I was out of the shower and dressed in my sleep shorts and a tank top when Evan returned. He’d found a mom-and-pop barbecue joint by RadioShack and his arms were laden with bags of barbecue chicken, coleslaw, biscuits, and mashed potatoes. After we stuffed our faces, Evan rifled in the RadioShack bag and handed over the prepaid cell phone.
“What if this doesn’t work?” I said. “What if it gets us caught or gets Del in trouble?”
“Do you trust her?”
“Absolutely.”
“Then call her. Keep it short. Tell her you’re okay and nothing else. That’ll keep all of us safe.”
I nodded and heaved a breath. Evan went to take a shower, giving me privacy.
I punched in the number.
“The Rio, Del speaking.”
“Del, it’s Jo.”
“Jo?” My best friend sucked in a hissing breath, her professional, phone-answering voice morphing to a whispered shriek. “Baby, where the hell are you? The cops are crawling all over, asking about you. Are you okay? Tell me that first.”
“I’m okay.”
“Praise Jesus,” she said, and then in the next breath, “And I don’t think I have to tell you what the cops are asking about, do I?”
“No, you don’t. I know exactly what they’re asking about, and Del—”
“Then don’t say another damn word, honey,” Del said sharply. “Not one word. I’m not bugged but God knows what kind of CSI trickery they may try to pull on me.”
“Okay, right. You’re right. I’d hate to get you in trouble for talking to me.”
“They can’t arrest me for talking. I don’t know nothing and you ain’t saying nothing. Just checking in.”
“Yes.” I allowed myself the smallest breath of relief. “That’s what I’m doing, Del. Checking in. I wanted to hear your voice.”
“Me too, honey. I been worried sick. I seen on the news about a guy named Salinger? Patty Stevenson’s been flapping her gums that he was in the diner the afternoon Lee’s house went up in smoke. She’s telling everyone you were talking to him pretty cozy. The cops say you’re with him now.”
“Yes, Evan. I’m with him.”
“Voluntarily, girl, or what? I need the truth because the news sure don’t paint a pretty picture of him.”
“Of course voluntarily,” I said, sitting up. “Just what the hell are they saying?”
“He busted out of prison, for one thing. Escaped con.”
“That’s true. But he never should’ve been in there in the first place.”
“And secondly they said he’s mental case. He spent time in an institution.”
My face flushed red. “That’s true too, but that doesn’t make him… Look, Del, don’t believe anything you hear about Evan. Okay? For my sake. He’s the best man I’ve ever met in my life. He would never hurt me. I didn’t jump off one sinking ship onto another, I promise.”
“If you say so, then amen, girl. I believe you.”
“And what about the police? They’re on our tail pretty hard.”
Dell’s voice dropped to a lower register. “It’s not good, honey. It’s an all-out manhunt for you and your boy. They’re sure Lee didn’t die in that house fire. They’re sure about that.”
My voice was faint. “It was an accident.”
“Stop right there. I’m not going to ask a thing about Lee and I don’t want you to tell me anything either. I just wanted you to know the gravitas of the situation over here. But I will say this so you don’t have to: I know you ain’t going to hurt anybody on purpose. Some folk like Lee… Well they just have to lie in the bed they made themselves. Or the grave. But the more you run, honey, the harder it’s going to be to tell them whatever it is you got to tell them.”
It’s going to be impossible, I thought with a pang of dread. I looked to the bathroom door where the shower was still running. If we were caught, Evan would go to jail for life.
And if you’re not caught? What happens when your money runs out and you reach the center, wherever that is? What happens when this road trip ends and there’s no more road?
“Do you remember what we talked about before I left?” I asked Del. “About the money you were helping me to save up?”
“I sure do, honey-pie. And my offer still stands. You tell me when and you tell me how and I’ll make sure my boy comes through for you. For both of you.”
A flood of relief and love for my friend swept through me. “You’re going to get in trouble for saying that, Del,” I said gruffly.
She snorted. “Small price to pay if you’re safe, baby. Finally safe.”
“I am.”
“Go on, then. Check in if you can, and I’ll be watching on the news for you and praying.”
“I love you, Del.”
I heard her sniff on the other end of the line. “That better mean you love my fabulous ass, and not goodbye. Better not.”
“Not goodbye,” I said. “This is goodbye. I gotta go, Del.”
“You take care, honey. Love you.”