Donaldson paused. "Normally I wouldn't mind, Miss, but I don't have any seat belts back there, and I insist my passengers wear one. Safety first, I always say."
"Of course. Can't be too careful. Cars can be dangerous."
"Indeed they can. Indeed."
The front passenger door squeaked open, and the girl hopped in. Donaldson watched her buckle up, and then he accelerated back onto the highway.
Grinning at her, he rubbed his chin and asked, "So what's your name, little lady?"
"I'm Lucy." She looked down at the center console. A Big Gulp sweated in the drink holder. She reached into her pocket and looked at the man and smiled. "I really appreciate you picking me up. I don't think I caught your name."
"Donaldson. Pleased to meet you."
"Is that really your last name, or are you one of those guys who have a last name for a first name?"
"No, that's my first."
They drove in silence for a mile, Donaldson glancing between the girl and the road.
"Highway's packed this time of day. I bet we'd make better time on the county roads. Less traffic. If that's okay with you, of course."
"I was actually just going to suggest that," Lucy said. "Weird."
"Well, I wouldn't want to do anything to make you feel uncomfortable." Donaldson glanced down at Lucy's pocket. "Pretty young thing like yourself might get nervous driving off the main drag. In fact, you don't see many young lady hitchers these days. I think horror movies scared them all away. Everyone's worried about climbing into the car with a maniac."
Donaldson chuckled.
"I love county roads," Lucy said. "Much prettier scenery, don't you think?"
He nodded, taking the next exit, and Lucy leaned over, almost into his lap, and glanced at the gas gauge.
"You're running pretty low there. Your reserve light's on. Why don't we stop at this gas station up ahead. I'll put twenty in the tank. I also need something to drink. This mountain air is making my throat dry."
Donaldson shifted in his seat. "Oh, that light just came on, and I can get fifty miles on reserve. This is a Honda, you know."
"But why push our luck? And I'm really thirsty, Donaldson."
"Here." He lifted his Big Gulp. "It's still half full."
"No offense, but I don't drink after strangers, and I um…this is embarrassing…I have a cold sore in my mouth."
The gas station was coming up fast, and by all accounts it appeared to be the last stop before the county road started its climb into the mountains, into darkness.
"Who am I to say no to a lady?" Donaldson said.
He tapped the brakes and coasted into the station. It had probably been there for forty years, and hadn't updated since then. Donaldson sidled up to an old-school pump-one with a meter where the numbers actually scrolled up, built way back when closed-circuit cameras were something out of a science fiction magazine.
Donaldson peered over Lucy, into the small store. A bored female clerk sat behind the counter, apparently asleep. White trash punching the minimum wage clock, not one to pay much attention.
"The tank's on your side," Donaldson said. "I don't think these old ones take credit cards."
"I can pay cash inside. I buy, you fly."
Donaldson nodded. "Okay. I'm fine with doin' the pumpin'. Twenty, you said?"
"Yeah. You want anything?"
"If they have any gum that isn't older than I am, pick me up a pack. I've got an odd taste in my mouth for some reason."
Lucy got out of the car. Donaldson opened the glove compartment and quickly shoved something into his coat pocket. Then he set the parking brake, pocketed the keys, and followed her out.
While Donaldson stood pumping gas into the Honda, Lucy walked across the oil-stained pavement and into the store. The clerk didn't acknowledge her entrance, just sat staring at a small black-and-white television airing Jeopardy, her chin propped up in her hand and a Marlboro Red with a one-inch ash trailing smoke toward the ceiling.
Lucy walked down the aisle to the back of the store and picked a Red Bull out of the refrigerated case. At the drink fountain, she went with the smallest size-sixteen ounces-and filled the cup with ice to the brim, followed by a little Dr. Pepper, Mountain Dew, Pepsi, and Orange Fanta.
She glanced back toward the entrance and through the windows. Donaldson was still fussing with the pump. She reached into her pocket and withdrew the syringe. Uncapped the needle, shot a super-size squirt of liquid Oxycontin into the bubbling soda.
At the counter, she chose a pack of Juicy Fruit and pushed the items forward.
The clerk tore herself away from a video Daily Double and rang up the purchase.
"$24.52."
Lucy looked up from her wallet. "How much of that is gas?"
"Twenty."
"Shit, I told him just do fifteen. Here." She put a Jefferson on the filthy counter. "I'll send him in with the balance, 'cause this is all I've got."
"Don't be trying to steal my gas."
Donaldson was screwing on the gas cap when Lucy walked up. She said, "They still need five bucks. I'm sorry. It came to more than twenty with the drinks and gum. I'm out of cash."
"No ATM?"
"Here? Lucky they have electricity. I'll get you next stop." She flashed a shy grin, sashaying her fingers through the air. "Cross my heart and hope to die."
He just stared at her for a moment, then turned and started toward the store. Lucy opened the front passenger door and traded out Donaldson's Big Gulp for the fresh drink. She tossed the bucket-size cup into a trashcan between the pumps and climbed in.
Donaldson was at the counter. Lucy glanced into the backseat at the cooler with the biohazard sign. She looked into the convenience store, back at the cooler, then spun quickly around in her seat and reached back toward the lid.
Empty. The inside a dull, stained white. She closed it again.
Donaldson's footsteps slapped at the pavement. She settled back into her seat as he opened his door. The chassis bounced when he eased his bulk behind the wheel.
"Sorry about that," Lucy said. "I thought I had another ten. I could swear my snowboarder friend gave me some cash." She stuck out her lower lip, pouting. "I got you some gum. And a new drink."
Donaldson frowned, but he took the Juicy Fruit, ran it under his nose.
"Thank you, kindly. Fresh soda too, huh?"
Lucy cracked open the Red Bull and nodded.
"Cheers. To new friends." She took a sip. A trail of pink liquid dribbled down the corner of her mouth, hugging her chin and neck, dampening her shirt.
Donaldson shifted in his chair and reached for the cup. He sipped on the straw and made a face.
"What flavor is this?"
"I didn't know what you liked," Lucy said. "So I got you a little of everything."
Donaldson chuckled his approval, then turned the key and put the car into gear.
The winding county road ahead was pitch black, like driving through ink. Donaldson sipped his soda. Lucy watched him closely, taking periodic nips at her energy drink. The cool, dry air seemed to crackle with electricity as they climbed into the mountains.
"So is that really a guitar in that case?" Donaldson asked after five miles of silence.
"What do you think?"
"I'll be honest with you, darlin'. You're a bit of a mystery to me. I've been around, but I'm not sure what to make of you."
"How so?"
"You're young. But you've heard of Vietnam, I'm guessing."
"I loved Platoon."
Donaldson nodded. "Well then, you were practically there in the rice paddies with me, going toe-to-toe with the Cong."
He drank more soda. Lucy watched.
"Took some shrapnel in my hip in Ca Lu," Donaldson said. "Nicked my sciatic nerve. Biggest nerve in the body. Pain sometimes gets so bad I can chew through a bath towel. Do you understand pain, little girl?"
"More so than you'd think."
"So you should know, then, opiates and I are friends from way back." Donaldson took a big pull off the soda. "So spiking my drink here hasn't done much more than make me a little horny. Actually a lot horny." Donaldson turned to Lucy. "You're about as musical as I am Christian. So you want to tell me what your game is, or do I take you over my knee and spank you right now like the naughty girl you are?"