Slippery Escape

The crisp evening breeze chills Janet to the bone as she races down the cold, deserted highway, the truck in her sites. A strong northern wind has picked up, giving the air a crisp wintery feel.

I'll be a lot warmer once I get to the cab, she thinks, hurrying on. She looks back to find the canines franticly barking as they drag their handlers up the hill.

Terrified that she might get caught, Janet grabs the door and slings it ajar. She looks up to find a filthy-looking man staring her down. His long oily hair looks like it hadn't been groomed in months, and his scraggly beard is a good breeding ground for numerous diseases. Janet shivers at the thought of what might be lurking underneath. She looks back to find the dogs near the top of the hill, then eyes the man again. Beggars can't be choosers. Taking a big gulp of courage, Janet hoists herself into the cab. The mix of rotten food and his Bo makes her gag. It's either this or prison.

"I appreciate the lift." She glances around at the trash bin of a cab. It looked like a styrofoam factory had exploded with all the takeout containers lying around. Shoving them aside, she climbs inside. She looks back and sees the dogs at the top. At least I'm out of the wind and away from them, she thinks, pulling the door too.

"Sorry about this mess," he apologizes. 'Grabbing a handful of containers, he tosses them in the back. "Better?"

"Yeah, thanks." She says, settling in.

"So, where are you headed?"

Janet had a story all laid out in her head. "I need to get to Missouri as soon as I can." Tears form in her eyes. She gulps, looks over, and says, "The nurse said my sister was in an accident, and they're not sure if she will live through the night." Janet pretends to cry.

The man's heart breaks like it always does when he sees a lady in distress. "I'm so sorry, sweet thing." The man says with a slow, southern drawl.

Wiping a fake tear away, Janet hiccups and says, " My sister and I were besties all through school. Then we both left home and slowly grew apart. We promised to call and visit like sisters always do, but life kept getting in the way, and now it may be too late." She sobs.

Janet turns toward the driver to find the man wiping his tears away. She smiles to herself as she thinks. And you said I couldn't act. Being a Hollywood star was one of her dreams as a kid. Then her hypercritical mother started chipping away at her self-esteem. Telling her that the only thing she'd ever be good at was cleaning the house and raising kids. She later added it'd be a miracle if an ugly duckling like her could even land a man. Of course, never being asked on a date convinced Janet her mamma was right. Then Bill came along, and Janet did everything she could to prove her mother wrong, even taking a few beatings for the sake of love. Janet peeks into the side mirror to find the canine officers a few feet from the top. "Do you think you can help?" She quickly blurts out, afraid the cops will spot the truck.

"I'm only supposed to go to Harrison, but under these circumstances, I don't think a few extra miles will hurt." Throwing the truck into gear, he pulls away.

"I appreciate this." She looks behind her again to find the dogs and their handlers standing at the highway's edge. I hope they didn't see us, she thinks, fidgeting in the seat.

"Is someone after you, sweet thing, 'cause you're more nervous than a long-tailed cat in a room full of rockers?"

"I am a little scared about this whole hitchhiking thing."

The man winks. "Don't worry, babe, your safe with me."

Janet looks in the mirror again but doesn't see a thing. Maybe it will be alright, she thinks, trying to relax and warm up.

Are you sure you're not running from someone sweet thing 'cause you've been studying that mirror awful hard?"

"No. No one is after me."

"Are you sure?"

Thoughts race through Janet's head, trying to come up with a plausible excuse. "Well, not someone, but maybe something." Janet forces a laugh, then adds, "It might've been my imagination. I'm not sure. That's what I keep telling myself anyway."

"What did you think you saw?"

"I thought I saw a bear, which is impossible, right, beings it's officially still winter, for a little while longer anyway, despite the temp." Janet rambles on.

Slamming on his brakes, he pulls to the shoulder of the road. Grabbing the pistol beside him, the man turns and says, "I want to know what you're running from, and I want to know now." He cocks his gun for further effect. "Don't give me the bullshit story about a bear, either." He pushes the gun against his passenger's head.

