Trixie sighed as she stretched her legs out. They had been on the road for four days, each one taking turns driving. She had to admit, it wasn't like driving around with Speed. Speed had always been serious, dedicated, even off the racetrack. Killer had a laid back sort of attitude, like the world had become his own personal playground, yet he didn't walk with an air of arrogance. Simply put, he loved to have fun and nothing could ever dampen his spirits.

'And we're almost there,' Trixie thought. 'Another day or so and we'll be in Los Angeles . . . Where Jack lives.'

Over the last four days, Trixie had asked Killer a lot of questions. Some of them concerning Torie and Ryan but most about Jack. How had they met? What kind of a person was he? Why did he live in California when most of his friends lived in Philadelphia? She thought that Killer would have bitten her head off because of her constant inquiry but he did no such thing. Every question was answered kindly and with a joke. She just didn't know how he could do it.

"I think we should pull over for the night, bird," Killer suddenly spoke up, interrupting her train of thought. "I don't think I can handle anymore time in that car."

Trixie looked at him then nodded. It would delay their arrival time but she decided not to voice her opinion. With Killer, it was a we'll-get-there- when-we-get-there-so-why-hurry attitude.

"I think there's a Motel 6 around the corner," she offered. "We can stay there for the night."

"Sounds good," he grinned. "Let's go."

Trixie nodded and they climbed into the car. Within minutes, they had a hotel room for the night and pizza on the way. As they waited, Trixie looked over at her traveling companion.

"Hey, Killer . . ."

"Yeah?"

"Why are you treating this like a leisurely drive in the countryside? Aren't you anxious to see your friend again?"

"I am," he replied, stretching out on his bed. "But it's more fun to take your time and enjoy the sights. You only get to go down the road of life once."

"The road of life?" she echoed.

"Yeah. The road of life. Haven't you heard that expression before?"

"Well, yes," she began.

"And the expression, You've only got one life to live?"

"Uh-huh . . ."

"Then you should know that it doesn't make any sense to hurry like there is no tomorrow."

"But what if there isn't a tomorrow?" she prompted. "Shouldn't you seize the moment that you're in?"

"Bird, that goes without saying," he smiled. "Of course, you should seize the moment you're in. That's what life is all about. But you should never be in a hurry to get there. After all, the road to the destination is just as much fun as the destination itself."

"I'm not sure I understand," she frowned.

Killer sat up straight, his expression furrowed. Trixie tilted her head, her gaze still on him.

"Ever take a trip with your parents to a major amusement park?"

"Well, yeah. That was a given," she smiled.

"Did you fly or did your parents drive there?"

"It depended on the location," she replied. "If it was in the U.S., we drove."

Killer nodded. "And did you guys just drive? Or did you take your time and see the sights?"

Trixie paused for a moment and thought about it. Her mother had been a historian of sorts. They had always driven to Mackinac Island to see if they had uncovered anything in Fort Mackinac then strolled around the island with a picnic lunch. Trips to Philadelphia, Orlando, New York . . . the same. Always stopping somewhere, always taking the time to just relax.

"We took our time and saw the sights," she answered. "Mainly my mother's doing but it was still a lot of fun."

"That's how life is, Trixie. It is a road that we travel on but if we're always in a hurry to get somewhere and not take the time to take stock of what's around us, we lose our purpose for living. There are some people who take the road as far as the next block or the next county and decide, this is as far as I want to go. Then there are others who don't. People like Torie. People who always want to see and do more and make the most of the time that they do have."

"Even more so now?" Trixie inquired softly. Killer blinked then nodded in understanding.

"Even more so now," he agreed. "No one goes without tragedy in their lives. The road of life was never meant to be easy. The decisions we make only increase the difficulty or the ease. It just depends on the situation and the will of the person."
'So true,' she mused as she fell backwards onto her bed. 'So true . . . I just hope to be able to remedy the mess I've made. But I'll travel down this road. So long as it takes me back to Speed.'