Page 33 of The Hitchhikers

Jenny blinked in surprise, a flush pinkening her cheeks. Alice realized it was the first time they had been alone, and it might be her only chance of getting through to Jenny. Alice glanced upthe street and hoped that Simon couldn’t see them standing in the shade of a building.

“I know you think you are in love with Simon, but I can tell you right now that you’re going to get caught—and he’ll blame you for everything.”

“He wouldneverdo that.”

“He’s manipulating you. Don’t you see? He gives you orders, always telling you what to do or where to go.”

“You don’t know anything about us!”

“I know that you’re making a huge mistake and you’re going to get hurt.”

“Simon loves me,” Jenny said. “He won’t let anything bad happen to me.”

“What about the baby? What’s going to happen when you’re arrested?” Alice noticed Jenny flinch. She was listening. “You might be able to get a deal if you turn yourself in now.”

“We aren’t going to get caught. Simon’s smart.”

“He’s reckless. Helikeshurting people. You didn’t see the way he looked at the biker’s body, but I did. And if you don’t stop him, more people are going to die.”

“We need to go back to the RV right now.”

They stared at each other. Jenny’s arms crossed over her chest, her chin tilted up as though daring Alice to say something else, but there was no point. Jenny wasn’t going to listen to her. Alice turned and kept walking down the street. Jenny followed at her heels.

When they were at the RV, Simon flung open the door and stepped back so they could come inside. “What took you so long?”

Alice first looked at Tom, who seemed to be sleeping, then she sat down at the table before she fell over, her legs weak with exhausted adrenaline.

“We had a problem,” she said.

“Like what?” Simon took a step toward Alice. She tensed.

“They wouldn’t cash the checks,” Jenny said in a quiet voice.

“Did you tell them he’s sick?”

“Alice tried everything,” Jenny said. “The bank manager even came out, but he said no.”

Simon grabbed Alice’s bicep and hauled her off the bench seat, then spun her around so his arm was under her chin and she was facing the bed. He pressed the gun barrel to her temple. It happened so fast; she was only just registering how much her arm muscles hurt when the rest of her brain and body caught up to the fact that she might die in the next few seconds.

“Wake up, asshole.”

Tom startled, his arms and legs jerking against the restraints, his eyes widening as he took in the scene in front of him. “What—?”

“Do you have more money in this RV?”

“No.” Tom shook his head. Simon pressed the gun harder. Metal pushed against Alice’s skull painfully. His arm squeezed her neck. She couldn’t move, she was scared to breathe. What if his finger slipped? What if he pulled the trigger? She wondered if the bullet would make a hole or blow her brains all over the RV. She fought the hysteria flooding her chest.

“Are you lying again?”

“No—let her go!”

Simon’s arm against her throat tightened. Tom’s face had gone pale. Alice had never felt such fear. The wild urge to scratch and fight for her life. The panic was too strong. She was about to sink her fingernails into Simon’s arm, when he released her. He gave her a push that had her stumbling into the counter, the sharp edge biting at her hip bone.

“Get up front.”

Alice didn’t want to leave, thinking that Simon was going to hurt Tom, but when Simon lifted the gun to point it at her, she turned and walked past Jenny, who was silent at the table. Jennystared back and forth between Simon and Alice with her eyebrows pinched together and her face pale. Like a mouse watching a hawk eat a rabbit. Was he going to shoot Alice in the back?

Alice whipped around, hands out. Simon was standing with the gun resting against his thigh. Alice glanced at Jenny. Now she was staring at the table, hiding her face with her hair.