Page 24 of Dizzy

I ain’t as worried about Nickel as I am about Jed and Heavy. Nickel’s oblivious to it, but if you know him, it’s clear he’s got a soft spot for the females. Treats ‘em like glass. Or like a cottonmouth. Steers clear.

Jed spends a lot of time with the ladies, but he doesn’t have much regard for them. Nails and bails. He’s ten years older than I am and never had an old lady. Fay-Lee being a female won’t earn her any special treatment with him.

And under the fancy talk and gravitas, Heavy is a cold motherfucker. He did Chaos without hesitation. Slit his throat as if he was slaughtering a pig.

My muscles tense. That’s not how this is going to go. Fay-Lee was clearly in the wrong place at the wrong time. Along for the ride.

She cowers on the bench, arms hugging her middle, shoulders hunched, and knees pressed tight together. The silence grows thick. Nickel’s rubber soles squeak on the floor, somehow amping up the tension.

Heavy slowly, deliberately drags over a metal folding chair. He cracks his jaw and ponderously lowers his bulk. The chair creaks.

Fay-Lee’s throat works as she swallows. Her eyes dart all over. She’s searching for an escape, but there isn’t one.

At least she’s got a grip on the hysteria. My palm tingles, remembering. I can’t believe I did that. It did the job, but it doesn’t sit entirely easy with me.

Heavy clears his throat. “Where did you meet Chaos?”

Her gaze shoots to me, as if she’s looking for permission. I nod.

I like her looking to me for the go ahead.

“A rest stop. On 71.”

“You know him before that?”

“No.”

“Were you hitching?”

“Yeah.”

“Where were you coming from?”

“Dalton.”

“Georgia?”

“Kentucky.”

“Where’d you meet Chaos?”

“I told you. A rest stop. At a picnic table.”

“Why’d you leave Dalton?”

“Change of scenery.”

“Try again.”

“Why does it matter to you?”

Jed gets in her face, peels back his lips so she can see the Steel Bones tattoo inside. “You don’t ask the questions, bitch. You answer them.”

My chest swells. What did that fucker say?

“You understand?” He grabs her chin.

Hell, no.

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