and remembering the sweet sounds of bone crunching. Equally satisfying was the image of the big man go down like a sack of potatoes. Jac was so out of practice. But his anger and muscles that remembered his training, made up for the lack of practice. He knew he needed to get back into training again. This was when his breakfast spewed out in ugly and nauseating chunks. Not the image of a manly man saving the day at all. Just a guy puking after going through a bear-hug and a hand to hand combat. Definitely time to think of training again.

“Damn, I’d really enjoyed breakfast too…” as the last of the waffles came back out.

“Mike, thanks for looking out for us. You don’t know how much this means to me. So thanks. Thanks a lot,” Jac shook the beefy bartender’s hand, while wiping his mouth with his sleeve, “You know you should open up a Waffle House, instead of a bar, with those excellent waffles of yours…” He can still taste remnants of the waffles in his mouth. Those are indeed excellent waffles.

“Candy are you alright?” He saw that she was uninjured, something that he was forever thankful for. Still he had to ask that question. An automatic reaction from him presumably, as he was always afraid of her getting hurt.

The answer was a nod and mumble, which was what he had expected, so he just grabbed hold of her arms and led her out, through the backdoor, the proper backdoor this time.

“Abbey and Mike take care of yourselves. Let the cops take care of these two,” pointing at the down and out Bruiser Brothers, “Both of us gotta carry on by ourselves. It’s too dangerous to further involve yourselves in my mess. Thanks so much for your help. I’ll never forget that, and I’ll return the favor someday… See you later Abbey, maybe we can have a ménage a trios someday…” With a wink, a kiss on Abbey’s forehead, and a wave, Jac ran with Candy in tow. The speed was increased when the sounds of sirens grew louder.

The run to the minivan was relatively short, and even shorter to get the minivan moving out on the streets and away from the scene. Just in time too as he saw the flashing lights and heard the sirens coming into the alley behind him.

“What now Candy? We’ve the map, or a map. I think it’s a map. Or just a drawing on a piece of paper. But I can’t read it. I’ve no idea what is says, so it seems we’re back to square one. I hope Mike and Abbey doesn’t get into trouble with the law, with guns firing and bullets flying. We may have just move up to the top ten of the FBI’s Most Wanted List, love,” as Jac breathed the first sigh of relief when he did not notice any cop car following the minivan.

He slowed down as to not break any traffic laws, and attract the attention of even the traffic police. What he did not notice was a beige Jeep Cherokee with darkened windows following discretely a few cars back. The occupants of which were intent on just following the rabbits that will lead them to the cabbage patch.

 

[SecretDesires]

Candy took a moment to catch her breath as she leaned back in the passenger seat. Alot had happened fast and it took her a moment to process it all.

"We have to get ahold of Proffesor Smith," she said taking her cell phone out of her jacket pocket,"Show him the map and see if he can make heads or tails out of it."

Quickly she called information and had them connect her to the University of Pennsylvania. She must have been distracted for it took her several minutes to realize they were being followed.

"Shit!" She said and then to the woman who had just answered the phone,"Oh, sorry. I need to be connected to the office of Proffessor Alan Smith. Yes, I will hold on."

Her eyes followed the Cherokee as both Jac and the Jeep wove in and out of traffic. They were a few cars behind but definately following Jac's every move.

The woman came on again announcing that Proffessor Smith was not in his office. Candy thanked her and hung back up dialing information again.

"We have a tail," She told Jac even as she was being connected to the Prof's home number,"Beige Jeep a few cars back. I suggest we try to lose them or else we might end up in worse shape than back at Mike's."

 

[Zirconn]

Jac

“Damn!” There it was, even with a left and a right turn in quick succession, still there, the beige Jeep.

“I don’t know what to do, or how to loose them, love…”

That was the truth. It was supposed to be a quiet ride out of town. Not to draw the attention of the cops by breaking any traffic laws. And up in the skies, the police helicopters were roaming for any law-breakers. But Candy was right as usual. If they were stopped by the Jeep, there would be no telling how much worse it would be. And if they were stopped by the cops, it would be the end of the game for both of them. Talk about being between a rock and a hard place.

