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“It’s camcorder video tape,” Wes said. “Before cell phones, people had to use video cameras to record themselves doing stupid shit. These cassettes fit in the camcorders. Your dad must have recorded something with a camcorder. Did he not have a cell phone?”
“He did, and he used it. He was good with technology.” Eleanor ran her finger along the front of the video cassette. “I don’t remember Mom or Dad using anything but a cell phone to record stuff.”
“Well, we’ll either need to have it digitized into a new format or find a camcorder to watch it,” Wes said.
“It might not be anything to do with why someone tried to kill me,” Eleanor said. “For all I know, it’s just, like, a homemade porno starring Dad and some random chick. Ugh.”
“Maybe, but I don’t think the same can be said about this.” He held up the flash drive.
“Agreed.” Eleanor slid the cassette and the flash drive back into the envelope and set it on the back seat. She buckled her seat belt and checked the time. “I know it’s close to lunch, but are you good with just hitting a drive-thru or something? I want to get back home as soon as possible.”
“That’s fine with me,” Wes said.
As she drove out of the bus station, Wes said, “I want to apologize again for last night, Eleanor.”
“It’s fine,” she said. “I’m sorry too. It sucks that we fought, but at least we both know where we stand now, right? We can go back to being friends.”
“Right,” he said.
“Great,” she said with a cheeriness she didn’t feel. “I’m glad we’re friends, Wes.”
He made a half-nod and stared out the passenger window.
* * *
Wes stared worriedly at Eleanor as she parked in front of his house, leaned her head against the headrest, and closed her eyes. Even in the dim light from the streetlights, he could see the dark circles under her eyes and the pinched look of exhaustion on her face.
As if she sensed his worry, she smiled without opening her eyes and said, “I’m fine, Wes. Don’t be a worrywart.”
“You’re not fine. You’re worn out,” he said.
“Man, that was some delay, huh?” She glanced at the clock on the dashboard. It was nearly one in the morning. “Almost five extra hours to get home.”
“It was a bad accident,” Wes said.
“Yeah.” She rubbed at her forehead. “It’s a miracle no one died. That car was crunched like an accordion.”
They sat in silence for a few seconds before Eleanor cleared her throat. “Anyway, thanks for coming with me. I really appreciate it.” She gave him a ‘get out of my car now, please’ smile.
“You’re welcome. Will you text me when you get to Cooper’s?”
“Yeah, sure, of course.” She suddenly found something very interesting to look at on the car’s dashboard.
“Eleanor,” he said. “You can’t go back home. It isn’t safe.”
“I can’t go to Cooper’s,” she said. “It’s super late, and I don’t have a key, and I’m not waking Cooper and Daisy at one in the morning to let me into their house. And before you ask, no, I can’t afford another night in a motel, not even a murder one. So, my choices are sleeping in my car or sleeping in my bed with a baseball bat. I’m going with the bunking with a baseball bat option.”
“You can stay at my house tonight,” Wes said.
His lion growled his approval as Eleanor stared at him in surprise. “There’s no way you’re letting me into your house, Wes.”
“Why wouldn’t I?” he said.
“Oh, I don’t know… maybe because you flinch whenever I get close to you? You think I’ll try to fuck you without your permission.”
He scowled. “I don’t think that. And I don’t flinch when you’re close to me.”
She reached for his leg, and he shifted away on impulse. Eleanor sighed, and his lion called him an idiot.
