I’ll find a solution…
Jr
The sun is just warming the edge of the horizon when I reach the ancient beach house on an unfashionable stretch of the coastal highway.
The place barely has a driveway, and I double-check the address. I don’t really need to—the car I bought is waiting for me, unmistakable. Thanks to contact-less delivery, the keys should be waiting in a combination box under the fender. I should be able to get in and take off right away.
Walking here was a strange experience. I only passed one person hitchhiking, and hardly any cars on the freeway. But I don’t have time to worry about it. I’ve got a lot to do and a short amount of time to do it.
Feeling around, I find the keys. I’m not happy the driver’s side door is unlocked, but when I turn the ignition, the engine roars to life, sounding as good as Car Heaven promised.
I’m kind of amazed at how trusting these online car services are. I didn’t even have to make a downpayment. Still, I suppose they can track me down and reclaim it if I don’t… and send me back to prison.
In my bag are the few personal belongings I had on me when I entered San Quentin—an old iPhone, my wallet with a few credit cards, and my driver’s license.
A plain white envelope containing two hundred dollars in cash is new. Apparently, that’s the amount you get when you’re released from jail, like it’s fucking Monopoly or something.
My jaw flexes, and I briefly feel the fiery anger of how much I’ve lost and where I am now. I used to have it all.
I was the biggest guy in town, the homegrown hero. It still stings, and I double-down on my mission. I’ve got seven days to get it done.
Three hours down the road, my phone is charged enough to make a call. I’m only a little surprised it still works—I handled all the bills, and we had a family plan. I’m sure they didn’t even think to take me off it.
Family, I exhale a bitter laugh. I’ve learned a lot about family through this experience, specifically who I can trust.
“Scout here.” My younger brother’s voice is scruffy like he’s just waking up.
I imagine he’s been sawing logs as usual, and my tension eases a notch. “You sleeping?”
He clears his throat, and I hear a rustle in the background. “JR? Is that you? What the hell?”
“It’s eight o’clock in the morning. Don’t you work anymore?”
“No!” He says it like it’s the most obvious thing in the world. “I’m about to lose my apartment. What’s new with you?”
“They let me out early.”
“No shit!”
“Yeah. One of the inmates had a good lawyer, said it was a civil rights thing.”
“You’re shitting me.”
“Nope. I’m out.”
“Not sure how I feel about that.” He laughs, and it sounds like he’s walking. “Who else is running around loose?”
“You won’t catch me judging.” It’s safe to say I have a whole new perspective on the penal system.
My hand tightens on the steering wheel, and I squint away from the rising sun.
“So… are you okay?” Hesitation is in his voice. I’m sure he’s thinking of all the exaggerated bullshit he’s seen in movies.
“I’m okay. But I need your help.”
“Oh, sure. Need a place to crash? Everything’s closed, so finding work is tough, but I could see—”
“Can you get away for a week? I’m making a road trip, and I need you to help me drive.”
“A week?” It sounds like he’s rubbing his face. “I don’t know. I mean, the studios are closed, but they could reopen at any time—”
“I’m an hour outside the city. Text me your address, and I’ll pick you up. I’ll have you back in seven days.”
“You sound awful sure about that.”
“I’m sure.” My jaw tightens.
I’m not totally free, which only fuels my anger. I’m furious I have a record. Otherwise, I could do this myself, instead of dragging him into it.
Still, Scout will be okay. If anything goes wrong, this will be on me.
“Care to tell me why?”
“I’ll tell you on the way. You in?”
He hesitates, but a grin enters his tone. “Sounds like the Dunne brothers gettin’ it done.”
“Something like that.”
He’s referencing a time in my life I barely recognize now, a time when he and I were the golden boys, football heroes, and people rolled out the red carpet for us.
It was a time when I thought my life would be so different.
“Can you at least tell me where we’re headed?”
“Home.” The line