For as long as Boyd can remember, he's been pushing pins into a map. Carson City, Las Vegas, Albuquerque -- all places he wants to see, for a dozen different reasons that wouldn't mean a thing to anyone else. When he finally gets a chance to purchase the '70 Plymouth Duster of his dreams, at a price that even he can manage, Boyd jumps at the opportunity.<br><br>Oliver seems like just another kid with a broken dream when their paths cross in Vegas. Against Boyd's better judgment, he offers to let Oliver hitch along for the ride when Oliver confides the need to get out and get gone.<br><br>But isn’t long before Boyd realizes Oliver's reasons for running are more complicated -- and more dangerous -- than Oliver let on. Boyd doesn't like people who play hardball, and he definitely doesn't like people messing with a man who's managed to light a fuse that Boyd forgot he had.

Road Trip

“Nobody you need to know,” Boyd replied. “Who are you?”


The man didn’t give him the answer Boyd was looking for. “I need to speak to Ollie. How ‘bout you put him on the phone?”


Boyd’s lip curled. “How ‘bout you ask me instead of tell me.”


There was no hiding the flare of annoyance in the other man’s tone when he sent back a bristling, “And how ‘bout you watch your damn mouth if you don’t know who you’re talking to, bitch. Tell Ollie that Frank needs to speak to him right now.”


Boyd’s brow creased, and he could feel his entire face tighten up along with it. “I don’t think he wants to talk to you, Frank. And I can think of a whole pile of reasons why that might be. Which means, I don’t really want you talking to him either. So, Frank?” Boyd smiled, hoping the change in tone would match his expression sufficiently. “How’s about you just stop calling, hmm?”


Chapter 25