The Marradith Ryder Series Part 15
“Hungry?”
Marradith batted her eyes at Justin, who had just devoured an entire breakfast burrito in all of four bites.
They were at 79 Gas Guzzle, filling up the tank before they hit the interstate.
He shrugged, not at all bothered by her making fun of him. “I was trying to figure out what I was going to wash it down with,” he commented. Leaning against the car, he watched as
the numbers flew by on the gas pump. He smiled. “You know, I’m kind of ready for another car now, Ryder. What do you think?”
“I think,” she replied, “that I’m going to go back in and get us a few more snacks. We’ll need something left. Want some more coffee?”
“Please,” he said.
***
Shannon Vega was hot.
The only time Mike even bothered to watch Channel 5 was when she was on. Business was a little slow, and he was able to give her his full attention. He only had one pair of customers outside, and the guy had already been into the convenience store for food.
Standing in front of a police station, Shannon spoke quickly, her large brown eyes staring dead center into the camera. She pouted, just a little, and her red mouth gave away a hint of emotion that her eyes did not. He half listened to what she was saying, mesmerized by her lips.
“…. in connection with the incident this week at the LessCost, in which eleven people were killed. Police do not consider her a suspect in the case, but they have evidence that ties her to the scene . Again, let me repeat, she is not a suspect, but is wanted for questioning. The police also have reason to believe that she may be in the company of a black male, approximately twenty five years of age. ”
A picture came up on the screen; a teenaged girl in jeans and a white sweater.
A second picture came up, a male. “This is the artist’s rendering of a black male that was seen by an eyewitnesses at LessCost,” Shannon explained. “Please look at him closely. Police theorize that he may be with the girl, and that it is possible that he has her against her
will. There is a reward of $100,000 being offered for the safe recovery of Marradith Ryder or the unidentified male, or any leads that would result in either of the two being apprehended.”
Mike dropped his coffee.
Outside, standing in front of gas pump twelve, was the girl in the photo. She was talking with a guy, who was pumping gas. They seemed friendly enough. He was smiling at whatever it was that she was saying.
She turned away from him and walked towards the store.
***
It only took a second.
Will sat with his car parked on the street, windows rolled up. He watched Marradith talking to Justin. They seemed comfortable, very friendly. What’s up with that, he wondered? She was a pretty girl and he wondered if there might be something between the two.
Now wouldn’t that make Leighton happy, he thought, a sarcastic smile creeping across his face. Justin turned his back to remove the gas hose.
Marradith headed toward the convenience store.
***
Justin looked up.
He saw a man sprinting up behind Marradith.
“Hey! Hey you!” Justin yelled.
***
Marradith turned around.
She put out her hand.
The man was almost on top of her then. He seemed to know what was about to happen, just as he got close. But it was too late. He was sailing through the air towards her and she moved forward to close the space between them. He touched her arm.
The shock was strong enough that it blew him backwards.
Marradith heard a sizzle fly through the air.
Inside the convenience store, the lights went out.
On the street, the traffic lights suddenly went dead.
Justin heard the sound of screeching tires, and turned just in time to see a car hurtling towards the gas station.
***
Mike watched from the window of the convenience store.
A guy was running behind the girl. The boyfriend, who had been pumping gas, turned and started cussing him out.
The second guy caught hold of her arm.
Mike saw his face clearly. The man that touched her was the same man he’d just seen in the police sketch.
Later, Mike would tell the police that the girl used a stun gun on her captor, but he didn’t see anything in the girl’s hands, just the electricity sparking from them like lightening.
Later, he would also tell the police that he tried to go outside and help. He didn’t. He barely had time to duck when the bullets started flying.
__
© 2009 Lori Titus
Lori Titus’s The Marradith Ryder Series appears each Wednesday on Flashes in the Dark. Many of her short stories have appeared on MicroHorror and Shadeworks, and she is currently writing an anthology of short stories with a tentative release date in 2010.
For more information see her at http://www.myspace.com/talesforthedark.
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May 13th, 2009 at 11:18 am
Wow, that was an action-packed update! And more action to come in part 16, by the sound of it - can’t wait!
October 5th, 2009 at 7:46 pm
Your posts are the best! Always helpful!
June 16th, 2010 at 1:57 pm
Oops she got a little much into that zap, then again when attacked you don’t have a lot of time to focus.
Poor Mike is stuck inside his store now and probably scared silly.