In movies, San Francisco was a good place for car chases, with all those rolling hills, and Street Cars in the way. It did look good in The Rock and Roller Ball, but it was certainly was a let down, when one actually had to do all those things that stuntmen planned, trained and carried out. The weaving through the traffic was not as exciting, and he did not even think about driving on the curb and walkway like those in the movies while trying to escape pursuers. No running through red lights either. He had to stop as usual, and so did the Jeep, still a few cars back. People of San Francisco would not normally let other drivers pass without signaling. But they did let him, with his good driving manners weave through, while the rude Jeep was being blocked.

Definitely unexciting, so unlike in all those movies that he had watched. He knew that sooner or later, the Jeep would catch up. Especially after they had crossed the Bay Bridge to Oakland, and onto the less and smoother traffic of I80, heading east to Pittsburgh. He thought that in Sacramento they could board a private plane, with the money that he had in his pocket, and fly to Pittsburgh. Besides the Sacramento police might not be so attentive to out of towners from San Francisco. The minivan might not do as well as the Jeep on the open freeway, but he had to try.

“Uhuh love, we’re running out of time and bridge,” although they were only less than halfway across the Bay Bridge. The Island of Alcatraz was in the distant, although too far off to make out any details. But the thought of it brought shivers to his spine. Even though it was now a tourist attraction, the reason that it was built still scared him to no end. He would never step foot on that island, even if someone had paid for the ticket.

Treasure Island came up quick, but he still had not shaken the tail. They were halfway across the bridge.

“Uhuh, love…” with much more urgency in his voice, “got any ideas?”

 

[SecretDesires]

Candy had been following the chase and her mind was whirling as she tried to figure something out. Suddenly an idea hit her like lightening and she began to search Jac's pockets even as he drove.

She had no time to tell him her idea though his surprised exclamation told her he was wondering what she had up her sleeve and his look of puzzlement when she took out one of the stacks of hundreds was plain to see.

Unbuckling her seatbelt she crawled over the seats to the back of the van where the hatch was and popped it, keeping it down enough so that no cops could tell that it was ajar. In the back of her mind she heard the dinging of the alarm on Jac's console even as she tore the binding off of the money and began to let the bills filter out of the back of the van.

The wind picked up the bills as they hit the air currents that were present due to the speed they were going and soon the road was littered with money. As expected she heard screetching behind them as the surprised drivers realized that large bills were litterally landing in their laps.

Candy was counting on the residents of California to ask no questions and be quick to hide anything that anyone might want back. She was not dissapointed. Soon the roadway behind them was clogged with cars that were stopped so the drivers could jump out and grab the money that now lay on the road. Closing the hatch she looked through the back window to see the Cheroke stopped in the midst of the traffic jam, the driver and passengers standing out in the road swearing and stomping around.

With a satisfied smile, Candy climbed back over the seats and buckled herself in.

"Best money I ever threw away," She said with a bit of smugness as she settled back in,"Now lets get to Prof Smith and see if he can't get this map figured out for us."

 

[Zirconn]

Jac

Jac did not know whether to laugh or cry. So he did both. Laughing with tears in his eyes, at the brilliance of his Candy. Not the tears of losing all that money, although it did brought a momentary pang of regret. But it was overwhelmed by his feeling of pride that Candy would accept him at all. He was hers.

The surge of speed was reflective of the surge of his heart. The speed limit was adhered to, and the bridge was nominally free of traffic. The people of San Francisco had more sense to get a real job and stay in their little cubicles with no windows. Whereas Jac was a bum, roaming the world in search of adventure, and treasure. Now with Candy by his side again, it was time to settle down. Commitment, the singular word that puts fear in the hearts of the bravest of men. It was time for him to commit. Another full kiss on her lips sealed his commitment to her.

All the public transportation stations will be watched closely, for fugitives like Candy and Jac. Especially after 9-11. So taking commercial flights out of SF, Oakland or San Jose International airports was not a very viable option. Nor was taking the train or bus to Pittsburgh, too slow and thus increasing the chance of identification and/or capture. Although a private train cabin was a very enticing prospect. Nevertheless, an airplane would be faster and less conspicuous. A private jet…

Jac directed the minivan towards Oakland International Airport. The security there was tight, as expected. The throngs of people going for their flights made things a little bit easier for Candy and Jac.

