66 (10)

I hate to ask again” Jeremiah said dryly.

“Then don’t” Geoff shot back angrily.

Frank Richmond looked around.  The terminal was slowly filling with people.  His flight to Las Vegas was departing within the hour.  The airport, which looked almost abandoned when he arrived this morning, was suddenly lively and bright, with the sounds of intercoms, engines and people.  Frank was thinking about all the circumstances that brought him here today.  He kept thinking of the notes, the deposit, and anything he had written on the fake death certificate.  He felt the gaze of the one Geoff called Jebediah constantly, and it was driving him crazy.  The staring was bad enough to Frank, but he never talked.  The other man, the one Geoff called Jeremiah, kept asking questions.  Geoff kept answering for him.  Part of him was a big fan of Geoff right now, but the other part of him almost wishes Geoff weren’t here.  Without Geoff, maybe it would all be over.

Suddenly, Geoff leaned towards him.  “Frank, I know what you’re thinking.  If I wasn’t here, it would be all over.  They’d have asked their questions and you’d be off to Vegas.  Chances are, they’d have asked their questions, and then you’d end up back at your workplace one last time.”

How the hell did he know what I was thinking?

“Geoff” Jeremiah said, as he took a leisurely posture in his seat, “I take some offense to that.  I don’t know what kind of person you think I am, but I think you’re unnecessarily tainting Mr. Richmond’s view of us.”

“We should go.”  Jebediah said.  Frank noticed that Jebediah wasn’t looking at him.  The opportunity was there, and Frank decided to take it.  He sprang from his seat and moved as fast as his old body could take him towards the nearest security guard.  He was halfway there when he felt his legs weakening.

Oh God, what’s happening? Frank kept moving but his legs getting heavier.  His peripheral vision was fading away, and the security guard was slowly splitting into three guards.  Frank tried to reach out with his hand, but his arm didn’t respond.  He opened his mouth, hoping to get the somebody’s attention…

***

31, 32, 33, 34, 3-

“Phil, what are you doing?”  Bob asked the question as he slid the door open a bit farther.  Phil grimaced.

“Thanks a lot.”

“Were you counting telephone poles again?”

“First off, I highly doubt they still have telephone lines, so no.  I was counting utility poles.”

“I know.  You move your lips when you’re counting in your head.”  Bob sat on the edge of the boxcar.  His eyes were to what had gone by, letting Phil focus on what was coming.

“I do not” Phil angrily stated.  “Or do I?”

“Yep, you do.”

“Well, whatever.”

“So” Bob said, now turning his attention to  Phil.  “Do you want to tell me why you were reaching for your neck when I woke you up?”

“Oh that.”  Phil looked down, then sat.  “I had a weird nightmare kinda thing.  You were there, but you were dead, and there were four of those psycho bitch assassins.”

“Mokoto?”

“Yes Mokoto.  Why the hell do you keep reminding me of her name?”

“Because once we’re ready to go to the police, I don’t think they’ll have an A.P.B. for a P.B.A.”

“Well, you can handle the naming of names.”  Phil stood up and gestured to Bob.  “Let’s make with the door.  Anther town is coming up.”