Free Killer Reunion by G. A. McKevett

looking out for .” When he gave her a still-confused look, she pointed down the road they had just traveled. “From up here,” she said, “you can see for over a mile behind you. You can look out for your parents, your school principal, your next-door neighbors, your pastor, or anybody else who might catch you foolin’ around.”
    Dirk looked over his shoulder, down the road, and at the dark pine forest around them, then at the cliff ahead. At the bottom of the ninety-degree embankment lay a quiet lake. “I guess the water’s kinda nice,” he said grudgingly. “You know, with moonlight shining on it and all that stuff.”
    That’s my guy , Savannah thought. Always the romantic.
    â€œIt’s probably got frogs in it, though,” he added. “Snakes, alligators, shit like that.”
    She sighed. “You’re kinda killin’ the mood here, boy.”
    â€œSorry.” He paused, thinking. “The trees smell good.”
    â€œMuch better.”
    He unfastened his seat belt, reached over, and released hers. “I was kinda surprised you still wanted to come up here after that whole Jeanette rigmarole back at the school.”
    â€œAll the more reason to make the trip,” she replied.
    He gave her a long questioning look. “Just so’s I know, did we come up here to celebrate or for me to comfort you?”
    â€œWell, we don’t exactly have to break out the sparklers and party hats, but I’m feeling pretty fine. I’ve been itching to smack ole Jeanette upside the head for almost as long as I can remember. Since kindergarten, at least, when she started making fun of my bologna and mayonnaise sandwiches.”
    â€œI love bologna and mayonnaise sandwiches.”
    â€œEvery day? Every single day of your childhood? And nothing else, not even an apple or a banana?”
    â€œOkay. Point taken.”
    â€œAnyway, it was a long time coming. I do feel kinda guilty for hitting her instead of just telling her off. Everybody knows you’re not supposed to lay hands on another person in violence, no matter what the provocation.”
    â€œMust’ve been some pretty nasty provocation.”
    â€œIt was. That’s why I’m not going to go mope around, hanging my head, staring at the floor, wringing my hands with shame.”
    â€œYou’ll find a way to handle all that guilt?” he asked with a grin.
    â€œâ€™Tis a hardship, but I’ll bear up. I’m nothing if not resilient.”
    He pulled her into his arms and gave her a kiss. “I hate to admit it, but I was proud of you,” he whispered against her cheek. “I was worried my wife was going to spend the next five or so years in jail, and I’d have to do my husbandly duty to her between iron bars. But I was proud of you.”
    She laughed and returned the kiss. “Why, thank you, kind sir. How’s about we climb into that backseat and you can show me just exactly how proud you really are?”
    â€œMighty proud, Miss Savannah,” he said, faking her Southern accent. His hands began to wander. His lips, too. “Powerful proud. And growing prouder by the moment.”
    Â 
    â€œIs it just me,” Savannah asked as she handed Dirk his briefs and continued the search for her panties on the rear floorboard, “or didn’t backseats of cars used to be bigger?”
    As he wriggled into his underwear, he accidentally poked her in the eye with his elbow. “Oops. Sorry. I think it’s sorta like airline seats. We’ve gotten a little bigger, and they’ve gotten a whole lot smaller.”
    Savannah had donned her bra and was situating the “girls” in their individual cups when she heard something.
    A splash.
    A big splash.
    She was pretty sure the sound was from the lake below.
    â€œDid you hear that?” she said, sitting up and straining to see over the front seat and the car’s hood to the