Covered In Lace

chapter TEN

It took forever to get through North Carolina and Virginia wasn't much different. Endless miles of highway, Earl thought. The boredom broken only by his short side-trips off the turnpike to rob a gas station or turn-over a convenience store. He'd managed to make clean get-a-ways since South Carolina without having to kill anyone. Beyond pistol-whipping one clerk, he'd been downright polite.

He glanced across the car at Maggie sleeping against the door. She hadn't been the same since they drove past the Myrtle Beach exit on Route 95. He bought her a new sun dress at one of the highway rest stops; which put a glimmer of a smile on her face for about a minute – until she realized he had only purchased it to make her look prettier for turning tricks at the truck stops.

She was the worst whore he'd ever known, crying most of the time the guys were on top of her, even biting one guy on the dick. Her attitude wasn't good for business and thought it best he keep that part of their working relationship to a minimum.

He turned into the parking lot of a Maryland Cracker Barrel restaurant and dragged Maggie inside for dinner. A sparse amount of customers were there eating; which was fine by Earl. He asked for a booth in the back and followed the hostess to the table.

“Gina will be your server this evening,” the young hostess said, and excused herself.

The booth was adjacent to a bar area where customers by themselves could sit and eat without occupying table or booth space. Two flat-screened televisions hung from the rafters at opposite ends of the bar. One was airing some sort of sports event while the other television displayed an entertainment show talking about the latest celebrity gossip. Two tables away, Maggie spotted a man dressed in a dark suit and a short cropped, military style haircut. Her eyes darted back to Earl, who's attention was absently staring at the televisions. When she looked back at the dark-haired man, he was opening up his jacket to reach for his wallet. The glint of a badge surprised her and she twisted her hands in her lap. She watched the man pull a twenty dollar bill from his billfold and stand up, preparing to leave. The bulge of a gun was evident at his hip and Maggie's heart began to race. He wasn't in the military, she thought. He was law enforcement.

“I have to pee,” she said.

“Are yer legs broken?” Earl asked. “Go on, but don't try no funny business.”

Maggie slid from the booth seat and stood up. Her eyes looked for the man with the badge. She saw him standing at the cash register by the door. She'd have to walk past him on her way to the ladies room. She'd have one chance to get his attention and that was it. If she blew this opportunity Earl would surely kill her.

The man took the change from the girl at the register and thanked her; carefully sliding the paper bills into his wallet and depositing the coin in his front pocket. As he turned to leave, Maggie casually bumped into him, swaying on her feet. A second of eye contact was all she'd need, she thought, just one quick second.

His grip was firm on her elbow, as he corrected her balance, and then his eyes held hers.

“Please, help me,” she whispered. “The man I'm with has a gun.”





Earl's eyes were glued to the screen. The long blond hair is what caught his attention. Then he saw the girl's names beneath the image. Lacey Sheridan and Annie Logan.

“Son-of-a-bitch,” Earl said. He stood up and walked to the bar to get closer to the television. He never noticed Maggie talking to the man - never saw her leaving with him. He was too engrossed with the television interview with Annie and Lacey taking place inside the Fleet Center in Boston before some charity event. They were telling the reporter about recording together in western Massachusetts and how the project was coming along. Earl clapped his hands together.

“Bingo!”

He turned to share his excitement with Maggie only to realize she was gone. He faced the front windows of the restaurant and caught a glimpse of her getting into a car out front – a car very much resembling an undercover cop vehicle.

Shit. Think fast.

Earl spun around and walked to the back of the restaurant. He pushed open the swinging door that led into the kitchen, walked straight through, dodging two chefs, and exited the building. He knew he didn't have a lot of time to waste thinking about an escape plan. He needed to react on sheer gut instinct and nothing else.

He pulled the gun from the waistband of his pants and jogged around two dumpsters; keeping the gun pressed to the side of his thigh. The smell of rotting food nearly made him gag, but he pushed the thought from his brain. Ahead he could see the parking lot and shimmied down a narrow alleyway separating the restaurant and a utility building, stepping around the trash piled there.

Once out in the open, he moved quickly through the dimly lit employee side lot, trying the doors to three cars before finding an older Ford model left unlocked. It took less than a minute to hot-wire the car and start the engine. He smiled at himself, impressed he hadn't lost his touch.

He didn't think of Maggie until he was safely driving north again on route 95. He hadn't planned on the girl turning tail and running; didn't think she had the balls to do so. Nor did he think her capable of finding, what appeared to be, law enforcement. No doubt by now, she had filled the undercover cop's head with all sorts of things about him and what he'd been up to since he left Florida. There was probably an APB out on his ass right now! He slammed his open palm on the steering wheel.

“F*ck that skinny little bitch,” he said.

Damn it all to hell, he thought, and just when things were going so well. He now had confirmation that Annie Logan was in fact working in Massachusetts; he had seen it with his own eyes on the television. Jesus! He wished he wasn't so far away. He was beyond ready to initiate his plan against Annie. A smile formed on his face. She'd never see it coming and the gratification that came with that was priceless. His daddy always said: revenge is a dish best served cold.

He adjusted the driver's seat for more comfort and glanced at the dashboard, noticing there was half a tank of gas in the car. He was hopeful that would last for a while – maybe a few states, and then he'd pull off the highway for a bit and sleep. Thankfully he hadn't left anything important in his car. He patted his pocket with the cash he'd been acquiring on the trip to make sure it was still there.

From here on out, he needed to keep his wits about him. No more distractions. No more hitch-hikers. It was time for him to finalize his plans for Annie; figure out the best way to re-introduce himself to her, and then eliminate her from the face of the earth. He'd go home in a body bag before he settled for less.

Earl rubbed at the fatigue in his face. Being caught by the police was not an option. Nor was failure. He'd spent far too many years in prison thinking about this. He'd achieve his goal of killing Annie and escape. Simple as that.





“What's your name?” the State Police detective asked.

“Maggie Waterhouse.”

“And the man you were traveling with, what is his name?”

“I wasn't traveling with him willingly,” Maggie said. “And I only knew his first name; which is Earl. He said something about living in Florida but didn't say where. I already told you all this.”

The detective continued to scribble notes on to his pad of paper, then scratched his head. “You said you saw Earl shoot someone?”

Maggie nodded. “I sure did,” she said. “He was a guy working at a gas station. Earl shot him right in the face. I don't remember which state we were in, though.”

“Earl abducted you?” the detective asked.

“Yes, sir, he did,” Maggie said. “I was hitching. He pulled up along side me, flashed his gun, and told me to get in the car or he'd kill me.” She shifted uneasily on her chair. “I kinda wish now he had.”

“Your parents say you ran-away.”

“I needed a break,” Maggie said. “I thought I'd go visit my Aunt up in Myrtle Beach. I should've stayed home, then none of this would have happened.”

The detective nodded. “Your mom and dad are on their way here.”

Maggie sat up in her chair. “I don't want them to see me like this!”

“All they care about is that you're alive.”

She tugged on her dirty clothes and started to cry again. “I was forced to do all sorts of things,” she sobbed. “I don't want them to know – they can't know!”

“When we catch Earl, he will pay for what he did, Maggie,” he said, keeping his voice soft. “He will never see the light of day again.”

“If he finds me, I'm dead.”

The detective touched her hand resting on the table and Maggie jumped in her seat. “You were very brave to take the chance you did,” he said. “And I can assure you, Earl won't be able to get anywhere near you. You're safe now, Maggie.”

Maggie looked at the detective with painfully sad eyes.

“I'll never be safe again.”