No ones time, p.2
No One's Time, page 2
“Now, I’m gonna give you a warning, if you give me your number.” Baltimore flashed a charming smile as he leaned down and nearly in her window.
“I’d rather have the ticket,” she said flatly.
He jerked back, a scowl blooming on his face. His mouth thinned and it worked, like he wanted to say something. He yanked out the citation booklet and began to write. His nostrils flared out and his breath was coming in angry pants. The officer reminded Pen of a crazed bull. When he was finished writing the ticket, he flung it along with the license and registration back at her.
“You’d better watch out,” he warned, and walked back to the patrol car.
She was trembling and unable to start her car. She sat there until the cruiser pulled out and went past her.
Pen was jolted out of her musings when a little girl ran into her. She smiled down at the child, who looked to be about four, with bright red curls. A harried mother ran up and grasped the little fireball and grimaced apologetically. Soft mutterings floated back to Pen as the mother herded the girl away.
Pen glanced at her watch. What was taking so damned long? She scanned the crowd and saw no one. If Officer Jimmy James Baltimore were here, he’d be hard to miss. She tugged at the cap on her head. It was night, and though the station was brightly lit, she was standing in a less lit area, where several overhead lights were burnt out. Pen chewed on her thumbnail, scanning the crowd, between the heavily dressed passengers. She shifted from one foot to the other, as though ready to bolt at the first sign of the big man. Her nerves were frazzled and she was exhausted.
Over the course of three weeks, her life was dismantled and ruined. She had gone to court to contest the ticket and make a complaint, only to find out that Officer Baltimore’s father was Judge Harold Baltimore, aka Hang’um High Harry Baltimore. She’d paid the fine and gone home in defeat. It was an untenable situation. Mallory, her best friend, told her to forget about it and leave it.
“Pen, the reason Baltimore is such an ass is that he’s been pulled out of the fire by Daddy. That boy’s gotten away with stuff all his life.” Mallory could always be counted on to put plain old common sense into it.
“It’s pure up bullshit. He fondled me. I mean out and out fondled me, and his stupid partner just looked out the window.”
“I’m sure his partner didn’t want any part of it. Does it make it right? No. Can you win if you fight it? Maybe. But again, Daddy’s more than likely pulled that shithead out of a few scrapes and buried it away,” Mallory had said.
It was true. Pen did a little digging and it appeared Daddy Baltimore was indeed a bastard. Most who went up against him regretted it. Three days later, she’d come home from her job at Fort Worth Trust, and Officer Baltimore was sitting on her porch, smiling. A thrill of fear had slithered through her and she was immediately on alert. She glanced around her neighborhood. It was late afternoon and most people were inside. Leaves were scattered across toy strewn yards of the neighborhood. Pen lived in her grandmother’s home, which she’d inherited seven years before.
She parked on the street since Baltimore’s truck was in her gravel drive. When she got out, she didn’t lock the door in case she needed to get back into the car in a hurry.
“Howdy, little lady.” Baltimore flashed an oily grin that sent warning shivers up her spine.
“Why are you here, Officer Baltimore?”
“Jimmy. My friends call my Jimmy.”
“Why are you here?” Gripping fear warred with impotent rage.
“It’s obvious isn’t it? I’m here to see you, Penelope. Nice name by the way.” His smile widened.
“I’m sorry, but I’d like you to leave. I don’t feel comfortable with you here.” Pen was glad her voice was steady. She instinctively knew a predator preyed on the weak, and to appear weak was to invite attack.
“That’s not very nice,” he said in a pouty voice.
“Look, it’s been a long day and I’ve got a migraine about to pound my head into the dust,” she lied. She hid her shaking hands behind her.
“How hard can it be working over at Fort Worth Trust?” he asked, stretching his legs out.
“Dealing with customers is never easy and I’m sure you’ve had your issues with the public,” she said. A spike of fear shot through her. Had he been following her? How did he know where she worked? She had to get in her house and lock the door.
