Chapter 8. Alice
ALICE
As they drove on, Alice’s initial shock and horror evolved into a paralyzing dread that sent shivers down her body.
Despite the heat, she felt ice cold, numb.
They passed farmlands with cows dotting the fields and the occasional roadside stand selling eggs or fresh produce, then the highway curved back to run alongside the seemingly endless Shuswap Lake.
Its deep blue water sparkled through the stand of trees that provided a thin barrier between the highway and the lake.
Her sense of time had distorted, but she thought they’d been driving about thirty minutes when they reached a long bridge with low guardrails.
On her left, houseboats dotted the lake, and there was a beach on the other side of the bridge, crowded with swimmers in brightly colored bathing suits.
Beach umbrellas and towels were spread across every inch of sand.
When they’d made it off the bridge, there was a sign welcoming them to Sicamous and billboards advertising houseboat rentals. Halfway through the small town, Simon pointed to an Esso off the main highway. Alice turned and eased up to one of the blue gas pumps.
“Ask for a fill,” Simon said. “And smile.”
“I need money.”
Simon leaned forward, tugged his wallet from his back pocket, and handed her two ten-dollar bills. Probably the very ones he’d stolen from her purse.
The gas attendant was a rail-thin young man in red coveralls and his hair buzzed short. He jogged over and flashed her a quick, cheerful smile. “What can I get you?”
“Fill it up, please.”
The attendant moved away. In her side mirror, she watched him work the pump.
He was chatting and laughing with a customer parked at another pump.
He seemed friendly. Maybe curious about people.
Gas stations had newspapers. He could’ve seen the article.
He might even recognize Simon if he had a better look at him next time he came to the window.
Alice leaned back in her seat, stretching her arms so that Simon would think she was loosening her muscles.
“Can I get snacks?” Jenny said, her voice hopeful.
“It’s safer if you stay in the RV.”
“I’ll be careful. I’ll wear Alice’s hat. Please?” Alice had forgotten about her straw hat on the hook by the door. She’d bought it imagining all the picnics she and Tom would have.
“Okay,” Simon said, still sounding reluctant. “Try to be fast.” He pulled a couple more dollars out of his wallet and passed them over his shoulder to Jenny.
Alice didn’t know how the girl could even be thinking of snacks considering everything that was happening.
Then she remembered again that Jenny was pregnant and had to catch her breath, the bitterness sharp under her ribs.
All those weeks of sickness during her own pregnancy, and when it had finally passed, she’d been so excited about each new craving.
Alice and Simon waited in silence while the gas attendant filled the tank. Alice flicked her gaze up to the rearview mirror. Jenny had left the hunting knife on the table.
Simon was looking out the passenger window, watching Jenny in the store. The attendant came back to the driver’s side, and this time he gave Simon and Alice a curious glance.
“Washington, eh? Whereabouts?”
He was observant. She felt a glimmer of hope. She had no idea how many visitors the gas station got in a day, but they might be different enough to stay in his mind. “Seattle.”
“Oh yeah? Where are you heading?”
Alice thought quickly. If she said the Olympics, he could have more questions. She didn’t know if that was good or bad. She didn’t know how Simon would react.
“Banff.”
“Long drive.”
“Not so bad in an RV.”
“Ain’t that the truth.” He patted the side of the RV. “Well, peace out.”
The attendant walked away, and she looked at Simon, who was frowning at something on the other side of the gas station.
She followed his gaze. Four motorcycles were lined up, black with chrome handlebars.
The ones from the campground? Two men came out the side, where she assumed the bathroom was, and lit up cigarettes. She didn’t see the red-haired man.
Jenny pulled open the door and rushed up the steps. “Sorry! I’m ready to go.” She launched herself into the dinette and tossed a plastic bag onto the table.
Alice put the RV into gear and drove around the gas station, heading back to the highway. Simon was looking out his side window, with a whispered, “What the fuck.”
“What’s wrong?” Jenny said.
“Bikers.”
“They’re here?” Jenny sounded shocked—and scared—but Alice didn’t understand why. It seemed to be a popular gas station, and the bikers were obviously traveling in the same direction.
“Get going.” Simon slid low in his seat.
Alice eased back onto the highway, pressing the gas pedal until they were at the posted speed limit of fifty miles an hour.
“Faster,” Simon said.
Alice sped up but she didn’t like the vibration of the tires and the way the wind hit the RV from the side, making it sway.
Any wrong move could send the RV careening off the road.
She checked her side mirror. A biker was behind them, weaving in and out of traffic.
Alice recognized his long red hair, but this time he was wearing a black T-shirt under his vest.
“One of the bikers is following us,” she said.
Simon got up and stood behind her, looking over her shoulder into the side mirror.
“Did he see you in the store, Jenny?”
“I don’t think so, but maybe?”
Maybe he recognized her from the papers. Maybe the biker had called the cops from the store. Maybe he was now following to keep an eye on them. Maybe this nightmare would end.
“Speed up,” Simon urged.
Alice pressed her foot onto the gas pedal. The gauge went higher.
“Pass that car.”
“I don’t know if I—”
“Do it.”
She checked for oncoming traffic, then gave the RV another jolt of gas and crossed the dotted white line.
She gripped the wheel hard, her forearms and shoulders rigid, her back as stiff as a steel rod.
She passed two cars and then guided the RV back into the right lane.
One of the cars honked, and she jerked against the seat. She must have been too close.
