Free Hour 23 by Robert Barnard Page B

the chain link fence beside the Xtra Mart. It boxed out a dusty slab of pavement where the gas station’s dumpster was located. Just beyond the dumpster was a patch of tall grass on a small hill, and just past the small hill were train tracks. Train tracks that cut directly into East Violet.
    Dana licked her lip and studied the terrain. It wouldn’t be easy. A thin drainage ditch ran perpendicular to the road and all the way back to where the tracks should be, so there was no cutting around the left of the fence. On the right of the gas station was a body shop, and a concrete wall blocking the way. If only I could get through that fence, Dana thought.
    Dana got out of the car, adjusted her scarf and dress, and confidently approached the front door of the convenience store. If I ask nicely and explain what’s going on, I’m sure someone will help.
    She opened the front door of the Xtra Mart. A bell on the door dinged, and—
    “Hold it right there,” a voice commanded from a register just within the doorway. “Don’t move. I’ll shoot.”
    “Holy shit, ” Dana cried. Her hands flailed upwards and she dropped her keys. Behind the register a young, pimply faced kid was holding a revolver. He kept it aimed directly at her face.
    “Miss…Miss Nacaratto?” the cashier asked. “Whoa.”
    Dana’s heart was beating out of her chest. The cashier lowered his weapon to his side.
    “What…what? How do you know my name?”
    “I’m Nicky. Nicky Moore. You remember me? I, uh, failed out of your senior composition class last year.”
    “Okay,” Dana said. She swallowed hard. “Nicky.”
    The cashier nodded.
    “Are we okay here, Nicky?”
    “Yeah, are you?”
    Dana bent down and picked up her keys. “Aside from having a gun pointed in my face, and being told I can’t go home, yes. I’m fine.” She could feel the blood returning to her hands and feet. The lightheaded feeling that had crept up on her was starting to subside.
    “I’m sorry I scared you, Miss Nacaratto. Can’t be too careful, you know?”
    Dana just blinked.
    “There’s been a bunch’a trouble at our other store, the one in Riverside. My manager’s there now. Looting and fights and stuff. You’re the first customer I’ve had in quite a while, and with all this stuff on the news, I just thought….”
    “Yeah, sure,” Dana said. “The road is blocked off by the school, and down the road at the start of Maple. So, I wouldn’t expect too many customers, Nicky.” Dana sighed. “Can you help me with something?”
    “Of course, it’s the least I can do,” Nicky said with a smirk.
    “Can you open up the fence to your dumpster?”
    “Uh, I guess. Why?”
    “It’s a long story. The cops up ahead won’t let me back into town, and I really need to get home. I’m going to follow the tracks back to my place.”
    “Huh. Yeah, all right. Are you sure that’s a good idea?”
    “It might not be,” Dana admitted. “But there’s one roadblock keeping me from my job, and one keeping me from going home, leaving me stuck in the middle of this Godforsaken road. And I mean absolutely no offense by this, but I really don’t wish to spend the rest of my day stuck in the East Violet Xtra Mart.”
    Nicky smiled and hopped out from behind the register. “Do what you gotta’ do, right?” He clumsily tucked his gun into his front jean pocket. The door of the shop chimed as the two walked outside and towards the fence.
    “You’re gonna’ go off roading in that?” Nicky asked, raising his eyebrows at the Prius parked in front of the store.
    “It’s my only option, so. Yeah.”
    Nicky pulled a key ring from a front shirt pocket. “It really wouldn’t be a bother if you stayed here, for now. Just so you know.” Nicky flicked a plastic name tag on his shirt. “I’m the assistant manager, I can make these decisions. I know you wanna’ get on your way but we’ve got food, water, a bathroom—”
    “That’s tempting, Nicky—and I thank