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morning.”

      Later, Jack listened closely as Danny told him what happened.

      “Why not have her take the bus?”

      “I suggested that. She says she has too much stuff that she wants to take with her.”

      Jack sighed, then said, “Okay, I’ll pay half.”

      “I wasn’t asking you for money.”

      “If it gets her out of here, it’ll be worth it. The sooner the better. I’m meeting Natasha for lunch tomorrow. Call me later in the day and let me know if they can fix it and what it costs.”

      “A second date with Natasha?”

      Jack smiled, then said, “What? You keeping notes on me, Danny?”

      It was dinnertime the next day when Crystal met Danny at a garage. Her car, equipped with a new fuel pump, was running smoothly.

      She hugged him and gave him a kiss on his cheek and then said, “I hope your wife doesn’t mind.”

      “My wife?” Danny asked.

      “The lady watching us from that car over there. She is your wife, right?”

      Danny chuckled, then waved at Susan. “Yes, she’s my wife.”

      “She’s pretty.”

      “Come on. It’s against policy, but I’ll introduce you to her and Tiffany.”

      Susan gave Crystal a hug and wished her luck, then Danny walked her back to her car.

      “What about Marcie?” he asked.

      “I phoned her. She won’t go.”

      “You phoned her? I thought you wanted to be a social worker! You’ve got to try harder than that! Go see her. Don’t take no for an answer!”

      Marcie answered the knock on her apartment door. Her look of surprise at seeing Crystal was quickly overtaken by fear.

      “What do you want?” she whispered. “Red’s just gettin’ out of the tub.”

      “It’s fixed. It was just a gas thing. Runnin’ good now.”

      “I told you on the phone that I’m not going.”

      “I’m not taking no for an answer.”

      “Crystal, I can’t. You’re my best friend and everything, but I can’t.”

      “Come on! It’s stupid to stay here!”

      Marcie thought about Red and the big man with the goatee. She thought about her grandma and the pictures. No, she could never go back. She looked at her friend and slowly shook her head as tears streamed down her cheeks.

      Crystal lowered her voice but the intensity of her words was clear. “Come on, Mouse! Walk out right now. Don’t worry about your things. Just leave. Come with me now.”

      “I can’t. I’m afraid they’ll … I just can’t! You go.”

      “I really want you to come with me!”

      With a quivering smile she said, “Thanks, Crystal, but no. Except maybe for my grandma, you’re the only real friend I’ve ever had. Good luck.”

      “You won’t change your mind?”

      Marcie stared down at her feet, then shook her head. She felt Crystal’s hand on her shoulder and turned to look her in the face. Crystal was crying too.

      “This is silly,” said Crystal. “Everything will work out, you’ll see! I’ll get hold of ya real soon! We’re friends for life, right?”

      “I’ll always keep the mouse in my purse to remind me of you,” she replied.

      Red, wearing only a towel wrapped around her, appeared behind Marcie. “What the fuck is goin’ on?” she asked.

      Crystal was defiant. “I’m movin’ back east. Leavin’ tomorrow morning. Just seein’ if Marcie wants to join me.”

      “Leavin’? Like fuck you are! You owe me money! So does this little bitch here! You’re not going anywhere until I tell ya you —”

      Crystal’s punch caught Red high in the stomach. She buckled and gasped for air. Crystal shoved her back inside and slammed the door shut.

      Red swore at Crystal from inside the apartment, but she didn’t open the door.

      “See?” said Crystal. “She’s not so fuckin’ tough if she doesn’t have any of her goons around. Come on, let’s split. The both of us!”

      “I can’t.”

      “Marcie! Listen to me!” pleaded Crystal. “Ya stay here, and you’re gonna die! Believe me, I know what I’m sayin’.”

      Red’s voice came through the door, “Marcie, you better get back in here, right now!” Seconds later, they heard the sound of cutlery as Red rummaged in a kitchen drawer.

      Marcie looked at Crystal, then said, “I’m gonna go back inside now.”

      Crystal grabbed her by the shoulder and said, “I’ll tell ya what, kid, in a month or so, when I get settled, I’ll phone ya. If you change your mind, I’ll send ya bus fare or whatever, okay?”

      They wrapped their arms around each other and said a quick goodbye.

      Marcie reached for the door, but Red yanked it open. She was naked and held a butcher knife in her hand. She pushed Marcie aside and stepped into the hallway. Crystal was gone.

       chapter eighteen

      The sun cast a crimson glow as it came up behind the Rocky Mountains. Crystal lugged her last garbage bag full of clothes out to her car. Her car was already packed, but she found room to wedge it behind her seat. She never looked back as she pulled out into the morning traffic.

      She didn’t see the orange van that wheeled in behind her. Axle, a striker for Satans Wrath, drove the van, while his only passenger, Nails, sat beside him. Nails had been a member of the club for six years. He earned his nickname because nails were a tool of his trade.

      Crystal pulled into a gas station and filled her car. She saw the orange van in the reflection of her car window as it slowly drove by behind her. Minutes later, she paid for her gas and was walking back toward her car when she saw the van drive by again. The two men inside stared back at her.

      She fought to control her fear. Probably some past trick who recognizes me… She spotted a cellphone on the seat of another car. The driver was inside paying for gas.

      Moments later, Crystal pulled back out into traffic. There was no sign of the orange van and she felt foolish for being afraid. By the time she eased her car off the on-ramp and onto the eastbound lane of the Trans-Canada Highway, the sun was glistening down the western side of the mountains, sparkling off the snow on the peaks.

      The sun was directly in her eyes, but it was Sunday morning and the traffic was light. She accelerated and passed a semi-truck before switching back to the slow lane. Seconds later, she saw the orange van in her rear-view mirror.

      “Thanks for dropping by.” Danny closed the door behind Jack and gestured to one of two sofas in his living room. “This is the new one. The other one needs to go upstairs. It’s a hideaway bed. Weighs a ton. Susan and I would never get the damned thing up there by ourselves. Have you had breakfast yet? We’ve still got the coffee on.”

      “I’ve eaten. Let’s move this and then I’ll have a coffee before heading out to the farm. What about Crystal? What do I owe you?”

      “The bill is in the kitchen. We can figure it out over coffee.”

      Danny led the way up the stairs while Jack wrestled with the lower end of the sofa. Halfway up the stairs the sofa became

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