Free Hamsikker 2 by Russ Watts Page B

spitballing, trying to figure out where we were headed. I guess I got a bit carried away.” Jonas glanced at Erik, and his answer seemed to placate the man who was relaxing again. He didn’t really want to tell him about Janey just yet. He wanted to do it in his own time, to talk to him about it, and explain why he needed to go her. Jonas didn’t want to have to explain everything in front of Gabe and Mara.
    “Well, wherever we go,” said Erik, “the chance of finding an easy path is slim. Thousands and thousands of people took to their cars when this shit started, and the roads are likely to be clogged. We’ve been lucky up until now, keeping to the smaller roads. Once we hit an interstate, I’m not sure we’ll have as much luck.”
    “You know, I think you told me that your sister lives in Canada, Hamsikker,” said Javier. “We could make a rough plan to get to her place, perhaps. Her house might be safe. What was her name again? Jenny?”
    “Janey?” Erik glared at Jonas again. “This all about her?”
    Jonas began talking, hoping that Erik wouldn’t put two and two together and make seven. There was no conspiracy, but if Erik found out he and Gabe had been making plans without him, it might look bad, as if he was deserting them. “Erik, you traveled around a bit after college, right? I heard you took some time off before college. If the major highways are clogged with vehicles, we’ll need a good navigator. I know the main arteries, but we go off the beaten track, and I’m clueless. Chicago is a day’s drive easily, probably two. Let’s not even think about what happens after tonight. Erik, switch with me. I’ll drive the SUV, you navigate. Gabe, you can bring the van after us. What do you say Erik? Think you can find somewhere for us to go tonight?”
    “Yeah, Erik,” said Rose. “You’re the smartest one here. You can figure this out. You were a cop, so it’s only natural you take the lead now. You were a cop, weren’t you?”
    Jonas could feel the tension rising, and wondered what the hell was going on. There were so many lies, so many things not being said, that he was getting lost. They should be thankful they had all made it out of Saint Paul’s in one piece, but instead, they were taking shots at each other.
    “Erik. Please? We can talk later, I promise,” said Jonas, “but right now we need to move. Who knows where the hell we are. We don’t want to get stuck in a dead-end town with nothing but the dead for company, the sun over our heads, and a prayer to keep us safe.”
    “Round everyone up,” said Erik. He folded his arms and looked up at the sun. It was burning away the clouds, and the light made Erik’s beard seem redder than ever. “I think I can figure a way back to the Ohio River. From there I’ll find a way across it. If we stay out of trouble, we can be somewhere safe tonight. Maybe a house, or it could be anything. Right now we don’t have the choice to be fussy. As long as we have a roof over our heads and four solid walls around us, I’ll take it.”
    “Thanks, buddy.” Jonas knew Erik wasn’t stupid. He had figured out something was going on when Gabe had mentioned Janey. Why had Gabe done it? Was he trying to stir things up? He seemed so sincere that he probably hadn’t even realized what he was saying. Jonas would talk to Erik later and smooth things over. He would talk to Dakota first though. She was the most important person in his life, and now that she was carrying his baby, he needed her on his side more than ever.
    “How are you for gas?” asked Erik. “I think we have enough left for today.”
    “The van was half empty. We’re down to nearly a quarter of a tank,” said Javier. “We might need to stop soon and get more. If there’s no gas station, don’t worry; any vehicle will do. I can siphon it out.”
    Erik nodded. Jonas could tell he was surprised that Gabe knew how to siphon gas, but he said nothing about it. “Let’s roll.”
    As