"AND THE OUT-POURING OF ALL THE FANS WAS ENORMOUS." BRIAN EXCLAIMS, GLANCING OVER AT ESTHER, WHO LISTENS IN TOTAL AWE. " I MEAN, I'D NEVER SEEN SO MANY FLOWERS, OR CANDY, OR STUFFED ANIMALS IN ONE ROOM BEFORE IN MY LIFE!" HE LAUGHS, YIELDING AT A STOPLIGHT.
"WELL, WE WERE ALL GLAD THAT YOUR SURGERY WENT OKAY." ESTHER SIGHS, RESTING HER HEAD AGAINST THE PASSENGER SEAT.
"YEAH, THAT MAKES TWO OF US." BRIAN ADDS, SMILING.
"SO," ESTHER SAYS, CHANGING THE SUBJECT, "WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO HERE IN CHICAGO?"
"WELL...." BRIAN BEGINS, PULLING OUT ONCE THE STOPLIGHT TURNS GREEN.
"I WAS THINKING WE COULD GO OUT AND P-A-R-T-Y, IF YOU WANT." HE GLANCES UP AT HER, HIS EYES BURNING INTO HERS. "WHAT DO YA SAY?"
"I DUNNO." ESTHER REPLIES UNEASILY, A WORRIED LOOK IN HER EYES. "IF SOMEONE RECOGNIZES YOU, WHO KNOWS WHAT KIND OF TROUBLE CAN ERUPT GOING UNATTENDED FOR IN THE PUBLIC SCENE."
"LISTEN, DON'T WORRY ABOUT THAT." BRIAN ASSURES, BRUSHING THE WARNING ASIDE. "REMEMBER, WHAT I TOLD YOU EARLIER?"
"ABOUT WHAT?" ESTHER ASKS, A QUIZZICAL LOOK IN HER EYES. BRIAN CAREFULLY MANEUVERS THE RENTAL CAR INTO THE PARKING LOT OF A BUSY STOP-N-GO AND TURNS OFF THE IGNITION.
"YOU DON'T REMEMBER?" HE ASKS, POUTING HIS LIPS. WHEN ESTHER SHAKES HER HEAD, BRIAN SIGHS AND LOOKS GLOOMILY OUT THE WINDOW.
"I'M SORRY." ESTHER APOLOGIZES. "I'M SO STUPID. I ALWAYS FORGET WHAT'S IMPORTANT."
"OH, I'M NOT MAD." BRIAN SAYS, TURNING TO HER WITH A SMILE. "IT JUST GIVES ME A GOOD REASON TO TELL YOU AGAIN!" HE LEANS FORWARD UNTIL HIS LIPS ARE ONLY CENTIMETERS AWAY FROM HER EAR. HIS BREATH IS WARM AS HE WHISPERS, "HOW I SAID, "I'D GO ANYWHERE FOR YOU, ANYWHERE YOU ASK ME TO, I'D DO ANYTHING FOR YOU, ANYTHING YOU WANT ME TO..." BRIAN CROONS LOVINGLY INTO HER EAR WHILE TAKING HER HAND IN HIS. SLOWLY, HE PULLS BACK AND BEGINS TO CARESS HER CHEEK WITH HIS OTHER HAND. AS IF IN SLOW MOTION, HIS SERENADING STALLS AS HE LIFTS HER CHIN AND THEY MELT INTO A PASSIONATE KISS.
"WHO WAS THAT GUY?!" HOWIE ASKS SHRILLY, LEANING OVER INTO THE FRONT SEAT. HE TURNS TO LOOK OUT THE REAR WINDOW, THEN ROTATES BACK AROUND TO KEVIN AND LAURA.
"THAT WAS THE MANAGER AT THAT ROADSIDE INN WE JUST STOPPED AT." KEVIN AFFIRMS, NOT LETTING HIS FOOT UP OFF OF THE GAS PEDAL.
"A MOTEL MANAGER?! WHAT KIND OF SERVICE IS IT TO PULL A GUN ON YOUR CUSTOMERS?!" HOWIE SQUEAKS, RUNNING HIS HAND OVER HIS HAIR.
"I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHO WAS THE CRAZY ONE, PERSONALLY." LAURA GRIPES, CROSSING HER ARMS IN FRONT OF HER CHEST. "HE CALLS US "PLUM LOCO", THEN HAULS OFF AND GOES TRIGGER-HAPPY ALL OVER US WITH 'OLE BESSY!"
