Chapter 2
Chapter Two
RUBY
It’s later in the evening when I finally pull up a block from sis’s house. Okay , I’m here, what’s next? Picking up my phone, I tap the locator app we’ve always both had on our phones, and it shows that she’s in the back of the house. Now the tricky part is how to get past the security. The last thing I want to do is go through the front door and announce to everyone that I’m here.
Suddenly , their gate opens, and I duck down so that the headlights don’t shine on me sitting in the car. The nice thing about the old Civic is there is nothing special about her, so we blend in. Peeking , I watch as the car slowly passes by, but the windows are so dark I can’t see who’s inside. Unfortunately , I don’t know enough about the senator to recognize what he normally drives.
Noticing the gate was still open, I waited a few minutes before sitting up. I start to get out of the car, because if I can sneak in, there’s no doubt I can get her out. I no more than reach to open my car door, when someone unexpectedly walks out between a set of shrubs close to where I’m parked. It takes me a moment to realize that it’s Rowan ; her face is hidden by a hooded sweatshirt and a small bag is slung across her shoulder. I quickly open the passenger door from the inside as she nears. The second her butt hits the seat, I take off.
“ Drive normally Ruby . None of them know I’ve snuck out yet. I told Robert’s buddy Mark that I needed to use the bathroom. He will be looking for me when I don’t return in a few minutes. Especially since I’m the unpaid entertainment for the evening. The moment Robert finds out they can’t find me, he’ll rush right back to the house, setting his dogs free to find us.”
“ How did you know I was out here?”
“ After I sent you that text yesterday, I started tracking you. Then I started preparing the best I could to finally get the hell out of there. Robert seldom leaves me alone with his friends, since he enjoys watching too much. Yesterday , I overheard him telling Mark that he’d be leaving for an hour or two today, and that he’d be free to play with me all he wanted. I stashed these clothes in the back of the commode and then hid this bag in the toilet paper holder next to it. I knew I’d only have a small window of time to get out of there once Robert left the house. If you hadn’t gotten here when you did, I was just going to walk around until you got closer. I never should have waited this long, sis. All this time I was scared to involve you, but I had to get out of there.”
“ What aren’t you telling me, Rowan ?”
“ A lot, … but it’s not something I’m ready to talk about yet. I need to work through this nightmare on my own. I’ve made a mess out of my life Ruby , and now I’ve dragged you into an impossible situation. One that might possibly get both of us buried in a shallow grave if we don’t play our cards right. I just knew I was only a few more punches away from a nervous breakdown. The safe place I’d created in my mind to escape the things he was doing and allowing others to do to me, was no longer enough. My grip on reality was slipping, and I knew you were my only escape.
We’ll need to ditch this car as soon as possible. Thankfully , I don’t think you’ll be the first person he suspects, but it won’t take long to connect the dots.” Rowan picks up my phone. “ Is there anything on here you can’t live without; contacts, passwords, bank info?”
“ Nope , wrote it all down when I took a pee break earlier and I withdrew all my money out of the bank yesterday before work.”
She rolls her window down and tosses both of our phones out at the same time. Then she seems to take a deep breath before pulling off her hood. I can’t help but gasp at the sight of the extensive bruising on her face and neck. The second I go to open my mouth, she puts her hand up.
“ Please Ruby , not yet. I promise I’ll tell you in time, but right now, I need you to be the big sister and just get us the hell out of here.”
She pulls her hood back up before looking away from me. Her entire body seems to be trembling and for a second, I almost pull over. I’m not sure who needs the hug more, her or me and I have to blink the tears away, “ I will kill him.”
“ You couldn’t even get close enough to try … he’s untouchable, Ruby . If there’d been a way, I would’ve already taken it. I’ve been imprisoned in that pretty cage for years, with no clear path on how to get free. But you just took his favorite toy away, and he will be on the warpath to get me back. You need to understand what I’m willing to do, to him or anyone else who tries to force me back. Do you understand what I’m saying, Ruby ?”
“ Loud and clear, sis! As long as we’re together and there’s breath left in my body, he’ll never touch you again. I have an idea where we can go, but I need to find a way to get us there with what little cash I have. The car can be traced, a bus is too open, and the moment we bought tickets, he’d know where we’re headed. An Amtrack would give us some privacy, but I don’t know what we’d do once we got off.”
Rowan opens the bag she threw on the floor when she got in and unzips it. “ Is this enough?”
The entire bottom of it is lined with stacks of cash. “ That’s sure gonna help, baby sister.” Rowan doesn’t say much after that. She settles down in the passenger seat, her head turned away from me, looking out the window. As I head north and out of town, glancing over I can see her reflection in the window. Tears flow down her cheeks, but she doesn’t make a sound and that bothers me. I wonder how long it took her to teach herself to cry silently.
I’m just passing through the small town of Waverly when I see her glance back quickly. Immediately , I check my rearview mirror, looking to see if I can recognize anyone behind us. “ What is it?”
“ Turn around … there’s an older SUV for sale back there.”
At the next red light, I swing the Civic around. We’ve no more than pulled up in front of it when an older man with an armed forces hat comes walking out of the house. “ Rowan , stay in the car. The last thing we need to do is explain those bruises of yours. How much can I safely spend this for? I have like five hundred on me, but that’s it.”
“ Ruby , I have almost seventy thousand dollars stashed in there. Let’s just say its severance pay for all the times he sold me in the last few years.”
