Page 17 of One Step Sideways

Dad?

The one pointing a gun at me snarled and in the distance I heard sirens.Fuck.Maybe the cashier had a panic button?

The older guy dived for the twenties and started stuffing them in his pockets, then he pushed his son out of the door, and they ran for the truck.

I hurried over to the cashier and started CPR. Thankfully, it was one of the courses I’d been allowed to do.

A couple of minutes later the cops decided I wasn’t trying to save a life. Apparently, it had been me who had robbed the guy. I didn’t bother arguing as there had been too many guns shoved in my face…again. I honestly thought the CCTV would clear everything up.

But, of course, the ones inside the store were faulty. All it proved was that I had arrived later than the robbers and that they left before me. Unfortunately, the cashier didn’t survive. Two hours later, handcuffed to a table, I was utterly convinced that I would be back inside by daybreak, when I was informed my lawyer was here. I expected to see a court-appointed guy shuffling in looking sick and tired of shoveling shit like me through the so-called justice system, but what I got was… I had a moment to wonder if he was in the wrong interviewroom. This guy in a suit that looked like he was the president or something, waltzed in and immediately demanded my release. He had the cops that had been banging on at me for hours rushing around like he was some high-court judge, but then he stepped over to me and held out his hand. “Mr. Diaz. My name is Oliver Michaels, and I am retained by your employer, Rawlings Security. I apologize for the delay in your release. Mr. Rawlings wasn’t informed of your arrest immediately.”

I blinked and shook his hand. By the time he’d spouted enough fancy words to fill a dictionary and I had signed some forms, barely thirty minutes had passed and I was following him outside. I saw Rawlings jump down from his truck immediately and extend his hand to Michaels. “Thanks.”

“It was outrageous,” Michaels said, then turned to me. “I’m filing a formal complaint for harassment. First you save the life today of an elderly widow and child and then they treat you like this? Then after bringing in an escaped convict, your treatment both today and tonight is deplorable.”

I opened my mouth then closed it again. Michaels walked to his Porsche. I didn’t know where to start with Rawlings. In fact, it was a little fucked up that he walked to his truck the same way he had when he met me outside the prison and told me to get in.

“What about Danny?” I blurted out, which was just about the first thing I’d said since the fancy lawyer had arrived.

Rawlings turned. “He’s still employed. I figure we all get a pass today. You getting in?” And he walked around to the driver’s side.

I didn’t wait, in case he changed his mind.

Awkward was an understatement with Rawlings after I’d thanked him for the lawyer and he’d said it was what all his people got, and so of course I had to say I wasn’t one of his people. Rawlings just looked at me, nodded, and asked where I wanted the seventeen-thousand-dollar legal bill to be sent.

“Fuck,” I whispered, and we drove back in near silence.

And of course, the dog met me at the door.

I looked at her in a kind of sick fascination and tried to judge the size of her teeth, until Danny appeared and handed me a can of coke. Unopened. “I know you’re tired, but we need to talk.”

“Let’s talk about the case first,” Rawlings said.

“What case?” I asked, following him.

“One thing,” Danny said, looking at me. “I know you have zero trust and I understand I don’t deserve any, but I’ve been a dick, and I’m sorry.”

I had to gape. I glanced at Rawlings, but he carried on to the kitchen, and I tried to work out if Danny was just doing this because his boss was there.

Probably.

“You have no reason to believe me, but can we start again?” He looked at the dog. “Again, repetition, but the only way she’d hurt you is if you hurt me.”

I almost wished I had a dog. Once upon a time I might have had one, but not even a dog would have protected me from my fucked-up life. I shrugged because I had no idea what to say and didn’t trust any of it, so I carried on to the kitchen.

“So,” Rawlings said pouring the coffee. “Was this just a regular robbery?”

I stared at him. The casual question had been the last thing I expected. I wasn’t sure what I expected, but definitely not business as usual.

“No, one was enhanced, and he was the same one from earlier. The kid.” I looked at Rawlings and knew he understood the one I meant. “He called the other guy ‘Dad’ and I’m pretty sure it was a slip-up. I think it was desperation after earlier. They had no cash.” I closed my eyes and described the truck in complete detail, including the tag, which Danny said was false after checking.

“If they were wearing masks—” Rawlings started.

“You want me to convince you or are you just gonna take my word for it? I am a hundred-percent certain of the enhanced.”

Rawlings inclined his head and moved on.

It was a rush. That feeling you were believed.

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