Free Prey by Paulie Celt Page A

forward and chin up, as if
to reinforce her nerve. She searched his eyes.
    He chuckled.
Catching her stare, he spoke with an air of bemusement. “No. I can
assure you I'm not a cop.”
    “ Do you have a car?” Susan let her eyes stray to the street
facing. The kerb lay barren as far as her gaze reached.
    The man
grinned, revealing almost perfect white teeth between his rugged
lips and amidst a fresh-shaven face. “Yeah, I'm parked up a few
streets back.” He leaned back and nodded his head in the direction.
“Can't be too careful.” Another chuckle.
    “ Let's go to the car, we can talk there.” Without waiting for
an answer, Susan hunched her shoulders together, bracing herself
against the cold, and strode past the man in the general direction
of the vehicle. The plinking of her heels reverberated on the
ground beneath.
    He followed.
“So... What's your name?”
    Susan picked up
her pace, rushing through the chill of the rain. Her teeth
chattered as she moved. She didn't reply.
    The man
quickened his step and caught up to walk alongside her.
    She looked
across and her eyes widened a little, upon realising the full size
of her companion towering over her own sleight frame. She forced a
cough. “Where's the car?”
    He reached out
a long, thick forefinger and pointed out a lifeless, grey car
perched up on the kerb.
    “ Does the heating work?”
    “ Yeah.” He edged ahead of her and jingled a set of keys in his
jacket pocket, approaching the passenger door.
    Susan glanced around the area and a shiver broke her
countenance. Not a soul. She slowed her footfalls and watched the car door
click open.
    He swung the
door ajar and turned to face her. “Ladies first,” he smiled and his
eyes sparkled in the luminescence emanating from above the
dashboard.
    Her lips
attempted to return the smile, but lost heart half way through and
froze in an awkward fold. Pushing a hand on top of the car for
balance, she helped herself into the passenger seat and
straightened her clothing.
    The stranger
closed the door and rounded to the driver side. He jumped in and
fastened his safety belt. His fingers fiddled with the hood of his
jacket and pulled it back to reveal short, salt and pepper toned
hair.
    Her vision
moved to the windscreen and the many droplets of water which
smashed against the glass and formed tiny rivers. A strong waft of
aniseed drifted through her nostrils, and perhaps a hint of mint.
Her stomach grumbled and the sound muffled under her winter coat.
“So what are you looking for?”
    Reaching an
outstretched digit to the heating dials, the man annunciated his
words. “Like I asked before, what's on offer?” He pushed a button
and hot air buzzed into the enclosed space.
    The heat,
although welcome against the cold bite of the street, conspired
with Susan's racing heart and formed a few droplets of perspiration
on her forehead. She rose a hand to her face and with the nail of
one finger and scratched at the moist, pale flesh under her
hairline. “Depends how much money you have.” The words lingered in
her mind and a smile born of bemusement forced its way through her
lips.
    “ I have the money. Don't worry about that.” He shifted in his
seat.
    With
imperceptible slowness, Susan turned her head and sneaked her eyes
toward the man sat next to her. She sat back a little, upon
noticing he now faced her. “Anything you want, then,” she offered.
“I guess.”
    A hearty grin
spread across his lips and ignited the stark blue of his eyes.
“Cool.”
    Her pulse
pounded through the thumb on her left hand and, upon looking down,
she noticed how tight it pressed into her knee. The tip shone
purest white and, with a shuffle in her seat, she released the hold
and exhaled long and slow. She rubbed both hands against the
leggings which covered her legs, drying off some of the rain.
    A car drove
past, breaking the silence. The headlamps illuminated the downpour
and disappeared as the vehicle continued its journey.
    “ So...