Pen jerked hard when she heard the shrill announcement for boarding. The thoughts of Baltimore were her constant companion, along with dread. She ghosted a glance around her and gratefully got in line for the bus, hearing the hum of the flickering fluorescent lights overhead and the restless sounds of the people around her. Her legs wriggled restlessly as she edged forward in the line. She wedged herself between two large men and kept her head down. She had debated on whether to sit in the front or in the back of the bus. She wanted near an exit, but if she was in the middle, she’d have about the right amount of obscurity. She hoped. When she got on the bus, she tread slowly along the narrow aisle until she found an empty seat and shoved her backpack in. Her luggage was loaded below along with everyone else’s.
Pen turned toward the window, peering out into the cool night. Other buses were loading up and people slowly shuffled along. Her mind buzzed back to the afternoon when Baltimore had stopped by her home and her eyes prickled with tears. Her home was now lost to her. She splayed her fingers over the window of the bus, her lips trembling.
“I see, sorry you got a headache, Penelope. Tell ya what, I’ll come on back by another day,” Baltimore said. The wide crocodile smile that spread across his face didn’t reach his eyes.
“Look, Officer Baltimore, I’m flattered, I am. But I’m not interested. I’m just coming out of a bad relationship and honestly, I’m not equipped right now to handle another,” she lied.
“Jimmy. I told you to call me Jimmy. I don’t think you understand, Penelope, you don’t have a choice.”
“What do you mean I don’t have a choice? I’m not sure why you’ve pinned your sights on me, but I’m not interested. Please leave, now.”
Baltimore stepped up to Pen in a flash and his large hand gripped her face and jaw. It was like a vice. He dropped his head to her and kissed her roughly.
“Call me Jimmy, and if you’re too stupid to not understand, let me be clear. I want you and I always get what I want,” he snarled. “Don’t fight me. You’ll enjoy it, trust me. You fight me, you’ll damned sure regret it. I’ll make sure of that.” Something dark and ugly swam through those blue eyes, turning his eyes nearly black.
He let go of her face and walked down the steps, whistling a happy tune as he went. He got into his truck and pulled out. Pen stood on her porch, stunned. Her body vibrated with reaction and she had to sit before she fell. She fumbled for her phone and called Mallory.
“He was here. Baltimore was at my place. He was here when I got home. He…he said that he wants me, that it doesn’t matter what I want. He says it’s gonna happen,” Pen whisper-screamed in near hysteria when Mallory picked up.
“Whoa, wait, slow down. That police officer came to your house?” Mallory’s voice had gone up an octave.
“Shit yeah. He even grabbed my face and he wasn’t gentle either. What am I going to do?”
“Maybe see about calling his supervisor or something. This is wrong.”
Pen did call Baltimore’s supervisor, regretting it. Two weeks later Jimmy came to her house near midnight and kicked her door in. He had come into her house and Pen met him in the living room with a baseball bat in hand. When she saw who’d invaded her home, a scream lodged in her throat. Baltimore crossed the room quickly and yanked the bat from her hands, grabbed her by the hair, and yanked her body up to him.
“You might think you’ve stopped me, but you haven’t. I told my supervisor that you’re just mad because I wrote you a ticket. See, everyone knows not to cross my dad or me. Now you’ve made me mad. I know dozens of gals who would love to be my girl. What’s wrong with you?” he snarled and Pen knew that this bastard was on the edge of truly hurting her, maybe killing her.
With just the few words he’d said, Baltimore had summed up his life. Jimmy always got what he wanted. Her granny always said she was a smart girl. Pen knew she’d have to defuse the situation fast and buy some time. This man was a nutcase and went through his life getting what he wanted, doing what he wanted, and had his daddy to bail him out.
She was in a no-win situation. Untenable.
“That’s just it, isn’t it?” she asked in a calm voice, or as calm as she could make it. Her mouth was dry as the Sonoran Desert and her heart had broken loose and was galloping away.
“What?” he asked.
“You’re treating me like everyone else. You’re treating me like all those other women. I’m here to tell you, a girl likes to be treated as if she’s the only one. Not some carbon copy of the last girl you dated. That’s what you’re doing, isn’t it? Treating me like I’m just like the other women. How do you think that makes me feel, knowing I’m just another notch on your belt? Instead of someone special?” She nearly sagged with relief when his body relaxed and his grip slackened.
