Change of Heart - By S.E. Edwards Page 0,23

of regret. I’m starting to like Rich. The thought of not hearing from him again after Monday fills me with some sadness.

But, I know it’s for the best. He’s having a tough time right now. And even though I want to help, I know I’d be next to useless.

I hold out my hand for him to shake. He looks at it, puzzled, then looks back at me.

“What?” I say. “It’s a handshake. To make a deal!”

Rich barks a laugh. “I see.” He grips my hand and shakes it. “Deal,” he agrees.

***

We’re back in Rich’s truck, driving toward his apartment again. He told me he wanted to pick up some cash he’d hidden in his bathroom to last us through the weekend. I didn’t have my wallet, so there was no danger of me using my credit card, but he said he didn’t want to use his own, either, on the drive to his friend’s. That way, we wouldn’t leave a trail.

The precautions he’s taking are reasonable. But, they make me worry about just what kind of people Rich is in trouble with. If they can track cell phones, credit cards, and even have cops working for them… well, they definitely aren’t your average criminals. If their henchmen were the type to leave carved warnings on walls and break down front doors, it makes them even more dangerous.

Suddenly, the rational part of my brain becomes a little happier about the deal I’d struck with Rich.

“Hold on,” I say. “Do you think it’s safe for us to go back to your apartment again? I mean, isn’t that exactly where they’d expect to find you?”

Rich nods slowly. “Well… yes and no. It’s daytime now, so there are going to be people around. I don’t think anybody’s going to try kidnapping me with an audience. Also, you remember the message they left? They want me to come back to my apartment and find it. Frighten me a bit. I think last night, if they’d found me inside, all they’d have done is rough me up some.” He shrugs. “They wouldn’t have hurt me too badly. They need me alive and somewhat lucid to come up with the money they think I still owe them.”

“Do you?” I ask.

Rich looks at me. “Do I what?”

“Do you still owe them money? You don’t have to lie to me, Rich. I’m already here with you. But I want to know the truth.”

Rich considers it for a moment. Then he shakes his head. “No. The debt was paid. Everything is accounted for.”

“Okay,” I nod. “I believe you.”

“The only other reason it might not be safe for us to go back,” Rich continues, “is if they know we’ve already been there. But in that case,” he laughs, “I don’t think they’d think me stupid enough to return again.”

I grin back at him. “If only they knew the truth.”

“If only,” Rich agrees. “But still, you’re probably right. It pays to be cautious. We’ll keep a lookout.”

***

Less than a block away from the apartment, Rich curses softly. “Shit,” he says. “They’re here.”

“What? Where?” I spin in my seat, trying to look everywhere at once. The street is full of people—students, mostly—and nobody stands out.

“Don’t panic. It just means we can’t go back in. We’ll keep driving. We’ll be fine.” He shuffles through the center console and shoves a pair of dark aviator sunglasses at me. “Here. Put these on.”

“Why?”

“I don’t want them to recognize you.”

“But they already have my ID—”

“Just do it!”

“Fine.” I take the glasses and settle them over my eyes. Everything becomes darker. “Now what?”

“Now, I can point them out to you without worrying.” He nods casually ahead and to the right, on my side of the street. “See that parked car?”

“The black one?”

“Yeah. The black Lincoln. It’s theirs. But I can’t tell if there’s anybody inside…” He grunts. “The windows are tinted.”

“What does it matter if they’re inside the car or not? They’re here, which means we can’t go into your apartment. Right?”

“Right,” Rich agrees. “No point risking it. I would have loved to have that money for the trip, though. It just means we’ll need to be more frugal.”

“Well, how much cash do we need?”

“At a bare minimum? Just enough for gas. But I think I’ve got enough in my wallet for that.”

We’re closing in on the parked car. I feel my eyes being tugged toward it. I look, trying to peer through the double layer of dark glass to see if there’s anyone inside. It’s hard to