“Hello, Tim. It’s been a long time…”

“Jac… What! I thought you’re dead…” Timothy Holden. An airplane pilot, a qualified private jet pilot as well.

“Well, you wish I was dead so that you don’t have to repay the favor you owe me. I’m here to collect that favor. I need your help Tim.”

“Sure. I guess.” Not very enthusiastically, by the slump on his shoulders and downcast eyes.

“Any flights going to Pittsburgh, like right now or today?”

By flights, Jac had meant those special “commercial” flights, where packages are flown and delivered all over the country. Tim was now legitimate, or so he had said to Jac many times. He was now a respectable pilot for a very wealthy couple in the Oakland area. Although, sometimes, in the cabin drawers, there those inexplicable brown packages hidden away. Well, not sometimes, but often. A pilot makes very good money, but Tim made a lot more by transporting packages.

“I don’t do that anymore, Jac. I’ve told you this many times. I’ve got a family now, and I’m all legit, man…”

“I believe you Tim. I believe that you’re lying through your teeth, you bastard. I saved your life not once, but twice and you’re shitting on me now? I’m not going to ask you again. Is there any flights to Pittsburgh?” Jac by now had Tim on tiptoes, when he lifted Tim by the collars of his blazer.

“And what the f**k do you mean that you’ve got a family now? You’re always banging all those Stewards… Oh, pardon me, Flight Attendants. And for Christ sake’s, you’re gay, unless a female Flight Attendant managed to turn you to the other side, which I highly doubt it…”

“I’ve a kid now, adopted, ok? Ok?”

“Tim…”

“Ok… Old Farny has a flight going out this evening to Akron. That’s the closest that I can get you to Pittsburgh. I swear, man, that’s the only flight going close there. Damnit Jac, now let go of me, unless you don’t want to…” with a sly wink.

“Damn Tim, you’re incorrigible. Thanks, Farny still at his old place by the bar?”

Nodding, Tim straightened out his pilot’s blazer and quickly walked off, even before Jac’s thanks reached his ears. Well, it was alright, as Jac knew that Tim would keep his mouth shut, especially when he wanted to keep his lucrative side business a secret.

Akron, Ohio was still at least five hours drive to Pittsburgh, but it was better than nothing. These special “commercial” flights are the least conspicuous, cause the jail terms when caught were normally life sentences, and if the package failed to arrive, it would be perpetual slumber from the senders. Well, in the current circumstances , it was the best that Jac can do.

“Come on, sweets. We go find Farny. I hope it would be a comfortable flight. And don’t ask about Tim, cause you don’t really want to know…” when he saw the questions in Candy’s eyes and lips.

Farny was a damn good pilot, and his takeoffs were masterpieces, especially when he was drunk. “Lookee here! It’s Jac. Hey there Jac. Thought you’re dead… And who this babe? Hey Sugar, care for a kiss?…” And he burped from the cesspool that was his mouth.

Old Farny was still the man that Jac remembered, drunk as always, and still hitting on girls that could be his granddaughters. And old Farny was still the one to fall asleep on the controls when the flight was fully underway. And why does everyone thinks that he was dead?

“I can fly this. Just can’t takeoff or land…” Jac said to Candy when the snores of Farny reached both their ears.

 

[Zirconn]

Jac

“Farny, wake up… It’s KJ… Farny, damnit, wake up, you old geezer…” crackled over the radio.

“Farny… Make the drop and then proceed Southeast. Will let you know the destination in a while…”

“Why don’t you let me know now? This ‘ere aircraft don’t fly too good on empty you know… Neither do I as a matter of fact…”

“Damn Jac, looks like you’re out of luck for Akron, but in luck for Pittsburgh. Sort of, anyway…” Farny took a long swig from his silver flask.

It was indeed bad luck that they were not going to Akron after all. But Pittsburgh was sort of in the Southeast of Akron, in that general direction anyway. Nevertheless, the direction might be the same as their destination, but Farny was not going to land in Pittsburgh itself. They were left with little or no choice at all, thought Jac. The day had gone on splendidly, but he knew that luck was a fickle Lady, just as Fate.

