“…and i was your silver lining as the story goes…”
The Rilo Kiley blared out of Bob’s Grand Prix. His smile was almost ear to ear. Phil just shook his head, and reached out to turn down the music for a spell. “I have to hand it to you. I didn’t think that would work.”
“Hey, if she’s going to be busy shooting at a hi-po, I’m taking the first exit. Thank goodness the Minnesota Avenue exit comes up so quick on 229.”
“Do you think this will make the news on KELO?”
“KELO, KSFY, KDLT…I think in this town a gunned down officer and a pile up on 229 will make the lead story. Hopefully we can stay out of the news for a while, if not for a long while.”
Phil took his eyes off the mirror as the car came to a stop at a red light. He rolled down his window and put his elbow outside. “How are you doing for gas?”
“I’ve still got 3/4 a tank, so we’re good for part of the night.”
“Well, hit the next gas station anyway. I never did get to use the bathroom at Jer’s.” Phil chuckled for a second. Bob didn’t join in. “Oh…man, I’m sorry. In all the excitement I forgot about Jer.”
Bob shook his head as the light turned green. “What in the world would Jer have that so many people would want? He was a shift manager at the coffee shop in the mall, and a part time DJ at Buck’s.”
“Maybe we’re being chased by the RIAA? He did like to download songs.”
“Dammit Phil, I’m being serious for once. What is so fucking important that people are breaking into his apartment, chasing us, and maybe murdering him?”
Phil paused a moment. “I never thought that maybe he was murdered. I thought you said it was a heart condition?”
“That was what they said they thought it was, or at least what the owner of the coffee shop told me was told to her.” Bob cocked his head to one side. “Did that make sense?”
“More or less. Hey, pull into HyVee gas.”
Bob flipped on his blinker and pulled the car into the gas station parking lot. “Grab me a Vault will ya?”
“I don’t know why you drink that stuff. It’s hella nasty. But yeah, no problem.” Phil shut the car door and walked hurriedly into the convenience store. Bob was alone for the first time since Phil got back from work. He slowly took off his sunglasses and rubbed his eyes vigorously. He set the glasses on the dash, and readjusted his rear view mirror into a position that works better for traffic as opposed to pursuit. He saw himself in it briefly, and his reflection revealed a tired upper face, and eyes that were watery. He folded his arms across the steering wheel and put his head down. Guys don’t cry he kept telling himself, but soon he was unable to stop, and he began sobbing as the music kept playing.
“…hooray hooray i’m your silver lining…”
***
Phil, fresh from relieving at least some pressure from his life, grabbed a Vault and a G2 from the beverage case. He walked up to the counter. The 40-something female cashier looked up from her small TV that was on the small shelf near the window. “Did you have gas?”
“Nope. Just the drinks.”
As she scanned the Vault, Phil looked over her shoulder. KELO was airing footage from the accidents on 229. The screen then went to a graphic of names wanted for questioning.
The screen read:
Phillip Anderton, 27, Sioux Falls
Robert Fulton, 27, Sioux Falls
