Part 23 (1/2)

Carnie closed the door and walked around to the driver's side. Before she opened the door, she checked for another target. She spotted a woman who appeared to be in her 80's walking out. She had a purse on her left arm, but no bags. Carnie figured the woman couldn't find what she wanted. But if she was looking for a large, sharp screwdriver, Carnie would be happy to fix her up. She started walking toward the woman.

When she was twenty feet away, the woman yelled, ”Hurry up.”

Was she talking to me? wondered Carnie. Sure, I'll hurry up, lady. But then Carnie saw the old man with the shopping basket.

”I'll get there when I get there,” yelled the old man.

Carnie walked past the woman, thinking she might try to take her andher husband. When she pa.s.sed the old man, he winked at her. The tight jogging suit showed off every inch of her curvaceous body. The old man turned his head as he walked to get a view of the back side. He crashed his shopping cart into a parked car.

”Jim, if you'd watch where you're going,” said his wife, ”instead of watching that woman's b.u.t.t-”

”-Hey, I'm just looking-I'm not buying.”

”Oh, I know that-you're too cheap to spend any money on it.”

Did they honestly think she was for sale? Carnie wondered. Maybe she would go stab a couple of old farts just for the fun of it. She made a U-turn and walked past the couple, who were still bickering. They didn't even see her this time.

”I won't be long,” said Beverly as she walked out the door.

Cynthia and Greg were still sitting on the couch, finis.h.i.+ng up their pizza.

”Where's she going?” said Greg.

”Wal-Mart. She's out of shampoo, and she won't use the kind I have.”

”You're not worried about her going out at night by herself?”

”Yeah, a little bit. But she did it all the time in Marshall. How can I tell her she can't do it here?”

”Yeah, you're right. She'll be fine. And while she's gone...”

Greg set his paper plate aside and slid over beside Cynthia.

By the time he got to her, she was ready. They began to kiss.

Neither of them felt the usual fear of taking it too far. Just knowing that Beverly would be back in a few minutes would keep their hormones in check.

The beads of sweat on Jake's face were growing larger. The three women in the back of the van were having pretty much the same thoughts. They didn't know whether Jake's gun hand was shaky because he was scared or because he was just crazy. Either way, they figured their life was hanging by a thread. Any escape attempt would surely lead to a bullet or a screwdriver through the heart.

Carnie saw taillights in her rear view mirror. A car was pulling into the parking spot directly behind the van. Carnie stepped out and saw an older woman getting out of her car and locking it. She was alone. This would be an easy one, she thought.

Carnie approached the woman while she was still beside her car.

”Excuse me, Ma'am. I don't suppose you have any jumper cables, do you?”

”Uh, no. I'm sorry. I don't.”

Carnie produced the screwdriver and said, ”Just be quiet and come with me and I won't hurt you.”

”I'm not coming with you. Get away from me. Help! Somebody, help me!” Suddenly she couldn't breathe. She looked down and saw the screwdriver stuck in her chest. Then she collapsed to the pavement, between her car and a pickup.

Carnie ripped the screwdriver out and wiped it across the woman's dress a few times to clean off the blood.

Greg's right hand had been at Cynthia's waist for a couple of minutes. Now it was inching upward. Cynthia knew where it was headed, and was afraid of the stimulation it would surely bring. But her mother had been gone for a good while. She would be driving up at any second. They would hear the car and stop what they were doing. So they were safe.

Greg was beginning to lose control. His body wanted Cynthia's, but he had promised himself he would wait until marriage. A marriage he had not yet even proposed.

But he began to realize that he was just a puppet. And testosterone was his puppet master. Although in his mind he ordered it to stop, his right hand continued to move up until it found her left breast. He felt the nipple with his thumb. It was very hard, and so was he.

Cynthia said, ”Wait,” and pulled away.

”I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done that,” he said.

Cynthia was looking at the wall clock. ”Look what time it is. Mom's been gone for over thirty minutes. She should have been back by now.”

”Call her cell.”

Cynthia jumped up and went to her cell phone, which was lying on the kitchen counter. She walked back into the living room with the phone to her ear. ”She's not answering. It's going to voice mail.”

”Let's go find her,” said Greg.

They rushed out of the house to Greg's car.

Chapter26.

”Is she asleep?” said Elmo softly, taking a glance at his mother in the rear view mirror.

Macy turned her head to look in the back seat. ”I think so.”

After Mallie Mae's accident in the restaurant, they had made a quick exit. They went to the first convenience store they could find to pick up some adult diapers. Mallie Mae had reluctantly put on a pair. Then they had stopped for hamburgers at a Sonic Drive In.

”She's been faking, hasn't she? he said.

Macy was glad it was too dark for Elmo to see her face turning red. ”What do you mean?”

”She's been pretending to have Alzheimer's.”

”Why would she do that?”

”To drive me and Carsie apart.”

Macy didn't speak. She looked straight ahead.