Chapter 7
SPOV
The one thing about walking is that it doesn't require much concentration so that allowed me to think through what the hell I was going to do next. I knew I had to disappear because I was frightened that those men would come for me again and thinking of them had me also wondering what the hell they had meant when they had talked to me. I hadn't a clue what it was that they thought I had or what I knew, I mean no one had given me anything, other than grief.
As I walked, I kept to the back streets and realized I was actually heading toward the center of town, hell that was stupid because I knew Rangeman cars patrolled the area and there were lots of street cameras about. I didn't want to be seen by anyone because I felt so, I don't know, stupid or embarrassed, that things had got to this. Maybe I should have listened to my mother, maybe she was right, and maybe I should have just settled with Morelli. Hell did I really think that someone like Ranger would really be bothered with me? He could probably have any woman he chose, and they'd be all too keen to be with him.
Shaking those thoughts from my head and thinking about where to go next, I decided to use the back alleys running behind the main roads, but I didn't get very far before the tears threatened to fall, so I sat down on the doorstep at the back of an empty store. I had to get my shit together and come up with a plan and not just wander around aimlessly. I needed a destination that was safe and secure and think about maybe some back up if I really got into a bad situation. Though the idea of Bobby or Les helping wasn't really an option I wanted to use. Hell, if Ranger found out they'd helped me he'd really have a go at them, maybe even hurt them and I couldn't be responsible for that. I took the money from the rucksack and counted it out, $200, that was enough to buy a burn phone with and if I could find a charity shop some clothes, then maybe something to eat.
With that in mind I wiped the tears from my face and made sure the hood was covering my hair and part of my face then continued down the alley until I came onto another road. I looked up and down the street and then noticed across the road on the corner was a small store that I was sure would sell the phone I needed and maybe something that could be used as a weapon. No not a gun or pepper spray but maybe some type of knife. I walked across the road being conscious of the people and cars around me and heard the door close behind me. Thankfully there weren't many people inside so I wandered up the aisles until I found a small sharp knife, similar to what my mother used for cutting up veg. Looking around I spotted the phones next to the counter where the sales assistant was stood. I honestly didn't have a clue which one to buy and as I tried to read through the packaging I jumped when the young girl started speaking to me.
"What phone you after?"
"I need one with a sim card already in it"
"Okay, you need Wi fi?"
"No, just one where my ex can't find me"
"Girl I know just the one for you, I had a similar problem last year, here this has a prepaid card inside, but be advised if you really want to stay off the grid get rid of it after a week or two"
"Okay, is it easy to set up?"
"Sure, but you'll need a charger as well, sorry, I know that bumps the price up"
"I'll take it"
I handed her the knife trying not to look at her face, I didn't want her to remember me, then passed over enough money to cover the bill. It didn't leave me with much money left but for some reason I thought buying the phone was important. As I put the items in my rucksack pocket and walked out of the store, I heard her shout out to me.
"You take care girl"
Once done and on the street again I looked for somewhere to hide and sort the phone out. Following the alley as it continued, I found a place between two dumpsters that did just that. I sat down and activated the phone then put in a number that I remembered, swearing when I realized I'd just put Ranger's in instead of Les's. I quickly deleted it and put in Les's hoping I would never need to use it and thinking how stupid I was. Ranger, hell how I missed him, the sound of his voice and the touch of those hands on me, but that would never happen again. I was so grateful that he was down in Miami, there would be less chance of coming across him, of having him look at me as he had done.
I was so lost in thought that the sound of the phone in my hand made me jump, it was a weird sound, a beeping sound, probably just the phone letting me know it was now activated. I looked at the screen to see an incoming message and had to look twice at what I was reading.
"You have to move"
What the hell kind of message was that? But it did make me look around. A second beep announced another message.
"Now, danger behind you"
I had no idea why the message was there or who had sent it, there wasn't anything to say where the message had come from. I didn't waste any time in collecting my belongings together and continuing down the alley until I came to another road. Maybe by putting in Les's number he'd maybe worked out where I was. Hell, that was a stupid idea; even I knew that couldn't happen, could it? The phone beeped in my hand again this time it read.
"Turn right, then right again"
I knew this was madness, but I just did as it said not knowing who was messaging me or what the danger was.
