No One's Coming
Ella had waited patiently for the slow woman behind the counter at the car rental place to eventually get her the car she’d rented. While she didn’t want something too flashy, she did want something that would go fast, just in case she needed that. What she ended up with was really neither--a black SUV. Now, she could be the one who looked like she was chasing someone.
When Rome told her he was taking the tram to the parking garage, every hair on the back of her neck stood on end. “What? Why?” she asked, using her Bluetooth.
“Cowboy,” Rome had said.
Ella caught her breath. That was their danger word, the word that was to alert her something was wrong, or that it might be wrong. “Is someone following you?”
It took Rome a moment to answer. “Yeah, I think so. A couple of guys in Hawaiian shirts followed me out of baggage claim. They just hopped into a cab. Hopefully, I’m overreacting, but I don’t know.”
“Can you still see the cab?” she asked, wondering what she might encounter when she got to the tram drop off. She would have to figure out where to go and how to get there before Rome did.
“Yes. They’re right behind the tram.”
“Damnit,” Ella whispered. “What level are you getting off at, do you know?”
“The tram says it’s going to parking level C.”
“Okay.” She would have to wind her way around the parking garage and get back up there. “What are you going to do if they’re still following you when you get there?”
“I don’t know, but I’m not getting off of the tram until I’m sure I can get in with you.”
“Unfortunately, I’m driving a black SUV, so you could be fooled.”
“Honk twice if it’s you. Do you have a hat? We don’t need them knowing what your hair looks like already.”
“Good point.” She did have a stocking cap tucked away in her carry-on. She managed to pull it out while she was driving, not caring about the few odd objects that scattered on the floor when she did so.
“We’re pulling into level C, and the cab is still behind me.”
“What are they planning to do? Force you into a cab?”
“No, there’s another car following behind them. God damnit! How in the world did he know I was going to end up flying into Dallas?”
“Stay calm, babe. I’m not letting them take you anywhere, you can bet on that. I’m pulling into Level C now. I see the tram, and the cab. If I have to ram them, I will.”
“I see you,” he said. “I may have to abandon the bags.”
“Do what you need to do. But I doubt they’re going to grab you in front of the driver. They’re probably banking on you walking to a car.”
Sure enough, she watched the cab slow and the other car drive down the next aisle over, so that no matter which way he went, they’d be on him.
If he had to walk very far.
Ella pulled up right next to the tram and popped the back lift gate.
“Hey! You can’t park there!” the driver shouted.
She waved at the driver as Rome shot out of the vehicle and jumped into the back, bags and all. She pressed the button to lower the lift gate and headed for the closest exit, knowing she’d have to go through the bottom two levels of the garage and there was a good chance the assholes behind her would catch up.
Careful not to squeal her tires, Ella shot down the aisle, watching the taxi try to squeeze past the tram. It wouldn’t quite fit through the narrow aisle, which was to her advantage, even though the other car was moving in her direction.
“Can you duck down below that seat?” she shouted to Rome.
“I think so. Why?”
It was a crazy idea but the only one Ella could come up with. She pulled into an empty spot in a crowded row, one where she could back up or go straight and dropped down into the floor boards, praying the other drivers hadn’t gotten too close a look at her SUV’s license plate numbers.
“I hope this works,” Rome said.
“Me, too. Otherwise, they’ll just catch up with us at the exit.”
“True. How long do we wait?”
“I don’t know.”
Ella could see the cars driving by through the side mirror of the car parked next to her since it was facing the other way. Slowly, a cab drove past the front of her car, and she could see the two men in Hawaiian shirts frantically looking around, urging the driver down the aisle. They didn’t seem to notice the car, but then, why were they going so slowly? Perhaps the other car had gone off looking for them.
As soon as the cab was out of her line of sight, Ella sat up, looking around for the other vehicle. Seeing neither, she placed her hands on the wheel but didn’t pull out yet. She wanted to give the cab a chance to get ahead.
A couple of other cars came by, likely people who were on the tram with Rome. They were going the posted speed limit. Ella fell into line with them, taking off her hat and putting on a different one, wishing she could change something else, but that was the extent of her quick costume changes.
She followed the other two cars down the ramp, a minivan getting in behind her. She could see a frazzled mother behind the wheel, barking at her kids. Once she was in line to exit, it would be really difficult to get out of line.
A quick survey of the area let her know exactly what she was up against. The other car, a dark sedan, was parked a few rows over. As Ella headed toward an exit lane that only had one other car in front of her, she noticed the sedan pulling out of its spot. Another car cut between them, but it was back there, and they would be exiting the airport parking garage nearly at the same time.
She wished she had someone to say, “Cowboy,” to, but there was no one coming to help.
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