Chapter Ten: Decisions

"Tell me everything you know regarding this case, Rollins. What have you found out? Heard there were witnesses. Is that true?"

Rollins stood inside the office of his superior, Superintendent Garrett Blackner. Blackner sat at his desk, rubbing his hand across his freshly cut salt-and-pepper hair tiredly.

Rollins cleared his throat. "Well, sir, yes, it is true there were witnesses outside the bar. But that's all we have at the moment," he confirmed. "All we know is there were two women in a red GTO convertible that turned left out of the parking lot going pretty fast. We're trying to find a make on the car but we have nothing on that yet. So far, we've found nothing yet."

Blackner leaned back in his chair, tapping his fingertips thoughtfully.

"Well, Rollins, all I can tell you is that you've got to get moving and find something. Even if they didn't do it, it turns out they witnessed it. I want somebody to at least talk to them. Best to put out an APB and see what we get."

Rollins nodded dutifully. "Alright," he replied.

Blackner aligned his chair back to the seated position. "Is there any reason to believe these women may have left the state?" He asked.

"It's possible," he said.

"Then we should let the bureau in on this," Blackner replied.

Rollins nodded in agreement. "I have absolutely no problem with that, sir," he said.

"Alright…so…Jo, don't get mad but where are we going?" Blair asked Jo as they continued on the highway.

"We're on our way to Oklahoma City. Rick's gonna wire me some money and_" Jo informed her until Blair abruptly interrupted her.

"Wait, you spoke to Rick?!" She asked, shocked. "Is he pissed? Did you tell him?"

"No, Blair, I didn't. And that's somethin' we gotta get straight. Casey's been callin', mad as a wet hen, makin' all kinds of noise. When ya talk to him, Blair, ya cannot and I mean, cannot say anythin' about this. Ya gotta make sure everythin' sounds normal."

Blair scoffed. "I called the jerk at 4am this morning and he wasn't even home! I don't even know what he's got to be so mad about anyway! If anything, I'm the one who should!"

"I coulda told ya that, Blair," Jo remarked.

Blair looked thoughtful. "Tell me this…do you think Casey could be…you know…having an affair?" She asked.

"To be perfectly honest, I don't think Casey's mature enough to handle an affair," Jo said.

"But he could still fool around," Blair muttered, frowning.

Jo sighed loudly, wanting desperately to change the subject from Blair's scummy boyfriend. "Look, Blair, listen," she said. "I've made up my mind on this but I feel like ya should know; I'm goin' to Mexico," she announced. "Now, I'm pretty sure I can make it in two and a half days, if my calculations are correct. But I'm really gonna have to haul ass. Are ya gonna be up to this? I gotta know. This ain't a game. I'm in some deep shit and I have to know what ya gonna do."

Could I really live a life in Mexico? She thought. What would happen to my money? Where would I live? How would I survive? Would I have to start living like Jo…beyond my means? Blair thought. She inwardly whimpered at the image of herself living in squalor.

"I…uh…I don't know, Jo. I don't know what you're asking me," she said, staring down at her feet.

Jo scowled. "Oh, no! Don't ya dare fall apart on me, Blair! Every time we get in trouble, ya either go blank or plead insanity or some shit! Not this time, Blair! This is serious! Everythin' has changed now!"

Her tone softened a little. "Now, ya can do whatever ya wanna do. But one thing's for certain is I'm goin' to Mexico. I'm goin', come hell or high water. Nobody's gonna stand in my way, either! So I gotta know…are ya gonna come with me? The choice is yours, Blair."

Blair didn't answer. She only gazed at her hands in her lap. Could I really let Jo go all the way to Mexico by herself? After all, I'm the reason we're here in the first place. It was my gun that brought us here.

Scratch that. Casey's gun. Casey is the real reason why we're here. If he treated me better, we never would've went on this vacation! Jo was only trying to do something nice for me.

Blair sighed loudly. "You know what? I think he does," she replied. "Fool around, I mean."

Jo only rolled her eyes in exasperation. She's impossible! She thought.