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I noticed six squad cars blocking the exit at the top of the hill.
“If you don’t have a ride home, we’ll happily call your parents and tell them exactly where they can pick you up tonight in jail! Officer Graham, start my fucking timer. Ten minutes!”
I froze, unsure of what to do.
All of a sudden, a screaming mob rushed toward the parking lot. With my heart pounding against my chest, I followed everyone else’s lead and ran like my life depended on it.
The police broke their ten-minute promise and gave chase—demanding an immediate Breathalyzer test to whoever they caught.
Shit. Shit. SHIT!
I tugged on every door handle I passed, hoping like hell one would open.
The red Volvo was jammed, the white Chevrolet Cobalt didn’t budge, and as I was tugging on the back doors of an old grey minivan, a couple rolled out and onto the ground mid-kiss. They were groping and grabbing each other without a care in the world.
“You! Stay right there!” A loud voice bellowed in my direction.
I ran faster, moving to another row of cars.
Heavy footsteps sounded behind me, but I kept moving. Tried more car handles.
No luck.
I nearly slipped as I gripped the slick handle of a Honda, steadying my heels in the gravel. Just when I thought the door would give way, it began to rain.
Ugh…
I took a quick risk and looked over my shoulder, seeing that cops were arresting the couple from the minivan and leading them away. Letting out a breath, I moved behind a huge white truck and called Sarah Kay.
Pick up, pick up, pick up.
“Hello?” She answered on the third ring.
“Where are you? Did you get out of the warehouse?”
“Huh, Kate?” She laughed. “Why do you sound so panicked?”
“Because the police are out here arresting people for being at this illegal-ass party that you made me come to.” I tried not to yell. “Where the hell are you?”
“Oh, um…” She cleared her throat. “I left with Ronnie half an hour ago. We got hungry, so we decided to get some tacos in Camp Creek.”
I let out a breath?half-relieved that she wasn’t in the back of a cop car, half-pissed that she didn’t text me about leaving. “Can you have Ronnie circle back this way to pick me up?”
“Huh?”
“Tell him to come back and pick me up.” I looked over the truck bed and saw a cop handing Peter Pan a Breathalyzer. Then I saw him pulling out his handcuffs. “Like, if he speeds, he can get here in fifteen minutes. Are you there?”
“Um, okay, so …” Her voice trailed off, and I held back a scream.
Anytime Sarah Kay uttered the words “Um, okay, so,” selfishness or stupidity was seconds away from slipping from her lips.
“We didn’t really go to get tacos,” she admitted. “We’re on our way to Ronnie’s place and um, I’m spending the night. Don’t worry, though. I told mom I was staying at the Walton’s place overnight and that you have to come in later due to a headache. You’re welcome.”
What the hell? “I don’t have a way to get home, Sarah Kay.” I gritted my teeth. “Ronnie was my ride, remember? I swear to God, if you don’t come back here right now?”
“Are you there, Kate?” She interrupted me. “Kate, you’re breaking up!”
You’ve got to be fucking kidding me. “Nothing is wrong with the phone reception,” I said. “Nothing.”
“Oh wow. It’s all pure static as we drive through this grove of walnut trees.”
“There aren’t any walnut trees on this side of the lake, Sarah Kay. Stop bullshitting me.”
“Oh, no! I’m losing her, Ronnie. I guess I’ll have to hang up and try to call her later.” There was a long pause, then she took a deep breath. “You think she fell for the ‘no service’ thing or no?”
I ended the call. There was no point in trying to get through to her anymore.
The rain started to fall a bit harder, and I sighed.
The sound of heavy footsteps was behind me once again, and I didn’t feel like losing the open-car game anymore. I did the only thing I could think of to get out of here.
Moving one row over, I jumped into the back of the first flatbed truck I saw. I climbed over the edges and let out a sigh of relief at the sight of a tarp and fishing gear. Lying flat, I pulled the tarp over me, and hoped the owner would return and drive off soon.
I’ll figure out the rest from there.
The footsteps moved past the truck, and I heard a cop stop someone for a Breathalyzer test.
“Okay, you’re cleared,” he said. “Now, get the hell off the lot, son.”
Seconds later, the truck rattled and roared as it came to life. I clung to the side rail and bit my bottom lip as the driver sped away like a bat out of hell.
