Axel
I hadn’t told anyone where I was going. Once I was back with the kid, no one would care that I’d taken off.
The sun had long since gone down, and the urge to sleep was getting harder to resist. I took the next exit, looking for a motel not far from the freeway. After a few hours of sleep and maybe a meal, I’d be on my way again.
I found a motel and fell asleep almost as soon as my head hit the pillow. When I woke up, I checked my ETA. I’d be in Tilikum before nightfall.
After taking a quick shower, I wiped the steam from the mirror.
My hair was shaggy, and I rubbed my chin, inspecting my facial hair.
Maybe I could make things easier on myself.
A haircut, a shave, different clothes. Summer would probably still recognize me.
But if I didn’t look like a biker—didn’t look like myself—maybe the thug she was with wouldn’t.
Might help, couldn’t hurt.
I got dressed and found a barber. Paid for a haircut and a shave.
Then I dropped into a Walmart on the edge of town and bought some plain clothes.
A couple T-shirts, a zip-up hoodie, a pair of jeans.
As a disguise, it would only be somewhat convincing.
But if I didn’t look like myself, I could probably get closer without being noticed.
And that was all I needed. Once I had the kid, we’d disappear so fast, it would be like we’d fallen off the edge of the world.