I bite down hard on my lip to keep from screaming, but I make myself get out of the car with a smile. “ Hi there, saw your car here as we were passing by. What are you asking for it? Is there anything wrong with it mechanically?”
“ Asking four thousand. It’s a solid little ride I would trust to take me anywhere. It was my daughter’s, and she used it to get back and forth to school because it was easy on gas. She just got a big promotion and doesn’t need it any longer.”
“ I can give you thirty-five hundred cash right now if you have the title handy.”
He looks over at my sister who has the window rolled down a little so that she can hear us, but her face is turned slightly away. “ Don’t you want to test drive it first?”
“ I’ll take your word for it.”
“ Many wouldn’t, but it seems you girls are in a hurry. Are you in some sorta trouble, Miss ? Nothing wrong with asking for help if you are.”
“ Nahh , were good, Sir . Simply wondering about the car and if you’re going to take our deal or not?” I was getting ready to turn and head back to the car when his words stopped me.
“ Cash , huh?”
“ Yeah , I have it with me.”
“ Go get your money youngin and I’ll get the title. My daughter’s already signed it, so all you have to do is take it to the title agency and get it transferred over.”
“ I’ll meet you back here in a minute, then.” He just nods his head and walks back toward the house. By the time I get to the car, Rowan is handing me the cash out the window.
“ I’ll take your car and meet you at that Walmart we passed a few miles back. You’ll find me parked out back near their service area.”
“ I’ll be there as quick as I can, Rowan .” I watch as she climbs over the console and into the driver’s seat. She starts the car, and I see her check for traffic before pulling out. My first thought is ‘ I wonder how long it’s been since she’s been behind the wheel?’ Someone clearing their throat has me turning around.
“ Here you go young lady, two sets of keys and the title. I filled it up right before sitting it out here, so she has a full tank of gas as well. Are you sure I can’t offer you girls anything else? Maybe a safe place to stay for a few days? In the armed forces, I saw many things, and scared eyes are always easy to spot if you know the signs.”
“ I … we appreciate it. I would love to tell you that your instincts are failing you, but I won’t. However , if you’re ever asked, please act like you’ve never seen me or my sister. I would tell you more, but the less you know the better. Here’s the money.” He shakes his head and starts to hand the money back to me, but I refuse it. “ Keep it, where we’re headed, we won’t need it. Thank you for your concern, and it’s nice to know some people are still willing to help.”
Hitting the button to unlock the SUV , I climb in. It’s a little plain on the inside, but it’s clean and smells good. Turning the key, it starts right up and I’m happy to see there are no lights lit up on the dashboard. The older guy is still standing in his driveway, so I wave as I pull off. Within a few minutes, I’m circling around the back of Walmart looking for my Civic .
The moment Rowan spots me, she pops the trunk and gets out of the car. Parking behind her, I catch sight of the lever for the back hatch as I get out. While it’s opening, I walk over and grab the few bags I had in the trunk. Rowan throws her little bag in and then goes back to close my lid, kneeling down behind the car with a dime in her hand.
“ What are you doing?”
“ Taking this license plate off.” I watch her turn the bolts with a dime, slightly impressed that she would even think to do that. Once she gets the tag off, she brings it over to the back of the SUV . Securing it to the back bumper, we both get in and I look over at the little car that had never failed me for a second before driving off.
“ Hey Rowan , I almost forgot to ask, do you have your meds with ya?”
“ Yes , I have them tucked in the bottom of this bag. Should have enough to last me a few months if I don’t have a bad attack.”
“ On the way here, I noticed a gas station up ahead. I’m gonna pull in and get us some snacks and a burner phone. Instead of driving in no particular direction, I need to make a few calls.” Rowan reaches down for that bag again, pulling out an old flip phone.
“ Wow , that is a magic bag, isn’t it?” Teasing her, I was hoping to see a glimpse of my sister in the shadows of her eyes.
“ I’ve had a lot of time on my hands, Ruby . This is all I’ve got; the rest is up to you.”
“ Well , then dial this number and then give me the phone.” I pull the receipt out of my pocket and give it to her. The moment it starts ringing she hands it back. I’m about to hang up when an older woman’s voice comes on the line.
“ Hello ?”
“ Is this Janet ?”
“ Depends on who’s asking and where you got this number?”
“ My name is Ruby . I found your number on an old phone book cover and my sister and I are in trouble.”
“ Then yes, I’m who you’re looking for. Just so you know in advance, I’m one for being cautious and many depend on me, do you understand?”
“ Yes ma’am, I do.”
“ I have no idea where you’re at, but I have multiple places we can meet up. Are you coming from the north or south?”
“ We’re leaving Ohio right now, so tell me where to go and we’ll be there.”
“ There’s a place called The Truck Stop on I -40 right before the Texas border. Call this number when you get closer, and I’ll meet you there. Don’t do anything to bring attention to yourself. As a matter of fact, there is probably no way you can make it that far today. I want you to head toward a roadside motel in Arkansas called JJ’s . It’s also next to a truck stop and should be about halfway. I have friends there, I’ll let them know you’re coming.”
“ Thank you, Janet .”
“ Don’t thank me yet, let’s get you here first. Pay attention to your surroundings and no matter what, stay away from crowded places. There are eyes everywhere and you can trust very few of them. See you tomorrow.”