California Moon

He was barely able to make out a sign—the Sabine River. He’d been brought out to Highway 79, south of the city. Down the embankment the murky river flowed deep and wide this time of year.

His arms felt as if they’d been pulled from their sockets. He could barely move his numb fingers as he reached under his jacket for warmth. Behind the Rockets’ heavily embroidered emblem he felt the computer disk. It was safe.

He remembered back to his dinner earlier that night with Adam at the Catfish King. “They’ll kill me if they get their hands on this,” Adam had said, passing the disk across the wooden table. “Thanks for flying in to meet me and not asking why I arranged for your rented car using a phony name. I don’t want anyone tracing you back to me. You’re anonymous in this thing. I swear, I’ll protect you,” Adam had said. “Just do this for me.”

He knew Adam was in trouble then, but still hadn’t fully understood the ramifications at the time. He should have paid more attention. He thought he was helping Adam, but at what price?

His head felt as if it was about to explode. His fingers wrapped around the disk.

Hide it.

His hand moved as if by its own will.

He knew now they were both going to die.

Palming the disk, he slipped it under the bloody rock where he’d hit his head.

No! No good. Think man, think. Your life is at stake!

He moved his hand away from the rock. Pain washed over him. He could barely see them, fuzzy figures looming over him. A booted foot kicked his ribs and shoved hard. He heard the man grunt, then walk away, leaves, twigs and pinecones crunching under his feet.

Adam’s screams rent the still night one last time, shocking him alert. He heard the sound of a muffled gunshot.

A silencer! God…Adam….

Suddenly, he was hauled to an upright position.

“Where de fuck eezit?”

“I don’t…”

Suddenly his vision was keen and clear. A man with pockmarked olive skin and brittle eyes gritted his teeth and pulled back his fist. The blow to his midsection knocked the wind out of him. He couldn’t speak.

They pounded his jaw, neck, shoulders. He folded and sank to the icy mud.

“Give it to me or I’ll keel you.”

Bastards! I’m dead either way.

The blow to his kidneys sent a searing pain throughout his body. His lungs burned as he gasped for air. The pain was unbearable.

He wanted to feel angry, feel the need for revenge, but that took more energy than he had. Still, if he could survive, he would find them and return the favor.

If I could stall them…get to the car…

Hope was a virtue he’d seldom utilized but right now it was all he had.

“Adam…where’s Adam?” he managed to groan.

“Dead. Jes like you will be.”

The other man laughed. “No, let’s have some fun. We think maybe you keel your friend. Ha!”

They laughed menacingly together.

Even though he knew it was true, the words shocked him. He felt terrible guilt, crucifying guilt. He should have saved Adam. He should have fought back.

His eyes were swelling shut. He flailed his fists at the air halfheartedly.

They just laughed at him. One of them had a quirky, high-resonating titter. Hatred sprouted mighty and fast inside him.

He would never forget that laugh. Never.

They dragged him to the car and shoved him inside, propping him behind the steering wheel. He heard the car door slam, then another door open and close. Scuffling sounds attenuated.

Unconsciousness descended quick and heavy like a steel door. As the world faded to black, he thought, It’ll be good to die.

2

Shreveport, Louisiana

Shannon Riley had pulled the worst float assignment of her career at St. Christopher’s Charity Hospital—the ER during a full moon, half the staff down with the flu and a green intern on duty.

“But I’m just a ward nurse,” she said to Helen Mayer, the senior administrator who was standing in the doorway to the staff lounge. “Besides, I just finished my shift. I want to go home.” She rubbed her bleary eyes.

“You? Home?”

“I miss my cat.”

“She’ll survive.”

“Aw, c’mon, Helen. I’m tired. I really do have a life.”

“Yeah? What’s his name?”

“I didn’t mean a guy.” Shannon dropped her face to her hand, cupping her mouth. “Does it always have to be a guy?”

“It couldn’t be anyone else. You don’t have any family.”

“I know this,” Shannon looked away and stared at the wall.

“Sorry.”

Shannon was silent for a long beat. “It’s okay.”

“No, it’s not. You’re more than just an employee here. You’re a friend. And that was unkind of me,” Helen said. “Please help me, Shannon. I’ve always counted on you, my ace.”

A slow smile warmed Shannon’s face. “You’ll note this sacrifice on my record?”