Chapter 10 – Speed and Danger

"Sorry it went this way. This evening should have been happier. I'll let you know when I have sorted things out," Jo said to the Black Flame of Sin members outside the bar.

By now it was already as dark as it was going to get. And Jo shuddered as she thought of it – if the band had not taken contact, and if the keyboardist had not been as interested in the nasty side of the net – then she would still be in the dark. Unaware that the house was compromised.

"No need to say sorry. Being targeted that way, I'm sure I'd freak out completely," Anthony said. "How will you be getting home?"

Fuck. Of course. Russ might have taken the truck already. Typically he did not respond with confirmation, for example a text message, he would just do the task that was requested. And now Jo would have to bother him again. And freak him out in a major way.

Jo checked the cell phone, but there was nothing from him.

"I'll have to check the parking lot. If the truck is still there."

"I could give you a ride," Anthony said. "Not sure if you noticed, but I never drink. Dries up the voice."

Jo thought that was OK. She did not have to be paranoid, of suspecting the band too.

As the rest of the members went their separate ways, Anthony followed, so apparently the vocalist's car would also be on the same parking lot. Mentally, Jo still prepared herself to be combat ready. Just to be prepared for anything.

She decided she could wait until home to contact Ian. Of course she could have called or sent a chaotic wall of text, but she wanted to collect her thoughts a little. Getting Russ out of the house would be priority anyway.

…

Kim thought the adrenaline almost made her sober, as she sped along the main street. Still, she thought her heart was pounding so hard it almost drowned out the Toyota's engine. Just a little more, she thought. Soon the rows of buildings would be left behind.

She glanced to the rear view mirror, and at least so far there were no flashing blue and red lights yet.

"Watch out!" Erik shouted roughly, startling Kim. She pushed hard on the brakes reflexively.

Only now she understood to almost have run over two pedestrians, crossing the street. They were wearing dark clothing, and Kim's condition did not exactly help. They picked up the pace, shouting curses at the Toyota.

Kim felt cold sweat run down her back. Almost an accident. The pedestrians might even have been killed.

She accelerated more cautiously, scanning to the left and right.

On the back seat, Ian made a low pained sound. Maybe he was coming to, or had been awakened by the sudden jolt.

…

Russ had already taken the truck, so Jo was riding in Anthony's white Nissan SUV. It was comfortable and utilitarian, but nothing flashy. The high seats gave a good view of the traffic, just not as well as Russ's truck.

"Compared to you, the most amount of danger in my life is whether I'll be late from work. Or if Alex wants to watch another show than me."

The phrasing Anthony had used was just a little odd, it reminded Jo of –

"...stressing over whether it starts up the next day. And that would be the most amount of danger in my life."

That was when Jo had been test-driving the Ford Ka. It felt almost like an eternity ago.

"What do you do?"

"Graphic design. I'm the artist guy, so I get to keep the hair," Anthony laughed.

"And I suppose you'll do your own album covers too?"

"Yeah. If we ever get to that point. But it'll have to be one of knights, dragons, planets, pyramids, hourglasses... Progressive power metal is kind of limiting."

"You could do a glass pyramid with armed guys squatting around it."

Anthony just looked at her like she was a bit weird. And Jo was not even sure how she could be joking about their past enemies during a moment like this. But maybe it relieved the tension a little.

…

Still no pursuit. Once they got to the forest road, Kim pushed down the accelerator a bit more, and the Toyota was almost flying through the curves.

"There's no-one chasing. And Ian doesn't look like he's going to die. You better ease off the pedal, so we don't end up in a ditch," Erik advised.

Kim felt angry, as there was a certain patronizing angle, but when she thought about it, Erik made sense. The car was foreign to her. And she was still drunk.

The car rounded one more corner at speed, then Kim eased off.

But then horror made her heart jump. They were not being chased, but ahead, there were flashing cop car lights. A roadblock? Had they been radioed ahead from the town? It could also be something completely unrelated.

"Fuck. Look ahead. We're going to need Ian at the wheel," Kim said.

"It's not going to look good, if he doesn't stay conscious."

Kim could not tell yet if the lights were coming closer. She killed the engine, exited and swung open the rear door. Ian was still lying there quite motionless. And bloodied. At least he had not fallen off.

"Ian. You need to wake up. We've got cops ahead," Kim snapped and shook him with force.

But Ian did not appear to be regaining consciousness.

Kim thought hard. And she could only think of something inappropriate. Maybe just about justified now. Though it might also prove just as ineffective as shaking.

"Erik? Am I authorized to use any force necessary?" Kim shouted to the front.

"I don't understand. But remember that we need him alive," Erik replied, sounding more drunk now than back in town.

Kim thought the seconds were ticking out. She just confirmed first that Erik was not watching. She could also honestly say that she was not going to enjoy this at all. Just doing whatever was necessary.

She leaned closer, practically being on top of Ian on all fours, and then kissed him on the mouth as hard as she could.

Ian's eyes snapped open. He gasped for air and jerked his upper body up by reflex, headbutting Kim. She backed away, holding her forehead. Despite the sudden pain, just for a moment she was amused. She thought of Jo receiving the same treatment.

Then Kim snapped back to seriousness.

"Ian. That did not happen. But now you need to get to the wheel. There's cops, and only you are sober enough."

"What happened?" Ian asked groggily.

"You and Erik fought a bit."

Apparently satisfied enough with the answer, Ian struggled to get up, first to sitting. And Kim thought it was not going to work out. It was taking too long. But finally, he was sitting, and then he stepped out and to the front, using the car's body for support, until he was in the driver's seat. He stared at Erik with prolonged disbelief, but there appeared to be no apparent hostility.

Then it occurred to Kim that Ian also needed to be cleaned up.

"Ian. Anything we can use to wipe the blood away?"

He seemed to think hard. It was also taking long.

"In the trunk. There's water for filling the radiator. And a handkerchief in the guitar case. You're going to buy me a new one," he said slowly, almost dangerously.