Sassafras, Part 90

Joan

I stumbled outside and got in Rusty’s truck. It felt strange compared to Jenny's car. This was a huge SUV, black and silver with leather seats and everything but a coffee maker. For all I knew there was one in the glove box. I drove back to the empty house as quickly as I could. I hoped Billy was still there. I told him to stay there after I left, but if I didn't come back by 7 to go to the Kennedy's and call the state police. When I got there I pulled up and ran to the front door. Billy didn't answer the door right away, and I started thinking maybe he already left. Finally he opened the door.

"What happened, Aunt Jo?" he asked when he saw my face.

I ran inside and grabbed my purse and my coat. "Come on, Billy, we've got to go.”

We got in the truck and he looked around. "Who’s is this?"

I just shrugged. I couldn't stop thinking about Rick, wondering if he had already called the hospital or not. I hoped he was okay. I didn't know what I would do if he didn't make it.

"Aunt Jo, what happened?"

"The cops caught me right before I got to the pay phone. They wanted me to tell them where you were, but I wouldn't tell them. I wouldn't have been able to get away if Rick hadn't showed up."

"Where is he?"

"One of the cops shot him.”

"Is he okay?"

"I don’t know. He made me leave before he would call the hospital. I hope he's okay."

"Where did he get shot?"

I touched Billy on the left side, right under his ribs.

"Is he okay?"

"Look, Billy, I don't know!" I would have given anything to know he was okay. While I was at a stop sign I tried to figure out how to turn the wipers on but just kept turning the lights on and off. “Damn it!” I shouted and hit the steering wheel in frustration. "I'm sorry. I don't know if he's going to be okay or not. He looked really bad when I left."

I started driving and we were both silent for a while.

“So, where are we going?”

“We’re going to a friend's house. We need to borrow her car.”

"Then what?"

"I don't know. Rick said to get out of town and not stop until we were out of Missouri, but I don't know where we're going yet." I didn't want to get on the highway because that's where they would be looking for us. I decided to hit the back roads. When I was in school Jenny and our friends would drive all over the gravel roads. I knew a lot of shortcuts. When we got close to the subdivision Deana said she lived in I called the operator and got her number.

"Joan! Where have you been! I’ve been trying to call you all afternoon.”

"What's your address, Deana?"

"What? 160 Cindy Lane."

"Oh, okay, I see Cindy Lane. We'll be there in just a second."

“Joan...” she started but I just hung up.