“I…I thought—” he began and she jumped on that.
“That’s right, you thought. You didn’t even slow down to ask me what I want. You treated me like all the other women you’ve gone after instead of coming at me like a real man. Someone who actually wanted to know me. I’m not sure who you’ve dated in the past, but I want to be treated a hell of a lot better than what you’ve been dishing out. You want to date me? Then you’d best do a hell of a lot better.”
“Oh. Alright. Then what do you want to do?” he asked.
Pen wanted to weep with relief. She had averted a violent confrontation. But that wouldn’t stop him the next go around, in fact, he’d probably do something remarkably stupid and cover it up, resulting in her death. Or his.
“Back off, for one thing. I don’t like being bulldozed and run through a cattle chute, cowboy. If you want to date me, do it proper. Like a gentleman. I’m not jumpin’ in the sack with a near stranger, that’s a fact. You gotta woo me. Can you agree to that?”
He accepted her challenge hook, line, and sinker.
The bus rocked and Pen turned in her seat to search the faces on the bus. The lights overhead fluttered then the bus went dark. She turned around and gazed back out the window, watching the bus station and Fort Worth fade away. She pulled her backpack over and dug out a bottle of water. Though she hadn’t had an appetite for days, she did have snacks for the trip. She wasn’t sure she wanted to exit the bus until her final destination. Her bladder would determine that at the first stop. Closing her eyes, she recalled her last days and hours.
With breathing room, Pen pulled money out of her account at the bank, nearly her entire life’s savings. She put some money into traveler’s checks and left most in cash, transferring some to Mallory’s account.
“I’ve got to disappear for a while. If I don’t, he’ll either kill me or I’ll kill him. He’s crazy, Mal, and I’m afraid.”
“Where will you go?” Mallory asked, tears in her eyes.
“You can’t know that. I’ll get a burner phone and call once I’ve gotten to wherever it is. I don’t what him coming after you. I’ll leave my iPhone but I’ve deleted all your contact information. I’m serious, he’s crazy as a bedbug and I won’t have you in danger.”
“When will you come back?”
“I’ve got to put distance between me and him, then I’ll find an attorney and see what my options are. A restraining order won’t do anything with his dad being a judge. It’s apparent that Baltimore has lived his life with impunity. The more I fight him, the more unpredictable he becomes. This will end badly if I don’t leave.”
Pen wiped at the tears as she her body rocked from the rhythmic motion of the bus. The bus was nearly full. Someone coughed from behind her. She was leaving her home and all she knew, heading east and away from danger and perhaps prison. Pen lived her life as an innocuous woman with a dull and boring existence. She didn’t mind boring.
Baltimore changed all that. He was just plain batshit crazy.
↔
Theo Rice was sweating bullets and could feel the uncomfortable bite in his armpits. He’d made it on the bus and hadn’t seen anyone following him. He’d made the biggest score of his life and if he didn’t get out of Fort Worth, he’d be dead. Stealing from Jackson was stupid, but he’d never seen that much action and might never again. Besides, he didn’t think Jackson would miss a pound or two of pills—there was tons of the shit. He sniffed and rubbed at his nose with his forearm, shifting in his seat. He wiped his face with trembling hands.
To the left he noticed a man who looked like some big Italian cop, and sweat ran down the side of his face when the big man looked over at him. The man’s dark eyes narrowed and Theo got up and headed to the back of the bus.
Maybe I shoulda got on another bus.
He chanced a glance behind and noticed an older Hindi lady. He wanted to say something snide about going back to her own country when he caught the big man’s eye again and hurried toward the back. He selected a window seat and looked out. They should have been gone nearly forty-five minutes ago. Theo tried to quash the twitchy feeling.