"I JUST WISH WE'D GOTTEN THAT RECEIPT BOOK TO SEE IF THAT GUY THAT CHECKED OUT EARLIER REALLY WAS BRIAN." KEVIN SIGHS, NOT LOOKING UP FROM THE ROAD.
"I GUESS WE'LL NEVER KNOW." "UNLESS...........ONE OF US GOT THE RECEIPT BOOK WHILE 'OLE BALDY WASN'T LOOKING!" LAURA CHIMES WITH DELIGHT, WHIPPING OUT THE RECEIPT BOOK FROM INSIDE HER JACKET. SHE PRESENTS HER PRIZE TO THE GUYS WITH PRIDE, A SMILE OF TRIUMPH SPREADING FROM EAR TO EAR.
AS KEVIN PULLS OVER ON THE HIGHWAY, HOWIE TAKES THE BOOK FROM LAURA'S HAND AND EXAMINES IT. HE GIVES HER A QUESTIONABLE LOOK, THEN GIVES THE SAME LOOK TO KEVIN. HANDING IT BACK TO LAURA HE ASKS, "WHAT DOES THIS BOOK, THAT MENTALLY UNSTABLE MAN WITH THE GUN, AND BRIAN GOT TO DO WITH EACH OTHER?"
"THAT TRIGGER-HAPPY MAN BACK THERE SAID THAT THERE HAD BEEN A YOUNG MAN AND A GIRL FROM KENTUCKY CHECK OUT OF HIS HOTEL EARLIER TODAY." KEVIN EXPLAINS, BRINGING THE VEHICLE TO A STOP. HE TAKES THE BOOK FROM LAURA'S OUTSTRETCHED HAND AND BEGINS READING IT'S CONTENTS.
"AND THAT GUY AND THAT GIRL MAY JUST HAVE BEEN BRIAN AND ESTHER." LAURA FINISHES, PICKING UP WHERE KEVIN HAD LEFT OFF.
"GUESS WHAT, GUYS?" KEVIN QUESTIONS IN A LOW-KEY VOICE. BOTH LOOK EXPECTANTLY AT HIM, NOT BREATHING. HE SMILES AS HE ANSWERS, "WE'VE GOT A BREAK IN THE CASE! IT WAS BRIAN AND ESTHER!" HE POINTS OUT A PAGE IN THE RECEIPT BOOK. IN HIS HANDWRITING, BRIAN HAD INDEED CHECKED IN AROUND 11:35 OR SO LAST NIGHT. "AND THAT THEY CHECKED OUT AROUND 8:15 THIS MORNING!" HE PAUSES TO CATCH HIS BREATH. "WHICH MEANS, WE'RE ONLY 6 HOURS BEHIND THEM!" HOWIE AND LAURA REJOICE IN THE NEWS, AS KEVIN STARTS DIALING AWAY ON THE CELL PHONE. "C'MON, BRENDA." KEVIN URGES, BREATHING INTO THE RECEIVER. "PICK UP. PICK UP."
BRENDA STIRS AND WAKES FROM HER SLEEP, THE SUN OF NOONTIME SHINING ON HER FACE. SHE STRETCHES OUT HER ARMS WHILE YAWNING, THEN ATTEMPTS TO SIT UP, BUT IS HELD BACK SOMEHOW. SHE LOOKS DOWN AT HER WAIST, ONLY TO FIND NICK'S RIGHT ARM ENCIRCLING IT. HE REMAINS ASLEEP; SNORING LIGHTLY WITH HIS HEAD PROPPED UP ON THE SEAT. "I WONDER IF HE PUT HIS ARM AROUND ME INTENTIONALLY?" SHE ASKS HERSELF, NOT TAKING HER EYES OFF OF HIM. WITH THE AFTERNOON SUN SHINING THROUGH THE WINDOW ON TO HIM, HIS FACE SEEMS TO GLOW WITH SOME SORT OF RADIANT LIGHT. SLEEPING, HE LOOKS TOTALLY INNOCENT. ALMOST..... ANGELIC. FIGHTING HER FEELINGS BACK DOWN, SHE LOOKS AWAY. "WHAT'S MY PROBLEM? PUTTING HIS ARM AROUND ME WAS COMPLETELY UNINTENTIONAL, I'M SURE." SHE DEBATES WITH HER CONSCIENCE. TRYING NOT TO DISTURB HIM, SHE CAREFULLY TRIES TO REMOVE HIS ARM FROM AROUND HER. UNFORTUNATELY, NICK JERKS, AND OPENS HIS EYES. FOLLOWING BRENDA'S GAZE, HE LOOKS DOWN AT HIS ARM, STILL WRAPPED AROUND HER WAIST.
