Millionaires

T he officer glared at Diane. “Did you hear me?”

Diane stared back at him, frantically thinking. What can I do? she asked herself. I can’t leave this spot. If Danny comes out dragging Reva, and I’m not here...

“My... uh... father is very sick,” she stammered. “He works here. In the stockroom. I have to take him to the hospital. That’s why I stopped back here. He’ll be out in one second. If you’ll only let me—”

“You can wait over there, young lady,” the officer interrupted. “I’m getting a little tired of repeating myself. Now, put the car in gear and pull over to the $$$not. Don’t make me write out a ticket.”

Diane swallowed hard. Her throat felt as if it were clogged with sand. “Sorry, sir.”

She glanced to the platform. No sign of Danny. Thank goodness. Reluctantly, she started to shift the car into gear.

I can’t believe this is happening, she thought miserably. I can’t believe our plans are being messed up for a third time.

A wave of sadness swept over her.

Loser. The word flared into her mind. I’m a loser.

Pres and Danny and I, we’re all losers.

Slowly, with the police officer still hovering over the car, she began to pull away.

A loud crash—the crunch of metal hitting metal, followed by shattering glass—made her stop.

“Oh, no!” she cried.

At first Diane thought she had hit something. It took her a second to realize the crash had come from the parking lot.

She heard angry voices. Shouts and curses.

“I’ve got to go over there!” the officer shouted, reaching for his nightstick. “You be gone when I get back—hear?”

Diane stuck her head out the window, watching him run toward the shouting voices.

“Yes!” she cried gleefully. Some luck. Some good luck. She finally had some good luck.

She jumped when the back door suddenly swung open. “Hey—” She had been so involved with the police officer, she hadn’t watched for Danny.

“Go! Go! Go!” he shouted.

She turned to the backseat to see him shove Reva into the car. The heavy coat was draped over Reva’s head. She didn’t move.

What has he done to her? Diane wondered. “Danny, did you—?”

“Just knocked her out,” Danny replied, breathing hard.

Danny shoved Reva across the seat and slid in beside her. He kept his arm around her shoulder, holding the coat over her. “Go! Go! Go!” he repeated, slamming the car door, then leaning close to Reva, pressing her against the seatback in case she came to.

“I don’t believe it! You... got her!” Diane cried.

“Shut up and drive!” Danny raged.

Gripping the wheel tightly with both hands, Diane pulled away from the platform. The car shot forward as she plunged her foot all the way down on the gas pedal and turned toward the street.

Glancing in the rearview mirror, she searched for the policeman. She had a frightening vision of him chasing after them.

But there was no one.

She pulled onto the street, the threadbare tires squealing, and turned toward the highway that led to Waynesbridge.

“We did it!” she cried gleefully. “I don’t believe it! We did it!”

Danny grinned at her, still holding the coat tightly over Reva’s head. “We’re going to be millionaires!” he exclaimed. “Millionaires!”

“Just like in the movies!” Diane declared.

If only Pres could be here, she thought, feeling a twinge of sadness. If only Pres could enjoy this too.

But soon they would get Pres out. Soon Pres would be back with them.

And they would be rich, richer than they had ever dreamed.

Christmas was almost here. What a great Christmas it was going to be.

Millionaires. That’s what we’ll be—millionaires, Diane thought, so excited she drove through a stop sign.

Dalby will gladly fork over a million to get his precious daughter back.

We’ve done it! Just like in the movies!

And now nothing can go wrong.

Nothing.

Дата добавления: 2015-07-20