“Not your fault, Farny. Any ideas?”

“An idea? Sure! If you’re and the lady are brave enough, and stupid enough…”

“Love, don’t have much of a choice do we?” Jac turned to face Candy.

“Okies, then… See there that parachute?… I don’t really have to spell it out for you, do I?”

“You’re nuts. I think the alcohol has burned away too many brain cells…”

“Hey, don’t knock my drinking cause I don’t knock your bad habits. Besides, I said I’ve an idea. I didn’t say it was a good one, or workable, or survivable. Besides, I’m running low on fuel, so don’t expect much…”

Jac knew that jumping out of a perfectly good airplane meant that it was time to go and admit himself into a psychiatric hospital. Or at least a psychiatric evaluation. Although skydiving was a sport for many people, Jac had always considered those kind of people to be just pure nuts, loony down to the core. Time and options were not many, and both were running out the longer he mulled over it.

“Come on Candy…”

Jac strapped on the parachute and had Candy put on the straps for a double-person jump. He then hooked himself to her. The one parachute should be able to hold them both. Besides there was only one chute that he could see or find. A fact which he announced quite audibly throughout the aircraft to grate on Farny’s ears. Of course, he also knew that he had better stop with the complaints, otherwise Old Farny might actually throw him out, BEFORE Candy and he could secure all the straps.

“Better hurry, before I throw you out and you’d be really dead. D.E.D., dead…” Farny chuckled at his own joke, and even Candy smiled. Yeah! Everyone seemed to think he was dead, or wish him to be…

“Thanks Farny…”

“No Problem. Just remember to replace my chute the next time you see me… We’re near Pittsburgh… Good luck…”

The tremendous whoosh of air, biting cold air that hit the face immediately when the door was open made Jac have second thoughts. And his courage disappeared. A saving grace though was that Candy and him were strapped face to face, so all he could think of was to kiss her, instead of taking that last step out of a perfectly good, certified air-worthy plane.

“Love, next time, no matter what, please punch me in the nose or kick me in the nuts, whenever I suggest taking these private planes again… I’m willing to get caught on commercial flights, just because commercial flights actually land, and we can walk off. Plus, they also serve those crunch honey-roasted peanuts…”

Of course, Farny was having none of that, so he helped Jac out through the door with a swift kick on the butt…

 

[SecretDesires]

Candy shook her head at Jac's hesitation. True, she had never jumped out of a plane herself but she was nothing if not willing to experience thrills of all types. This made obvious by her choice of profession. Besides, right now she had a feeling that falling through the air, parachute or not, was the better of the choices between that and staying on a plane low on fuel while the piolet was high on whatever was in the flask.

When they were finally out of the plane with the 'help' of said piolet, Candy found her heart pumping wildly not only from the free fall but from being so close to Jac. The combination of the two made her think back to being with him in the apartment and she found she had to work to keep her mind on the fact that they were plummeting to the earth at an alarming rate. Signalling Jac to pull the string she was pulled tight against him as the chute opened up catching the air and pulling them up for just a moment before they began falling again.

When they hit the ground and rolled with difficulty due to being harness together, they came up a tangle of arms and legs with Jac on top. Grinning up at him, Candy spoke up.

"As much as I am enjoying this position, love," She said with a twinkle in her eye, "I have to remind you that your backside is in a very vunerable position should someone start shooting at us."

She laughed as Jac scrambled to unbuckle himself and let the parachute go even as Candy freed herself from the restraints. Getting to their feet, they dusted themselves off and looked around for anyone who may have seen them but they were in a secluded spot with no one about and only a small roadway a few feet off.

Jogging over to the roadway, Candy wondered how they were going to get to town. Hitchhiking could be a way but she didn't see any cars along the road. As they approached it, though, she saw an old beat up pickup off to the side by a house that sat back a distance from the road. Grass had grown around the tires telling her that it had not been used for awhile. She hoped it wasn't because it didn't run.

Jogging over to the truck, she opened the door which was unpainted except for a coat of primer and wriggled under the dashboard. If luck was with her the truck would start and it would be far enough from the house that no one would hear or at least no one would be home to hear.

