Scabby scratched his spindly goatee and sneered. “I’m the guy in charge here.”
“So you say.” Leanna put her hands on her hips. “If you’re such a good boss, then why are we traveling in a beat-up van and hiding from the police?”
“Who says we’re hiding from the police?” Scabby picked his teeth with his fingernail.
Leanna swept her hand around at the deserted gas station. “We’re out in the middle of nowhere. You’re obviously hiding from the police because you’re smuggling illegal aliens and human trafficking victims.”
“Shhh!” All three men shushed her, earning a warning look from the woman behind the counter.
A portly man waddled over, wiping his hands with a grease rag. “Are you young people going to get gas or buy something?”
“Actually, they’re coyotes,” Leanna said. “We need you to call the police.”
“She’s agringa,” Patricia said. “She’s just kidding.”
“I’m an American citizen,” Leanna said. “These guys kidnapped me. You must alert the embassy.”
“She’sloca!” Blue Skull said. “She’s my girlfriend.”
“Yes, they are all our girlfriends,” Scabby said. “We’re just passing through.”
“Look at her.” Leanna pointed to Sleeping Beauty, slumped on the floor. “Does she look like she’s passing through or passing out? These guys put roofies in our drinks.”
“No, they didn’t.” Patricia hooked her arm around Pimply. “I’m with him. We’ll buy some coffee and churros and be on our way.”
“Right. Sorry for the disturbance.” Scabby tried to pick Maria off the floor, but he was too weak.
The man walked away grumbling about disrespectful young people, and Leanna took the opportunity to slip into the women’s room. Too bad the only window had bars on it. Didn’t these places have fire codes?
Once inside, she was joined by Patricia, the would-be nanny.
“What did you do that for? Accuse these guys of kidnapping you?” Patricia hissed. “Do you want us to get busted?”
“Yes, as a matter of fact, I do.” Leanna slammed the door to the toilet stall.
“I paid a lot of money to get to Texas.” Patricia slammed the door to the next stall. “I can’t have you ruining it.”
“Then convince those three stooges to let me go,” Leanna said while peeing. “I won’t cooperate until you do.”
“You’re being stupid,” Patricia said. “You think that man was going to call the police for you?”
“No, but if we want these guys to treat us better, we need to make them nervous,” Leanna said. “I’ve got a plan. I’ll pose as a very wealthy American and get these guys to treat us like princesses.”
“Fine by me,” Patricia said from the next stall. “How do you propose to do so?”
The two of them discussed Leanna’s idea while washing their faces and hands. Then Patricia let Leanna borrow her hairbrush and what little makeup she had.
“Do you have a phone?” Leanna asked. “I need to call my husband. He’s very rich. These guys are bozos because my husband has the password to wire money, but they kidnapped me instead.”
“They aren’t the brightest of the bunch,” Patricia agreed, handing over her phone. “Okay, but remember. Don’t mess up my trip to Texas. Promise?”
“Promise. I’ll even help you find a job.” Leanna took Patricia’s phone and tried Axe’s number. No one answered so she left him a message. “I’m with those three idiots. Let me take a picture of my location, and the phone will geotag it. I’ll text it to you.”
“Are you done with my phone?” Patricia asked.
“Not yet. Remember our strategy.” Leanna slipped the phone into her bra since she didn’t have a purse.
“Okay, I get Reuben,” Patricia said. “I’m not a prostitute or a slut.”