He didn’t think Jackson would think to look at the bus terminal, especially since he had his own car. Theo had never been lucky though, and he was sure he’d be caught. But as bus sailed down the highway, his breathing came easier. He was safe. Perhaps he was lucky after all. He nearly giggled. The bag of pills was in his ratty backpack along with water and several packs of cigarettes. He had a few rolls of bills that he was supposed to give Jackson, but he’d keep that tidy sum for himself. He figured he’d take one of the pills and chill the hell out. It was a long ride to Memphis, Tennessee. With a shaky hand, he smoothed back his blond hair and shifted his body. Thankfully the bus wasn’t crammed with people. It was full, but he had a seat to himself and he liked that. He looked out the window as the city lights fell behind. Ahead was freedom and fortune.
Theo grinned and closed his eyes. Yes sir, this was his lucky day.
2
Sebastian rubbed his nose and watched the twitchy blond man pass him. The man reeked of sour body odor and he was fairly sure the guy was a druggy or tweaker. He was now rethinking his choice not to have flown. He didn’t mind taking the bus most of the time but being stuck on a bus with some jackoff that stunk like a rancid skunk-ass did not a happy man make. At least the man went to the back. He looked over at Liam, who was laughing silently. He was across the way and Sebastian guessed he’d seen the byplay. He grinned and shrugged.
The overhead lights went out and the bus settled in for its long journey.
Sebastian leaned his head against the window and watched Fort Worth recede into the distance, the lights twinkling behind. The bus would have a stop or two to pick up and drop off passengers, but if he was lucky, he’d be able to keep the seat beside him vacant. You never knew who was going to sit beside you. He’d seen a woman and baby come on; the baby was in one of those adjustable carriers. He hoped it wouldn’t cry. It was covered up and quiet for now, for which he was glad. It was his luck on flights to have a screaming kid behind him, or just as bad, kicking his seat.
He had nothing against children, and liked kids well enough. It was just that screaming babies were at the top of his list for dislikes. While he knew babies couldn’t help it, it had always grated on his nerves. He sighed heavily and wished he hadn’t packed his Copenhagen away below. He could use a dip about now. He snorted, knowing if he thought about it, it would drive him crazy.
He let the rocking of the bus and the vibration of the window where he rested his head, relax him. He was hoping it would ease him into a light slumber. He kept in mind that there was a possible junkie onboard and a frightened woman who acted suspiciously. She was four rows ahead of him, near the front. He’d seen her settle in and hadn’t seen her face clearly. Her hat was pulled low over her face. He sighed again, trying to let his guard down enough to get some shut-eye.
He wondered if someone had hurt her. Was her ex-husband or boyfriend looking for her? Had she done something illegal and was now running from it? Being hunted? His policeman’s mind pondered over it until he grew sleepy and nodded off.
↔
Jimmy was livid and embarrassed as hell. That bitch had tricked him and when he got his hands on her, he’d make her pay. He had a date with her the next night but something told him to go over and see her. Something niggled at the back of his brain and he usually listened to that voice. He’d pulled up to the house and saw her car. He slumped back and let out a gush of relief. Going up to the door, he’d knocked and rang the doorbell.
Nothing.
He glanced around and didn’t notice any of her neighbors watching, so he kicked the door. It easily swung open and he called out her name.
Nothing.
Jimmy checked the house and saw her iPhone on the kitchen counter, so she hadn’t gone far. He went to her bedroom. His mouth thinned when he noticed her dresser drawers open and clothing littering the bed and floor. Jimmy charged out of the house and went to his truck. He would go see her friend Mallory and he’d get a few answers.
Waves of impotent rage flooded his body. He’d wasted hours and finally he was headed in the right direction. Jimmy was now headed to Little Rock, Arkansas. Mallory hadn’t been helpful despite him smacking her around pretty good to get his answers. What she did say was Penelope had gone to the bus terminal. There were several bus terminals in Fort Worth and he figured Penelope at one of them. Mallory said the bus left at midnight. He’d called around and found several buses heading east near midnight. He’d found out a bus left an hour before, heading to Memphis. There would be a stop in Little Rock, Arkansas. If he could get to Little Rock, he could get on the bus. He could only pick one bus, so he hoped it would be the correct one. He smiled grimly to himself. He was about two hours behind and he’d have to really push it to get ahead and get on that bus.
