Page 42 of The Hitchhikers
Alice was facing away from Tom at the table, but she could hear him shifting on the bed and knew he was fighting the restraints.
“Deadly serious.”
“I’m not robbing anything,” Alice said. “Take Jenny.”
“She’s pregnant. It’s not safe.”
Alice stared at him. Did he not hear the irony in his words? He was already on the run with his pregnant girlfriend, and they had committed Lord knew how many crimes.
“I need someone to grab the cash while I keep a lookout.”
“You expect me to help you?”
“She’s not doing it!” Tom yelled.
“Yes, she is.” Simon sounded so calm. So confident. Alice balled her hands into fists under the table, and tried to think, but she couldn’t see any way out of this. If she continued to refuse, Simon would hurt Tom. He’d torture him, maybe break more bones. Whatever it took.
She had no choice.
Simon wanted to wait until closing time, but he didn’t want the RV noticeable, so they found a dirt road near the railway tracks and parked in the shade. Simon let Alice and Tom use the bathroom.
After Simon had tied Tom back up, Alice rested on the bed next to him. She rolled onto her side and carefully slid her hand into his, linking their fingers. She studied his face, the dark stubble on his jaw. He hadn’t been able to shave for three days. She tried to fall asleep so she didn’t have to think about what was going to happen, but it was impossible.
The sun disappeared, and with it Alice’s hopes that Simon would decide on a different course of action. Simon wanted a snack before they went into town, so Alice made crackers with peanut butter, helping Tom eat a few and drink some water. They were allowed to use the bathroom one more time. Simon’s annoyed expression when he dealt with Tom’s knots worried Alice. He was beginning to resent the extra task. They drove back to the gas station and parked behind it on a side street.
“Someone might notice the RV driving away after,” Alice said. “There are houses.” He had to see the risks. Did he not care at all, or was he just that confident?
He laughed. “No one thinks that robbers are driving an RV. That’s why it’s perfect—and these small towns have like two cops.” He sent Jenny into the store to buy a pack of gum and see who was working. When she came back, she reported that the young man had left.
“There’s a woman now.”
“How old?”
“I don’t know.” Jenny looked at Alice. “Maybe a little older than Alice.”
A woman, working alone. She’d be so scared when they burst through the door.
Simon began pulling items out of the thrift store bag and held up a faded pair of denim overalls and a plaid shirt.
“Get over here, Alice.”
She buttoned the plaid shirt over her top. The overalls wereso big she was able to put them on without taking off her shorts. Simon handed her one of the toy guns.
“What if the cashier has a gun?”
“She isn’t going to open fire on two of us.”
“You can’t guarantee that.”
“You’ll be the one in front of me.” He smiled. “That I can guarantee.” He handed her a baseball cap, told her to tuck her hair under, and then passed her a pair of knit gloves, and oversized glasses with yellow-tinted lenses that colored everything strangely.
Alice had stomach cramps. Sharp shooting pains under her rib cage and belly. She took a few slow, deep breaths, flexed her fingers inside the gloves, licked her dry lips.
Simon pulled on the cowboy hat that Jenny had given him. Nothing about Simon looked Western to Alice, but the hat seemed to give him extra confidence. He stood straighter and pretended to draw his gun as if he truly was a cowboy. Alice moved out of his line of fire. Jenny was picking at her nails. When she caught Alice’s gaze, she dropped her hands.
“Be careful,” Jenny said to Simon in a strained voice.
“Always am, babe. You don’t have anything to worry about.” He opened the cupboard where Alice had stowed their extra bed linens and pulled out two pillowcases.
