Road Rules Online

Franco leaned back against his elbow and panted as the blonde worked on him, her head bobbing in his lap.  He’d sent his pretty little brunette out clubbing while the blonde came over, some actress who’d taken the female lead in a movie based on an Elmore Leonard novel.  He barely remembered her name and figured the public would forget her in a couple more years when her looks started to go.  Better, he thought, to have her now before rehab took away any interest she’d have in him. (continue reading…)

The Chrysler 300, Mason decided, rode much more smoothly than the Cadillac.  Of course, the Chrysler had all four wheels intact.  He doubted Luis and Miguel had to pilfer the lugnuts off a Ford and force them to fit onto a completely different make of car this time.

He couldn’t see anything, couldn’t see the countryside or the lights of Interstate boomtowns roll by.  Still, the gentle thumping of the pavement beneath the car gave him some feel for time passing.  Since they’d left Charlotte around nine, he figured they were closing in on Hilton Head Island.  Savannah wouldn’t be far away.

Mason’s time in the trunk had made him philosophical.  It calmed him.  Once he’d accepted he couldn’t escape, it became easy to deal with.  Of course, the broken escape latch forced him to reframe his perception.  With no way to pop the trunk or punch in the backseat, Mason knew exactly where he stood:  Trapped in the trunk of a car headed for Georgia on a Saturday.

On the downside, he might have been able to relax more if he hadn’t soiled himself five minutes after Luis forced him into the trunk.

Cinnamon bought Mike a Braves cap and a pair of sunglasses.  Mike fished around in his pocket and found his old wedding ring.

“You carry your wedding ring around?” she asked.

“I have a hard time letting go of things,” he said.

“Me, too.  That’s how I ended up on this road trip.”

He hit the ATM and pulled out a hundred bucks, though they’d probably only need thirty for a cheap room.  They drove under the I-95 overpass toward Savannah and found what might have been a decent chain motel a long time ago.  If the vacancy sign were dark, they’d have thought the place abandoned.

“I took Deanna to a place like this after our senior prom,” said Mike.

“I’m ashamed to say I lost my virginity in one like it,” said Cinnamon.  “Too bad the guy was playing me.” (continue reading…)

Chapter 19

“They picked up Yarazelski at a Texaco station outside of Savannah, Georgia,” said Kennedy.

Estevez and Jordan sat with her in a conference room at the Federal Building.  It was after eleven, and someone had brewed what tasted like Starbucks in lieu of the cheap government issue stuff.  If Kennedy went where Estevez thought she would, they’d probably need an IV drip of the stuff to stay awake.

“Was he with Blake or the woman?” asked Estevez.

Kennedy shook her head.  “He claimed to be hitchhiking, that someone named Harlow dropped him off at the gas station.”

“What did he say he was doing in Georgia?” asked Jordan.

That drew a chuckle from Kennedy.  “He said, and I quote, ‘I got some ramblin’ on my mind.’” (continue reading…)