CHAPTER 2: ENTER VERONICA
Kevin went to another house. He figured if he couldn't get any money from this person, he had no chance. The bank robbery would be a last resort for him, otherwise. He slowly made his way to the front door. He rang the doorbell. A gorgeous blonde-haired girl answered it.
"Kevin?"
"Hi, Veronica."
Veronica was his old high school girlfriend. Even though they had broken up, they remained good friends. She was Kevin's last person to reach out to. His parents abandoned him and threatened to call the authorities (which they did, but Kevin didn't know about it), his best friend's wife forbade him from helping Kevin, and others said they couldn't because of some financial hardship. But, Veronica was his last ditch effort.
"Ronnie, I have a problem," Kevin began. "Do you think you can help me?"
"Sure, Kevin," said Veronica. "What do you need?"
"I need about a thousand bucks to get to Canada," Kevin said to his ex. "Some guys are after me and I need to leave the country. (He didn't tell her he deserted the Corps) I just need to lay low for a while. And I will pay you back the first chance I get; I promise you."
Veronica looked at her ex-boyfriend. To her, it looked like he was being sincere. She said, "Kevin, I can't give you a thousand dollars, but I can help you with some money. Come on in." And they went inside the house. Veronica went into the back, and Kevin sat on the couch. He waited for a while. He was nervous. This was the first, and only, person willing to help him. He didn't want to mess it up. Veronica came back with a small metal box. She opened it and pulled out some money.
"This is all I have to give you, Kevin," she said. She handed him $400. "Hopefully, this can help you get where you need to go."
"Thanks, Ronnie," said Kevin. He was disappointed that it wasn't the amount he needed, but was grateful for anything he could get. "I do appreciate the help. And I will pay you back, I promise."
"It's okay, Kevin," assured Veronica. "Consider it a gift." Kevin kissed his ex on the cheek.
"I will be in touch soon, Ronnie," he told her. He got up to leave.
"Kevin," she began.
"Yeah?"
"Be careful."
Kevin gave her a nod and then departed her house. It wasn't the thousand he needed, but it was a start. He would try to scrounge up the rest he needed somehow, but it looked more and more like he would have to rob the bank.
At the Ray household, Charlie, Donaldson, Clarke, and Upton were talking to Kevin's parents, who were more than cooperative with the military men before them.
"We then kicked him out and told him if he was smart, he'd turn himself in and do the right thing," said Garrett, Kevin's father.
"We tried to raise him right," added Martha, his mother. "He always seemed like a troubled boy."
"Would you folks know where he would go in a pinch?" asked Charlie.
"You could try his old girlfriend's house," suggested Garrett. "Her name is Veronica. Veronica Carter."
"I see," said Charlie. "Let me talk to my superiors for a moment."
"Okay, sergeant," said Garrett. "And thank you for what you do for this country."
"No problem." And Charlie and the others went to discuss their next move.
"Do you think this Veronica would help Private Ray?" asked Donaldson.
"She might," Charlie replied. "Especially if Kevin didn't tell her what was really going on."
"I say we go for it," said Upton. All nodded in agreement. Charlie went over to the parents.
"Mr. and Mrs. Ray," he began, "do you have an address for this Veronica Carter?"
NEXT CHAPTER: THE CLOSER YOU GET, THE FURTHER YOU ACTUALLY ARE!