COLOR SLOWLY CREEPS UP HIS NECK AS HE PULLS HIS ARM FROM AROUND HER AND RESTS IT ON HIS LEG. "UM, SORRY." HE MUMBLES, NOT LOOKING UP.
"IT'S OKAY. W-WE ALL DO STUPID THINGS IN OUR SLEEP." BRENDA STUTTERS, LAUGHING UNEASILY. NICK LAUGHS UNEASILY TOO, AND FOR A WHILE, AN AWKWARD SILENCE STRETCHES IN THEIR CONVERSATION.
"UH, HAVE YOU HEARD FROM KEV OR ANY OF THEM YET?" NICK ASKS, BREAKING THE SILENCE.
"NOT YET." BRENDA REPLIES, PULLING THE PHONE OUT OF HER JACKET POCKET. "BUT, THEN AGAIN, THE BATTERY IN THIS THING IS SO LOW, WE COULDN'T GET A CALL THROUGH ANYWAY." SHE FONDLES IT IN HER HANDS THEN TURNS THE PHONE OFF TO CONSERVE ENERGY.
"I CAN'T GET A HOLD OF THEM." KEVIN GIVES UP, PRESSING THE "END CALL" BUTTON. "THEY MUST HAVE THEIR PHONE TURNED OFF."
"SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING BRENDA WOULD DO." LAURA SIGHS. "TRY GETTING A HOLD OF A.J.
KEVIN HOLDS THE PHONE AWAY FROM HIM TO SEE THE NUMBERS AND QUICKLY DIALS IN A.J.'S NUMBER.
"DIANA, REALLY." A.J. BEGS, AS THEY EAT LUNCH AT A PICNIC STOP. HE WATCHES HELPLESSLY AS DIANA TAKES ANOTHER BITE OF HER PIZZA. HE LICKS HIS LIPS BEFORE ASKING ONCE MORE, "C'MON. ALL I WANT IS ONE BITE OF IT."
"NU-UH." DIANA REPLIES SIMPLY, HER MOUTH STILL FULL OF PIZZA. SHE CHEWS A LITTLE LONGER, THEN, GULPS IT DOWN WITH HER DIET COKE.
A.J. CONTINUES TO STARE AT HER IN SILENCE. HE GLANCES DOWN AND FROWNS AT HIS LUNCH; A SOGGY HAM SANDWICH AND A SMALL CARTON OF, NOW, LUKE-WARM MILK.
"PLEASE?!" A.J. BEGS, LOOKING BACK UP AT DIANA.
"HMM? DID YOU SAY SOMETHING?" DIANA COOS, IGNORING A.J.'S PLEAS. SHE TAKES ANOTHER BITE OF HER PIZZA.
"YOU KNOW, I HOPE YOU CHOKE ON THAT PIZZA." A.J. GROWLS, TAKING A BITE OF HIS SOGGY SANDWICH. HE MAKES A DISGUSTED FACE, YET SOMEHOW, HE MANAGES TO SWALLOW IT. SUDDENLY, HIS CELL PHONE STARTS TO RING. HE QUICKLY EXTRACTS IT FROM HIS SHIRT POCKET AND FLIPS IT OPEN. "HELLO?"
"YEAH, A.J.?"
"KEV? WHAT'S UP?"
"WE FOUND A LEAD TO WHERE BRIAN AND ESTHER WERE."
"WHAT?! HAVE YOU FOUND THEM?"
"NO, BUT THEY'VE BEEN THROUGH HERE."
"WHERE ARE YOU NOW?"
"WE'RE IN A SMALL TOWN IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY, HEADING UP NORTH. WE THINK THAT'S THE DIRECTION BRIAN AND ESTHER ARE HEADING NOW, SUPPOSEDLY TOWARDS CHICAGO, BUT IT'S STILL TOO EARLY TO TELL."
