Page 23 of On the Line

“Fuck that!” I countered, digging in my heels. “You stash it. I didn’t sign up for this.”

He looked over his shoulder at me, steering with one hand. “None of us signed up for this. But George gave you the money tonight. It’s your job to keep it safe.”

“That’s some bullshit logic,” I protested.

“Nothing implicates you,” he said, more exasperated by the second. “They don’t even know your name. As soonas I drop you two off, I’m driving straight to Miami and getting on a bus. I’m out of here until things cool down.”

I turned to Waylan, but he threw his hands up. “Don’t look at me. I’m thinking my dad’s idea to head on up to Tallahassee early is a good one. This is some crazy shit.”

What was crazy was that I was left holding the money. “What the fuck? You’re both leaving?” I yelled.

“Maybe you should too, after you stash the cash,” Waylan said meekly.

I couldn’t believe my best friend was hanging me out to dry. I wanted to get the fuck out of dodge, too, but I couldn’t leave Ellie.

“Here.” Mateo reached under the driver’s seat, shoving a paper-wrapped brick at me. “Here’s your cut. Double this time for the trouble.” I stared at it. The last thing I wanted wasmoredirty money.

“Waylan?” Mateo held another brick of cash over his shoulder.

Waylan took the brick without a word, looking up at a flickering up ahead. We could see the blue lights at the marina from half a mile away. We all held our breath when we passed.

Sheriff’s department, state troopers, and border patrol. I turned to look back. None pulled out after us. Trying to stay calm, I said, “There must be twenty cops there.”

It was only another two miles to the Trading Post. Maybe we’d make it. When the street light in the parking lot came into view in the distance, I let out a sigh of relief. And then Isaw the squad car parked in front. The little grocery store had been closed for hours.

“Fuck!” Mateo gripped the wheel and kept heading north. “We can’t stop there. Where do you want me to drop you?”

Waylan shifted around in the back. “Let me out right up here.”

“You sure?” Mateo asked. I stared at my best friend, my mouth hanging open.

Waylan’s eyes were big as saucers. “Yeah, I need to go south.” He couldn’t wait to get the hell away from us and that money. I couldn’t blame him.

Mateo pulled over to the shoulder and Waylan jumped out over the side before the Jeep even came to a stop on the side of the road. I’d rather take my chances than be saddled with the responsibility of stashing the cash. I reached for the door handle, tempted to make a run for it, but Mateo sped off.

Glancing at my hand still on the handle, he said, “Don’t even think about it, Slick. You’re not going anywhere without that money.” I sighed, returning my hand to my lap as he asked, “Where do you want me to drop you?”

The darkness felt like walls closing in around me. Mateo was not taking no for an answer. And I was better off getting away from him sooner than later. “Drop me in Tav, I guess,” I said, resigned to whatever fate awaited.

Pulling into the Old Tavernier Hotel, Mateo asked, “Here good?”

“Yeah.” My legs were wobbly under me as I lifted the heavy bag out of the back of the Jeep.

Mateo peeled out to destination unknown, and Waylan was as good as gone.I stood there in disbelief holding the soaked duffel bag full of cash, feeling incredibly alone.

Having no fucking clue what to do, I went to the only person I trusted.

CHAPTER 11

Wearing the duffel bag like a backpack, I trudged down the gravel drive to Ellie’s aunt’s house, utterly ashamed.

I slipped out of the straps and lowered the bag to the ground beside the house. Searching for the smallest bits of coral rock I could find, I started lobbing them at Ellie’s window.

Plink! Plink!

Finally, a pale face appeared behind the besieged glass. “Spencer!” she hissed, sliding open the window and sticking her head out. “It’s the middle of the night. What is wrong with you?”

“Come down,” I half-whispered. “I need to talk to you.”

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