"Go through the blue door, it's safe in there"
The blue door turned out to open into a small back yard, but the building that it belonged to looked empty as the door and windows were boarded up. I closed the door behind me looking at the litter strewn area and found an old crate to sit on and just stared at the phone. Who was watching me, how did I not realize that I was being followed and who the hell was messaging me? Were they the people after me, was I walking into danger? I had so many questions concerning my phone that I was really considering just switching it off. Then as I thought about it I realized that maybe there was someone out there who was helping me and sue me, I was curious to know who it was. I looked at the message again and started to type in a reply, what the hell do you ask? So, I messaged what I wanted to know.
"Who are you?"
I waited but nothing came back immediately, maybe they were busy doing something else or maybe I was going mad but then my phone pinged with an answer, of sorts.
"To help you"
"What are you called?"
The reply came back immediately.
"Emci, what do you want me to call you?"
"Steph"
"I think you're safe now"
"Why do you want to help me?"
"I feel a connection to you Steph"
Okay, so not the answer I was expecting but what if this person had been hurt like I was or was frightened that someone was after them as well, that would make them very cautious.
"Did they hurt you as well?"
"Yes and no, are you hurt?"
"I was but I'm okay now"
"Can you go somewhere that is safe?"
Hell, if someone had asked me that a week ago I would have said yes. I could have gone to Ranger and I'm sure he would have made sure I was taken care of, well maybe he would, but now I had nowhere to go. Ranger was annoyed at me and had disowned me, even stopping his men from helping me so I responded with a single word
"No".
Nothing more came through and to be honest I was feeling really tired. I looked around at where I was trying to decide if there was anywhere here that might be comfortable. A look at the phone told me it was early evening, I looked around at where I was, there was no way to get into the building. My body was already beginning to complain so sleeping on the ground wasn't going to work, plus I wasn't sure how cold it would get during the night and knowing my luck it could even rain.
I pushed myself up onto my feet my muscles complaining with every move, but it was beginning to get dark so maybe there would be a better chance of not being seen. I carefully opened the door and walked back into the alley; I was still going to head into the center of Trenton; there would be more people on the streets so maybe I could hide in plain view. Once onto a road I turned and headed down, continuing in the same direction I'd been on when I set off from Les's. Hell, I wondered if Les was home by now and if he knew I was gone. I didn't want him to worry but neither did I want him to get into trouble. As I continued to walk, I realized I recognized where I was. I often came here to find one particular FTA, Eula, hell I hadn't seen her in an age, I wondered where she would be.
Then I had an idea, was it stupid, I didn't know, but I really needed somewhere to sleep so maybe if I could find where Eula went it might be safe. The station was fairly quiet; I assumed most commuters were already home by now. I wouldn't go too near to the station because I knew there would be lots of cameras around here and probably police, not that I had an issue with them, but I just didn't want anyone to recognize me.
From the shadow of an alley I watched from across the road and spied two old ladies ambling arm in arm turning to go down the road. Neither was Eula but they had that same look about them, old and dirty clothes with scarves wrapped around their heads and faces, so I started to follow them keeping an eye open for where they were going. I couldn't believe how far they seemed to be walking, recognizing the Municipal Court building before seeing them go into what seemed to be quite a modern red-bricked building.
As I watched I saw all sorts of people walk in, young and old, men and women, I just hoped that I could keep my head down and there was no one there who would recognize me. I joined the queue and slowly made my way into the building coming to a hatch from where food was being served. I kept my eyes on the ground and took the tray offered to me then watched as a plate and mug appeared on it. At the end of the process I felt someone at my side and allowed an older man to guide me to a table.
"There you go lassie, do you need anything else?"
I shook my head hoping he wouldn't think to sit down and start a conversation.
"There're some cots through there if you need somewhere to rest, okay?"
Again I just nodded my head and looked at what was on the tray, the coffee looked thick and black so I added milk and sugar from the pots in the middle of the table, then took a fork and just started to eat. I had no idea what it was, but to be honest after a few mouthfuls I didn't feel hungry anymore. I knew I had to eat something so dipped some bread into the stew and ate the bread slowly. I washed some Tylenol down with the last of the coffee and then made my way to where the man had said the cots were. I knew I needed to sleep and maybe here was safe enough, surely no one would ever think to look for me here.
As I entered the area a woman handed me a blanket and guided me to a cot then left me to return to the entrance and welcome the next person in. As I looked around I saw a wall running from the entrance to the back of the area and felt some relief that the men were separated from the women. At least where I was felt warm and no one seemed interested in me. I watched as some of the women were going in and out through a door so went over to it and discovered a room with sinks and cubicles. Once done in there I returned to my cot. It felt so good to be laid down snuggled up with the blanket around me and even though I was feeling anxious my eyelids slid shut and I felt myself relax into sleep.
