Hiding Spots

The rain pelt down and a woman is about to run down her fifth alleyway. She is scanning for a place to hide from her pursuer. Her heartbeat is filling her head. Her panic is coupled with exasperation and annoyance. She thinks, goddam, the movies make it look so easy. Where the hell are all those great hiding spots that villains somehow always overlook? Apparently real life doesn't house large trash cans or cardboard boxes to hide in or behind.

She quickens her pace as the echoes of footsteps approach. She is running down an alley only to face a dead end. She turns to find a man who's clearly been waiting for her. He points his finger up to his lips. His trenchcoat is drenched.

She is about to scream but he covers her mouth and grabs her. He pulls her into a secret hiding spot.

In a low growling voice, he asks “Where is your son?”

A wave of shock fills her as she has been hiding her son for months. No one, not even her new co-workers, knows about him. She isn't known in this state as a mother with a young child. After her divorce, she went into the witness protection program. But her husband, angry about the custody battle, is still sending his gangster goons to get them back or at the very least their son.

“No son,” she says resolutely.

He shakes his head in disgust and annoyance. “I've seen this film many times before…and liars frequently don't survive.”

“I am not lying.”

He holds a knife out to her throat. “I know you. I have been watching you. You want me to believe you're buying lucky charms for yourself?”

She gulps and says “why not?”

He chuckles and brings the knife down. “You know you got some gumption. I like that. And I also like getting what I want. I am suspecting you don't know why you have been chased around the country for the past couple of years. Did you ever see the Maltese Falcon?”

“Nope.”

“Our story is kind of like that movie. You see I was in charge of security for a jewel that got stolen. And I suspect your husband is the thief. I lost some friends and family. The gang he doubled-crossed went after my loved ones and me. Now I am after you because he has and still is going after you. It seems your son may have a petty theft problem of his own. I suspect he took the shiny piece for himself.”

“No. I have seen no jewelry. He's no thief. He's not his father.”

A sound of pounding at the brick walls fills the air. The lights go out and man quickly pushes her to the ground as the doors break. She falls and hears the sound of a latch close above her. She is too startled to scream.

“Hey, are you hiding a rain soaked woman?”

The man in the trench coat lights a match.

“Nope. No one here but me.”

The goon walks around and misses the trap door below.

“You look familiar.”

“I suspect most ruggedly handsome men do.”

The goon laughs and holds out a photo while saying “you know if you're hiding this woman. I will break you in two.”

“I would never keep you from your little lady.”

When the goon leaves, he waits before helping her up and out of the hole.

He whispers “I don't think your husband gives a crap about custody of your son. I think he believes the son is hiding the jewel. Can I look for it?”

“What happens if you find it, then you take it? Then what?!?? I went into a witness protection program and I am still having to relocate my life about every six months. If he discovers we no longer have what he needs, then what becomes of us?”

“I suspect it would be wise of you to watch more movies. Maybe they could teach you a thing or two about trapping your enemy.”

She rolls her eyes. “Ok if you're such an expert, how do we trap him?”

“A documentary on Capone said he got caught on taxes. Hire a bogus bookkeeper that shows he was evading taxes during your marriage.”

“That's not exactly a bad idea.”

They leave the backside of the building and get into his car.

After a five minute drive, she sighs out the words “I can't wait for all of this to end.” Then some car lights flash at them from the passenger side of the vehicle. The car appears to be determined to ram into them. He turns a sharp corner. And speeds down a small alley. He makes a left and then nearly hits the metal railing while aiming to merge onto the highway.

As they are speeding down the highway a cop car starts to pursue them.

“Hold on.” He speeds up and flips a U-turn on the highway. And the cop car speeds past them.

At the next exit he goes down the backstreets to her place.

Her son is happily sleeping. And the stranger reaches into the crib and grabs the teddy bear. When he opens the back, the jewel is sparkling. He takes it and hands over the number of an accountant. And a map of safe and secret homes. “I suspect these items will help your life move forward nicely.”

“Great. Even more places to hide” she said.

“But at least you’ll be…”

The door EXPLODES open. The child in the crib chokes on air before screaming at the top of his little lungs.

Her husband stands at the door. Aiming at all of them.

Ready or not…