Sunset. The horizon was glowing in red as the stars watched the sun go down. Everything seemed to melt into a world of orange, yellow and red.
Usually, he liked sunsets. On any normal day he would, too.
But this wasn´t a normal day.
The last sunrays reached out and enveloped his car with golden light. Words almost couldn´t describe that serene beauty.
But, as with everything in life, looks could be deceiving. For there was one thing for sure: this scene was anything but beautiful.
A song was blaring in the radio slicing through the heavy silence like a knife, bouncing off the walls of the car and into the ears of its passengers. Greg didn´t know the song, but his thoughts were elsewhere anyway, presumably on the man in the back seat.
"Turn left on the next intersection."
He did as he was told.
He didn´t know where this was going. But he did know where he didn´t want this to end.
The man had only given him few instructions so far, preferring to be silent otherwise. Enjoying the scenery and keeping an observing eye on him at all times. Like a bird hunting for its prey. Waiting for the right moment to strike. Or for him to make a wrong move.
As if I would try anything!
But that brought other thoughts to his mind. How long had he been followed? How long had that creep been watching him? He was certain that he hadn´t seen him before. Or had he? He passed so many people every day how could he be sure? But why him? He didn´t have the nerve to ask. Although this man appeared to be civil enough, he didn´t want to risk anything by asking a question like that. Who knew what kept this guy ticking?
So, there was just one thing he could do: bide his time and wait.
Greg glanced at him again.
The gun looked pretty heavy. He wondered if his arm wasn´t stiff by now holding the gun like that. Seemed to be a good-sized caliber. Catherine would be able to tell him. He should have paid more attention that one time when she had tried to explain it to him. Well, didn´t change the fact that he hadn´t.
Probably better if he didn´t know, though, this way he wouldn´t know the damage that thing could inflict on him.
As if that makes a difference. He snorted at that thought. All guns are dangerous weapons. All are made and meant to kill. I have seen the damage often enough.
"Turn off the radio." The sudden declaration did nothing to ease his troubled mind.
Greg frowned slightly but suppressed a sigh and did what he was told. Again.
Great. Here comes nothing.
At least the music had kept his mind somewhat busy, but now, even that was gone.
Questions formed. Questions scratched. And even more questions lingered.
What could this guy want from me? What will he do once we stop somewhere? What if
The silence was suddenly shattered by the ringing of a cell phone. Greg jumped, startled by the noise. Then his brain registered that it was his phone. He dared not to touch it.
"Pick it up. We don´t want people to think that you´re in trouble after all." He sounded awfully cheery. He seemed to like that thought.
His stomach did another flip-flop and dropped under the car, getting lost somewhere on the road behind him.
Greg felt the gun being pressed even more tightly into his neck. It was starting to hurt. There was probably even going to be a mark left. A scar to be forgotten.
"And remember, one wrong word and you´re dead." He whispered. Greg nodded. His heart picking up speed again. His mouth oddly dry.
He flicked his cell open and saw that it was Grissom calling.
Now what? Grissom will know if I´m lying. Well, that could work for me. Yeah.
A plan started to form in his mind.
"Don´t just stare at the damn thing. Answer it for Christ´s sake!" came the angered bellow from the back seat, riled by the incessant ringing.
"Hello?" He asked a bit timidly.
"Greg, where the hell are you? You should have been here over an hour ago!"
Damn. To say that Grissom was pissed off was an understatement. Like comparing a raging bull to a mewling kitten. He should have expected that, though. He knew that he was late, had been from the beginning.
"Um, hey Grissom. Um, sorry, um, but I´m having a bit of car trouble..." he said slowly, afraid that one false word might be his last. All the while he shot several nervous glances at the man in the back.
"Greg, I don´t want to hear any excuses. If you´re having trouble with your car, get a cab or take the bus. I want you here in 15 minutes. Got that?"
Before he could say anything else, Grissom had already hung up.
He stared disbelievingly at his phone.
His plan was waving at him on the way out.
How do I get myself into situations like this? My boss pissed off at me and a madman in the back seat.
He wanted to bang his head on the steering wheel.
Life just couldn´t get any worse.
The nuzzle of the gun made itself known again.
Or maybe it could.
*******
There´s going to be more action in the next chap. Promise!
BTW, I´m looking for a beta reader. I keep having trouble with certain phrases and sometimes don´t know if I did it right. A beta would be really helpful since English is not my first language.
