Free Clockwork Romance by Andy Mandela Page B

answer.
    “Well, Mr. Leone likes to protect his investments, so I hope you don’t mind if I walk you back to your car.” I know he wasn’t alone, but I believed him.
    “If you have no choice but to insist, I suppose I don’t mind.” So we walked, keeping the conversation to a minimum. It was really uncomfortable, but it’ll be over soon. We reach the road and continue. But we both notice headlights coming towards us from the road that continued right. We couldn’t hide, as there was nowhere to hide. I just had to hope that this driver was the type of person who would pay no mind to a couple of drifters in the night. I could tell that my escort was getting nervous himself. I don’t know about him, but this is definitely the sort of thing that would happen to me in this particular moment. Life just seems to enjoy fucking with you like that.
    “Don’t look at him. Just keep walking,” the escort told me. But it was already too late. I could the brakes of the car as it drew closer. The car was a station wagon. I was relieved that it wasn’t police. We both stopped, or else there was the likelihood that the car would just follow us all the way to my car or until we finally said something to him. Good Samaritans can be pretty stubborn when it comes to helping people.
    The car stopped right next to us and rolled down its passenger side window. Inside, the driver was a middle-aged average looking man. He was alone. He turned on the light on the roof of the car so that we wouldn’t be speaking in complete darkness.
    “You fellas need a ride?” he asked, perhaps, being a little cautious. He should be. He didn’t know us, and we didn’t know him. Hell, I don’t even know the guy I’m walking with. My escort looks at me and whispers, “Don’t say anything.” He leans on the door and lowers his head, keeping it just outside the window. “We’re fine, thank you.”
    The driver keeps a smile, even though he should have taken the hint that his services are not needed. Still, he persists, “Look, it’s dangerous out here at this time of night. I wouldn’t feel right just leaving you guys out here.”
    “We’re fine. Leave,” the escort demands.
    The driver looks at me, and by the look I gave back to him, he knew something was wrong. Still I kept quiet.
    “Sure,” the driver said. He was ready to be on his way.
    “Wait,” the escort told the driver, right as he was about to turn off the light and roll up the window. “You have a crack in your window.”
    The driver turned to look at his perfectly fine driver’s side window. He said, “What are talking ab--.” Dead. The driver was now dead. My buddy here just shot a harmless man. I didn’t freak out. I kept my cool, but I was pretty damn frustrated.
    “What the fuck are you doing?” I told him. He shot him with the silencer on.
    “I saw the look on his face. I can’t let loose ends just drive off.” I was standing behind him the whole time, my hands loosely gripping my gun. I know I can’t just shoot this guy. I’m not going to do it.
    Karina’s image goes through my mind once again. The man turns to me and says, “Just go, I’ll deal with this. Just act cool and get to your car.” My feet start moving. I don’t respond back to him. Now I’m back to walking alone again. Just more walking. Not once do I look back.
    I reach the intersection, but have no idea what’s going on back there. I tried not to run, but no doubt walked as fast as I could. For some reason, there were more cars out on the road now. Not a whole lot, but a few. I pay no mind to them, keeping my eyes on my own car. It’s getting closer. I’ve almost made it. I feel like this is taking so long, the sun should’ve risen by now. But it’s not even eleven yet.
    I reach my car, throwing the backpack full of money in the front seat, and get inside. I just sit for a moment, to give a chance for reality to catch up. I decide to look in the backpack. So I unzip it and, sure