"OKAY, DO YOU WANT US TO START HEADING THAT WAY OR WHAT?"
"YEAH. WHERE ARE YOU GUYS RIGHT NOW?"
"ABOUT 2 OR 3 HOURS OUT OF ORLANDO. WE DIDN'T FIND ANYBODY AT BRI'S APARTMENT, AND WE LOOKED AROUND IN ORLANDO FOR 2 HOURS, SO WE WERE HEADING TOWARDS GEORGIA. WE'RE AT A PICNIC STOP TRYING TO EAT LUNCH RIGHT NOW."
A.J. LOOKS AT HIS SANDWICH IN DISGUST, THEN GOES BACK TO HIS CONVERSATION.
"BUT, UH, WE CAN START MOVING RIGHT NOW IF YOU WANT."
"ALRIGHT. GET TO CHICAGO AS FAST AS YOU CAN. WE GOT ABOUT 8 HOURS LEFT UNTIL SHOW TIME."
"ALRIGHT KEV. WE'LL GET MOVIN' RIGHT NOW. SEEYA TONIGHT."
"HOPEFULLY WITH BRIAN AND ESTHER." KEVIN SIGHS.
"YEAH....."A.J. LETS HIS VOICE TRAIL OFF. "LATER." HE FINISHES, FOLDING UP THE PHONE. HE TURNS TOWARDS DIANA. "THAT WAS KEV. THEY THINK THEY KNOW WHERE BRIAN AND ESTHER ARE HEADING. WE GOTTA GET UP NORTH AS FAST AS WE CAN." HE LOOKS UP AT DIANA. "DID YOU HERE ME?"
DIANA LEANS OVER THE TABLE MOTIONLESS, HER BODY MAKING LITTLE JERKS. BECOMING CONCERNED, A.J STANDS AND HURRIES OVER BEHIND DIANA. "DIANA, WHAT'S WRONG?!" HE PICKS HER HEAD UP, AND NOTICES THAT HER FACE IS BEGINNING TO TURN A BLUISH-GRAY. SEMI-CONSCIOUS, SHE MOTIONS TO HER THROAT. "OH MY GOD! YOU'RE CHOKING!" HE EXCLAIMS, AS HE WRAPS HIS ARMS AROUND HER. PERFORMING THE HEIMLECH MANEUVER QUICKLY, A.J. IS ABLE TO DISLODGE WHATEVER IS CAUGHT IN HER THROAT. GASPING FOR AIR, DIANA GOES LIMP IN A.J.'S ARMS AS HE HOLDS HER TIGHT.
"TH-TH-THANK Y-YOU." DIANA STUTTERS BREATHLESSLY, LOOKING UP AT A.J. HE SLOWLY HELPS HER UP FROM THE PICNIC TABLE, AND OVER TO THE CAR. AFTER HELPING HER INTO THE PASSENGER SEAT, HE CROUCHES DOWN BESIDE HER. SHE STILL BREATHES HEAVILY, AS SHE CLOSES HER EYES AND LAYS HER HEAD BACK ON THE SEAT.
"ARE YOU GONNA BE OKAY?" HE ASKS SHAKILY, NOT MOVING FROM HIS SPOT BESIDE HER. AFTER A BRIEF PAUSE, SHE NODS HER HEAD. "OKAY. I'M GONNA GO GET OUR THINGS FROM THE TABLE AND THEN WE'RE GONNA GET ON THE ROAD. YOU STAY PUT, OKAY?" DIANA NODS AGAIN AS A.J. RISES TO GO GET THEIR THINGS. DIANA WATCHES HIM WALK AWAY AND SIGHS.
"IF ONLY I COULD TELL YOU HOW I REALLY FEEL." SHE LOOKS AWAY, OUT AT THE HIGHWAY AS THE CARS SPEED BY. "BUT, I CAN'T." BLINKING BACK THE TEARS, SHE WHISPERS, "I'VE BEEN HURT BY GUYS BEFORE. WHAT IF YOU DO THE SAME?" SHE LOOKS BACK LONGINGLY AT A.J., WHO HURRIEDLY GATHERS THEIR THINGS AND BEGINS TO WALK BACK TO THE CAR. "YOU CAN NEVER KNOW," SHE SIGHS, WIPING AWAY THE TEARS, "YOU CAN NEVER KNOW THAT I LOVE YOU....."