I reached the doors and glanced back as Magilla threw the second row of chairs on top of the first and then I was outside and sprinting for the corner.
I heard Magilla’s voice rumble from within the station, “Stooooooopppp!”
Running all out, I made the corner, sprinted toward the parked busses, and snaked through them for cover as I made a right angle and crossed to the next block and kept running. I had to dodge two surfer types and the redheaded one said, “Dude, there’s busses behind you that’ll take you faster.”
I said, “Its cardio!”
He yelled at my back as I ran past, “You should try surfing, Brah! Better cardio, less stressful on the joints!”
I sprinted all out and made another right turn around the second block and that’s when Hondo drove along beside me.
Marcus filmed me and said, “Keep running Ronny, just a little further. You’re looking good. Now lengthen your stride.”
I came off the sidewalk toward the car but Hondo pulled away. “What are you doing?” I said.
Hondo asked Marcus, “You got it?”
Marcus said, “Uh-huh. Come on, Ronny.”
I made it to the car and fell in the front passenger’s seat while it was still moving. I gasped and huffed like a man with lungs the size of two gnats. My legs quivered and I wiped sweat from my face.
“Magilla’s coming,” I said.
Hondo snapped his head up to check the mirror as he floored the gas pedal. “We don’t need that,” He said.
I said, “No kidding. The guy’s like The Terminator.” We made another corner and I glanced back to make sure Magilla wasn’t coming, then blew out a big breath and asked, “Marcus, you get my good side?”
“Center frame,” Marcus said.
A woman’s hand came over the backrest and touched my face. “Glad you’re okay,” I said. Jett stayed low, in the back floor to keep out of sight.
“You keep saving me, you and Hondo,” she said. Her voice was husky, exotic, and reminded me of Demi Moore’s voice when she was young.
“Its good exercise, helps keep us sharp,” I said, then asked, “You still have the key?”
“No, I flushed it. I didn’t want them to have it.”
I said, “We’ll work something out. I’m good at making plans.”
Hondo snorted, but continued to drive smooth but fast, gliding around slower cars and timing turns so that the cars behind were caught at the reds.
&n
bsp; “See anyone?” I asked him.
Hondo glanced at the rear view mirror, “Nope.”
“Good. So where to?”
“I don’t know. Any ideas?”
“I hear Alaska’s nice this time of year.”
“I was thinking of someplace a little closer.”
Marcus leaned forward and said, “We can use my place.”
Hondo said, “Apartment?”