“It’s fine,” Simon said, but his voice didn’t sound fine. He sounded scared. He grabbed their map off the dash and quickly unfolded it on his lap, tearing it in his haste.
Alice ran an amber light, glanced back, and saw the biker.
“He’s still there.”
Simon looked up. The road was curving and so he was able to see the bend ahead, but her vision was blocked by the rig in front of her, the massive back doors.
“Get around this rig,” Simon said.
“It’s too long!” Sweat dripped down her forehead and stung her eyes. How was it possible to break into a sweat so fast? Her shirt was sticking to every part of her body.
“There’s a road that splits off ahead.” He tapped the map with his fingers. “We can turn before the biker knows we’re gone. Just step on the gas.”
He said it like it was so easy. Like they weren’t in an oversized vehicle that could fishtail or tip over with a strong gust of wind. Alice sped up, the flat nose of the RV almost touching the rig’s bumper, then she took a deep breath and crossed the center line.
Everything was so loud. The RV engine when she gunned it, the tires of the truck they were passing—with only inches to spare.
She prayed she had enough distance between her and the rig and slipped back into the lane.
She glanced in her side mirror. The rig’s chrome grille nearly filled the entire view, but she could see the driver’s angry face.
He laid on his horn, blasting it three times so loud she felt it through her body. She hoped he would radio the police.
“When I say go, make a right.”
“Oh, God.” They were going too fast. She didn’t know how to drive like this. She didn’t even watch race cars on TV because it made her anxious.
“Now!” Simon’s voice cut through her thoughts. She hit her turn signal, eased her foot onto the brake, and guided the RV around the corner—and was shocked that she made it.
“Keep your speed up.” Simon had his window down, his hair blowing back, and he was looking into his mirror. “I can’t see if he made the turn too.”
Alice drove fast on straight stretches and slower around bends. She was beginning to relax her grip when she heard Simon swear.
“He’s behind us. Turn there.” Simon gestured to another corner.
She made the turn, the RV drifting into a stomach-dropping slide, her hands frantically spinning the wheel, before the RV straightened at the last second. They were on a narrow road, single lane, with rough, cracked pavement that seemed to stretch forever. No houses in sight.
There was a roar as the motorbike came up beside them, then a loud bang. Metal on metal. She looked at her mirror and screamed. The biker was hitting the RV with a metal bar.
Simon got behind her again, looking out her window, then he moved to the dinette’s window, then back.
Jenny was saying something, but Alice was too busy trying to keep the RV on the road.
Another loud bang as the biker hit the side of the RV.
He was yelling. The words became clearer as he neared her window, his red hair whipping behind him.
“Pull over, bitch!”
She stayed facing forward, as if not looking at him might make the problem go away. He was getting closer to her window. The metal bar hit the side of her door.
She screamed and jerked the wheel away from him.
The tires slipped on the loose gravel on the shoulder.
She had to slow down so that they didn’t go into a spin.
The biker cut in front of her, forcing her to a complete stop.
Her neck jerked forward with a painful snap.
Bodies tumbled to the floor behind her. Jenny or Simon or both.
She heard Tom’s pained groan. He must be in agony, but she couldn’t rush back to check.
The man was off the bike, metal rod in hand, and heading straight for her.
The RV had a flat front. No hood for protection.
If he was tall enough, he could hit the windshield.
He could smash the glass and hit Alice’s face.
Alice popped her seat belt free, leaped over the engine cover, and dove for the floor, just as the man slammed the rod into the chrome grille. The sound was loud and close.
Simon stepped over Alice, trying to get to the driver’s seat. Alice scrambled on her hands and knees down the center of the RV.
“Gimme my shit!” The biker was beating on the RV. The sound moved across the front of the RV. Was he going to break through the door? “Come out and fight, you pussy.”
Alice made it to the rear of the RV. She got to her feet to check on Tom, but then the engine roared as Simon stepped on the gas. The RV sped forward. She grabbed at the wall.
A male scream, a thud, then the sickening rise and fall of the tires going over something. The screech of metal being dragged.
“Stop, stop!” Jenny’s voice.
Alice turned to look.
The RV braked, hard, and Alice was sent sprawling into the aisle beside the dinette. Her chin hit the carpeted floor, teeth snapping together. She lay still.
The biker had gone under the RV. She’d never heard a scream like that before.
“Alice?” Tom’s voice, loud and urgent.
“I’m fine.” She got to her knees, too wobbly to stand. Jenny was pressed into the corner of the dinette and the wall, like she’d been trying to brace herself. She was crying.
Simon had his hands in his hair and was staring out the windshield. After a second, he dropped his hands and yanked the keys out of the ignition. He got up and looked at Jenny.
“Come here, babe.”
Jenny slowly slid off the bench seat, still crying, and trying to wipe the tears from her face. When she reached Simon, he put the knife in her palm.
“Keep an eye on them.”
Jenny turned to stare at Alice, the knife down by her leg, tears wet on her cheeks. She looked like a doll from a horror movie. Simon opened the door, pausing to listen before he pushed it the rest of the way. He was outside for a few minutes. Alice couldn’t hear anything.
No yelling. No more screaming. Just that terrifying silence.
Simon stepped back into the RV. His face was pale, his hair hanging limp and sweaty on his forehead. Dark splotches circled under his armpits and at the neckline of his shirt. He gripped the side of the doorframe with one hand, the other holding the gun down by his leg.
His gaze skimmed over the still-crying Jenny and landed on Alice.
“I need you to come outside.”