Finding the wires she wanted, she twisted the ends and then placed them together. The truck gave a shuddering cough and then died. Cursing, Candy tried again and this time the old truck came to life. Jumping behind the wheel and giving the house a quick glance, glad to see that no one was coming out of it, she signalled Jac to get in.

"It will get us to town but we will have to find alternate transportation from there," She said as he got in. "This thing is too conspicous. We can leave some money in the truck to pay them for the use of it when we find something else."

 

[Zirconn]

Jac

Leaving the truck was hard. That much Jac showed on his face, after all the hard work to get it back to life again, and again, when in the middle of a lonely road it died once again. Only the deft touch, womanly even, of Candy, did the truck finally gave spurts of life, the first sighs of relief to follow simultaneously. Nevertheless, as the first lights of dawn touched the eastern skies and a truck stop/eatery, a mom-and-pop owned store came into view, that louder sighs of relief were heard.

Jac reluctantly of course, parted with a two pieces of the crisp Ben Franklins on the dashboard of the truck. Despite everything that had happened so far, this truck had been another life-saver. So Jac was grateful for his lucky stars more than anything else.

“Breakfast, love? Not as good as Mike’s, but I’m sure truckers don’t go hungry here…”

So, the scrambled eggs was greasy and delicious. The bacon was crispy, and greasy as well. But the greasiest would be the sausages. With the lard actually dripping down the plate and chins. And the pig lard used, the essence of a mom-and-pop store was… Yummy… Extra yummy, so much so that Jac ordered extra helpings of the sausages, a veritable heart attack on a plate.

And a scare that could precipitate that heart attack walked in suddenly through the front door.

“Hello, Miss Betsy. A very good morning to you…”

“Hello Officer Reynolds. A good morning to you. A bit chilly, but its going to be a fine day I’m sure. The usual?”

With a nod, the proprietress went to pour the State Trooper a cup of steaming coffee.

Trying to appear nonchalant and normal at the same time was not very easy. Especially when Jac’s heart was going by the mile. Candy of course, was the picture-perfect sea of calmness. Officer Reynolds nodded politely at Jac, but Jac could only mumble through his teeth and nod back. Which was not a very good idea, since it gave the State Trooper a second glance at the couple having breakfast.

“Say, do I know you?” tapping on Jac’s shoulders, which caused the last piece of sausage and coffee to go through his nose and back out onto the plate.

“Hahahaha… Sorry about that. Didn’t mean to scare you. I just thought I recognize you…” as Officer Reynolds reached for his belt, where the gun was. Jac saw Candy tensed up a few notches, just as he was. The knife had already dropped to his palm…

“Here, can I have your autograph?…” Outstretched from his palm, instead of the Glock 9mm, was a notebook, together with a big smile on his face. “I thought I recognized you from the show, The Mole, you know, the business Executive, you know… What’s his name?…”

Another round of coffee through the nose, a fake autograph that said “Bob”, and a laugh that could be heard throughout the store, finally allowed Jac to breath again. Not that he was holding his breath all the time, only that he could breath easy again, without coffee through his nose.

“Say, where is Big Bertha going?”

“You know you’re not supposed to call her Big Bertha.”

“I know, but it’s not like she can hear though glass and wood, can she?”

“You might never be too sure… Hahahaha! She’s your sister and she didn’t tell you?” A shake of Officer Reynolds’s head spoke volumes of his limited capacity.

“She said she was going to take a shipment of furniture to the University of Pittsburgh. And go to her class at the same time. Studying psychology so that she can study her little brother’s head… Hahahaha!”

“Very funny…”

“Psst… Love. Did you hear that? Another lucky break for us!” whispered Jac. “Come on…”

Big Bertha was quite aptly named in Jac’s mind. She was big, with arms as big as Jac’s thighs, and a tattoo that said “Bite Me”. A truck driver that was female. But all the clichés about truck drivers went out the window, and fresh air came into the truck cab, as Bertha politely agreed to have passengers. She was a funny woman, a bright one as well, brighter than her brother despite the tattoo and forearms, and moustache. The ride in the morning, with the windows slightly cracked was invigorating to say the least, much like jumping out of an airplane.