" I. I".

Seeing her hesitate, he reaches over and opens her door. "Either tell me the truth or walk."

"My husband. I'm running from my drunk husband, alright." She sobs. "He threatened to kill me, so I ran."

"The story about your sister in the hospital. Is that true, or is that a fabrication too?

"No, no. My sister is in the hospital. She's what started this whole fight. I told Bill I was going to go see her, and he said he said he wouldn't allow his wife to go out tromping around to god knows where in the middle of the night, that he'd have his mom take me to go see her in the morning. I tried to explain that it may be too late by then, but he wouldn't hear it. I told Bill he was not stopping me. He reached for his gun, and I ran." Everything she told him wasn't a lie. Bill forbade Janet from visiting her adopted sister in the hospital last May, and Bill threatened her life numerous times in the past.

The trucker studies her for a minute, deciding she is telling the truth. He says, "The hospital will be the first place Bill will look. You know that, right?"

I know, I know, but I have to see my sister. I have to. I'll never forgive myself if I don't. Besides, the security guards and the cameras posted everywhere will keep me safe."

"I want you to tell them about how your husband threatened your life as soon as you get there, understand?"

"So, you'll take me?"

"Only if you agree to talk to them first thing. At least then they'll be aware and maybe keep a closer eye out on you."

Janet nods. "I will, I promise."

A dinging sound echoes through the cab causing Janet to jump.

The man glances at the gas gauge to find the tank nearly empty. " Let me grab some fuel, and then we'll go." He glances over to see her shivering. "You're shaking worse than a willow in a storm."

"I am a little cold, but I'm sure I'll be alright soon."

"Why didn't you say something?"

"I didn't want to be a bother."

" How could a sweet thing like you ever bother anyone?"

If you only knew, Janet thinks, recalling some of the hateful things her mom had said.

Reaching over, he adjusts a button on the dash. "My name is Sam, by the way."

"My name is Jackie." Janet lies. Afraid he'd find out she was running from the cops if she told him who she was.

"It's nice to meet you, Jackie. So, have you lived in this area long?"

"I was born and raised here, you?"

"Baton Rouge is my old stomping ground. I still have a lot of kin that live back there."

"A wife and kids?"

"No, never married. I came close once. Then she chased me out of the house with a frying pan. That's when I decided to call it quits. Our relationship was always rocky, but being chased by a mad woman with a hot cast iron pan was the deal breaker for me. Honestly, I was afraid of what that old crazy old bat might do next. She was a hateful old thing. Mean as the day is long and as wild as a bull on rodeo day. "

I should've left a long time ago, too, Janet thinks, eyeing the bruises covering her arms.

They pull into an all-night gas station on the corner of HWY. 65 and 86. "This will only take a minute," Sam says, hopping out of his truck.

Janet sees two state troopers climb out of their car. They followed us here, Janet thinks, sliding down in her seat.

The officers glance around, then turn and head inside.

Maybe they're just getting something to eat, Janet thinks, sitting up.

Sam is replacing the pump in the slot when his stomach growls. He turns to ask if she's hungry when he notices the blood splattered across her dress. Horrifying thoughts race through his mind as he stands frozen at the door. Did she kill someone, more than one, and she's running from the cops? He remembers how nervous she was when she first climbed in. That'd explain a lot.

Aileen Wuornos pops into his head. He then recalls all the men she killed. What if Jackie is a copycat killer, and what if I'm next?

"Is something wrong?" Jackie asks. She smacks his loaded weapon with her hand when she turns his way.

Sam pictures Jackie grabbing the gun and going on a killing spree. I'd be an accomplice for taking her here.

Janet sees the cops dart outside and start to look around. They're going to catch me. She looks back to find Sam staring at the red stains on her dress. She glances in the side mirror and sees the cops heading her way. She grabs the weapon, cocks it, and says, "Get in and drive. Do it now."

Sam stares at who he believes to be a poor, frail woman in disbelief.

Seeing the officers getting closer, Janet points the weapon center mass and says, "Either drive or you die."