Tucker looks disappointed and a little skeptical. “If you say so. Give me your number, though. I’ll drop you a pin in case you change your mind.”
I don’t mind giving him my number, but I stand my ground. “Thanks. But I’ll see you on Saturday.”
He gives me another slap on the back. “Text me if you need anything in the meantime. I know this town better than the back of my hand.”
CHAPTER FIVE
LUCKY BREAK
TARYN
We’ve been driving for days.
Jo-Jo and I have been taking turns at the wheel of my beat up Volkswagen Beetle, zigzagging from state to state on our way to the west coast.
My best friend got rid of our bloody clothes and the knife somewhere between New Mexico and Arizona during a stop to admire the scenic views of the desert. I don’t know exactly where she dumped the incriminating evidence, and she said it’s better that way.
“Plausible deniability, baby.” She said. “So if this comes back to you in any way, you aren’t going to lie to the police when you say you have no idea what happened to the murder weapon.”
That’s good thinking. The police would never look for it thousands of miles away, at the opposite end of the country.
If I was hoping that my memory would come back once my head was a little clearer after the drugs still in my system had gone, I’m sorely disappointed.
All I can remember from the time I downed my drink is Tim kissing me and pushing me down onto his bed. After that was a big black hole until I woke up covered in blood.
While driving across the country, we’ve been stopping to see some interesting stuff. Highways are full of interesting landmarks. The biggest peach in the world in Georgia and the biggest chili pepper in the world in New Mexico are just my favorite of the odd and interesting things we have seen.
Paying for gas and food has been our main concern while on the road, and we’ve slept in the car every night to make our less than adequate funds last until we reach the west coast.
Truck stop bathrooms are surprisingly clean and they have extensive facilities, including showers. I don’t think I’ve ever appreciated a hot shower more than the one I took at a truck stop in Alabama where I finally was able to wash the blood off my skin and hair.
Other than staying safe and making our money last as long as possible, our main concern has been watching the news for obvious reasons.
So far the police have no leads in what was called a shocking, senseless and gruesome murder.
Our road trip and Jo-Jo’s company have been an excellent distraction from the guilt that assaults me every night without fail.
How could I kill someone so violently? I just completed my nursing degree, but I swear the hospital rotations have been the hardest part of my studies. I discovered that I really don’t like blood during my stint in the ER. However, I also know that mind-altering substances can make people do things that they would never do if they weren’t under the influence.
That’s what Jo-Jo reminded me last night. She woke up in the middle of the night to my uncontrollable sobbing.
“Taryn, sweetie,” she held me tight. “Listen to me. You’re the best person I know. The most compassionate, caring, and loving woman I’ve ever met. I consider myself lucky to call you my friend, ok? We have both seen what certain drugs can do to a person. Whenever you have any doubts about it, remember Laura Hamilton. Like she would have never willingly walked down the interstate in her birthday suit, you would never hurt another person.”
In my heart, I know Jo-Jo is right. And I agree with her that I didn’t choose to take those drugs, so I can’t be held responsible for what happened when I was roofied.
A part of me thinks we made a mistake by leaving. No jury would have found me guilty under the circumstances. But then I remember the countless true crime documentaries where an excellent DA managed to get a conviction with even less evidence than what there was in Tim’s room. And my mom would have given every last cent in her bank account to get me the best defense lawyer she could afford. But as a single parent who’s worked two jobs to support us, my odds wouldn’t have looked that good.
We did everything right so far. No one saw us leave the Gamma house in the early hours of the morning. Our lease was up at the end of the month, and since we were graduating, we had already given notice to our landlord. So no one would find us leaving too suspicious.
I turn my head to look at Jodie napping with her head against the window while I drive.
Ride or die, she said.
I’m grateful for my best friend. We were paired in the dorms freshman year. We were lucky that a random computer program selected our best friend as a roommate. We’ve joked countless times since then that we wouldn’t trust anyone else if we ever had to hide a body.
If my nerves weren’t still a little shaken, the fact that we pretty much found ourselves in that very situation would be funny.
I stifle a yawn and relax my fingers on the steering wheel. I’ve been driving since dawn and my stomach growls, signaling that it’s time for a stop. We slept at a truck stop just past LA last night and I’ve been driving for almost five hours. It’s closer to lunchtime than breakfast, and I’m sure Jo-Jo is going to be just as hungry when she wakes up.
