Chapter 9
9
Timothy’s world just kept getting darker. He was exhausted, almost out of money again, and just when he’d finally calmed down about his failure to stop the girl and her driver, a cop had come out of nowhere and pulled him over for speeding.
Only by the grace of God had he been able to talk himself out of a ticket. It was still morning, and sheets of rain falling from the sky had made continuing on almost impossible.
When he had dipped into a gas station for more smokes and the phone, he’d caught sight of himself in the counter’s reflection. It wasn’t a good look. Timothy looked like crap. He knew the reason—because he hadn’t slept in the last twenty-four hours.
He couldn’t continue on for much longer.
Exhausted and in need of a shower and a couple of hours of sleep, he drove out toward Paducah and checked into the cheapest motel he could find.
The clerk had looked down his nose at him but had given him a room easily enough. And though the bathroom didn’t even have a bar of soap, the water coming out of the shower had been hot. Scalding enough to burn off the stench of smoke on his skin and the feeling of dread and fear that clung to his very being.
After collapsing into bed, he’d fallen into a deep sleep. He was dreaming about Audrey wearing one of her favorite little sundresses when his phone started ringing.
After it disconnected, it started ringing again almost immediately. Then again. Timothy realized then that he no longer had a choice. If he ever wanted to go home to Batavia, Ohio, again, he was going to have to face the gang. They weren’t going to go away, and they sure weren’t ever going to give up.
Mentally coaching himself for the conversation to come, he hurried to connect. “Yeah?”
“Where you at?”
It was Kane. Timothy relaxed slightly. It wasn’t Stew. “Hey. Sorry about not answering earlier.”
“You should be sorry. You seem to have already forgotten my warnings. You need to get smarter, Timothy, because you’ve been ignoring my texts too.”
“Sorry,” he said again. He didn’t offer an excuse, because what could he say?
“Don’t tell me sorry. Tell me that it’s all good,” he added in an impatient tone. “Is it done yet?”
Timothy could practically feel the blood leaving his face. Feeling dizzy, he leaned back against the wall and did his best to try to keep his voice even. “No.”
“Why not?”
“I found them on the highway. I tried to run them off the road, but the rain was something awful. It was hard to see five feet in front of me. And then later the sheriff pulled me over.”
“How did that happen?”
Timothy flinched. “I was speeding. But I talked my way out of it,” he said quickly. “I didn’t get a ticket or anything.” He swallowed, hoping and praying that Kane would respond in a more positive way and they could start talking again. Like the way they used to, back when he’d been sure they were friends.
“But they got your driver’s license, yeah?”
“They just checked it. That’s all. Like I said, all I got was a warning.”
“But they know you’re there, man. How could you be so stupid?”
“I had to stop for the sheriff, Kane.”
“This is bad, Tim. I’m not happy.”
“Well, I ain’t either.” Before he thought the better of it, he said, “I didn’t mean for any of this to happen. I didn’t mean to lose the money or kill that guy or get a witness.”
“Your excuses are getting boring, Timothy. Some of the guys are even starting to wonder what to do with you.”
What did that even mean? “Oh.”
“Worse, because you’re so stupid, I’m going to have to see Stew today and tell him about your latest screwup. He ain’t going to be happy.”
His mouth felt like cotton had been lodged in it. “I know he’s not, but I’ll figure something out.”
Kane kept talking. “Of course, now at least he’s found something to occupy himself with until you get back.”
“What does that mean?”
“Oh, nothing special. Or should I say no one special? It’s just a pretty girl that you used to know.” Kane chuckled. “I guess you used to know her real well, huh? Like, didn’t she used to be your girl once?”
“Audrey doesn’t have a thing to do with this.”
“She might not, but she’s involved now, Timothy. Stew’s decided she might be of use.”
The words came out before he could stop himself. “You need to leave her alone.”
“Don’t worry. Nobody’s done anything but say hello. For now.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means that Stew’s kind of thinking that one of us should start spending a little time with her. Until you get back, that is.”
Envisioning how scared Audrey would be, he blurted, “I’ll come back today if Stew will leave her alone.”
Kane sighed. “But you can’t, Timothy. Because you haven’t done anything that we asked you to. And now you’ve even managed to let a sheriff know your business.”
“But—”
“Don’t interrupt, Tim. That’s rude.” His voice dropped as he began to speak with exaggerated patience. “Here’s what you’re going to do, buddy. You’re going to sit tight and lay low for a spell. Don’t get pulled over and don’t you leave Crittenden County.”
“What about Audrey?”
“Audrey’s good. I know you’re worried about the gang messing with her, but I’ve decided to look out for that sweet thing. You won’t need to worry about Stew bothering her none.”
Audrey had met Kane once. Timothy had taken her out for a burger at one of the newer, popular restaurants that had recently opened near the mall. He hadn’t thought the food was anything special, but he had enjoyed watching Audrey’s pleasure. He drank two Cokes while she’d told him all about her classes at the college. She was so smart, and he’d loved that about her. Part of him had figured that if a smart girl like Audrey liked him, then he must be worth something.
Kane had shown up just after he’d surprised her with a little silver necklace. It hadn’t been much, but it had been pretty. She’d been looking at Timothy like he’d hung the moon, right until Kane sat down and joined them. He’d flirted with Audrey, and she hadn’t liked that one bit.
Timothy hadn’t either—even when Kane had pulled out a wad of cash and paid for their meal. Later that night, Audrey asked him about Kane and the rest of the guys in the Arrows. When he told her that the gang wasn’t any of her business, she’d gotten upset.
Which once again illustrated that she’d always been a hundred times smarter than him.
Returning to the phone call, Timothy didn’t even try to temper his voice. “Don’t hurt her.”
“One of these days you’re going to realize that nothing you want counts anymore.” His voice lowered, sounding cold. Detached. “You don’t count. You’re a waste of space. You better start hoping and praying that you finally do something that’s worthwhile.”
The call ended before Timothy could say another word. Which was just as well. He was so freaked out, he’d been about to start begging the guy for all sorts of stuff.
Tossing the phone on the bed, he pressed his palms to his eyes. Tried to get ahold of himself. Tried to think of a way out. But nothing was sticking in his head besides Kane’s words.
“You’ re a waste of space.”
It rattled around in his head like a punch-drunk hummingbird. Flitting from his past to his future.
Seeking relief, he stared at the empty wall and the scars on the wallpaper where the television had been removed.
He needed to think about something else. Something that didn’t involve death, destruction, or Audrey. Just as he was drawing a blank, he spied a Bible on the nightstand. One of those Gideon ones.
He had nothing to do and nowhere to go.
Right now, the only thing he had going on in his head was a mess of regrets and bad decisions that seemed to continually put themselves on replay.
He needed something else to do. Something that might take a while.
Figuring at the very least it would make him fall asleep, he flipped the Bible open. Went to some pages titled Mark and started reading.