You look into Maria's face and see that she has the wild-eyed look of a cornered animal. She barely sees you when she looks at you. All of her attention is on the door, on leaving. "Hurry," she pleads in a whisper. For some reason, that one tiny whisper filled with fear gives you a greater sence of urgency that all of the shouting in the world couldn't have. You decide to follow her.
She dashes into a dressing room and grabs some clothes and throws them into a bag. She tosses you some car keys. “Quick, go start the car.”
You look at the keys in confusion. “Which one?”
She pulls of her high heels and starts to put on some sneakers. “What do you mean which one? You know, the black Eclipse!”
You dash into the hall and see a door marked, ‘employee exit only.’ You stumble through into a small parking lot. You press the unlock button on the key chain and point it in every direction. A beep comes from a car in the back. You run in the direction and see a jet black Mitsubishi Eclipse with tinted windows. You jump in and after several key tries you get the car running. Just as you back out the side door opens and Maria jumps in.
“Let’s get outta here,” she says.
You squeal the tires and rocket out of the parking lot. The traffic is light and you soon make it onto the freeway. Maria puts on some pants and a T-shirt over her stripper attire.
You glance over and ask, “do you want to tell me just what the fuck is going on?”
“I told you, and Eddie that it wasn’t going to work. I told you!” she says. “But no, you didn’t listen to me. What do I know? 'I'm just a stripper' God damn you...”
“What wasn’t going to work?” You almost scream in frustration. “The first thing I remember is waking up in a motel room and that Jen woman tried to kill me and then she killed that little blonde guy!”
Maria's face becomes pale, “you mean Eddie’s dead?”
“If you’re talking about the short little blonde guy who used to own this jacket, then yeah, he’s dead.” To confirm it further you show her the driver's licence.
Suddenly the radio station that had been playing some easy listening music was interrupted. “This just in. The body of the escaped convict was discovered by police about a half hour ago in room 24 of the Raining Arms Motel located on the corner of West 78th Street and Avenue 54. Police were called to investigate reports of shots being fired and found the fugitive dead on the scene. At this time there are no suspects.”
Maria looks at you, “Why do they think you’re dead?”
“After that girl shot Eddie, I switched the prison jumpsuit I was wearing with his clothes. But unless the cops are dumber than I think, it won’t throw them off for long.”
“Wait, you said Jen killed Eddie? Oh my God. It makes sense now. That means she’s the one who told the Don that it was you who stole the money…”
You pull the car into the emergency lane and stop. “Look, you have to believe me. I don’t remember stealing anything, I don’t remember you, and I don’t even remember who I am. As far as I know, my life began about two hours ago in a crappy motel room.”
She says, “You’re not kidding. You really don’t remember anything do you? Not even me.”
“No. I take it you know me though.”
“Of course I do, . You and me have been an item off and on through the years. I can’t believe this. We’re probably going to die and you don’t even know why…”
“Please,” you say, “Tell me.” |