Run Away Baby

“Sure. What is it?”

“Could you hold onto this for me?” She pressed the wad of bills into his hand.

“Sure. Of course,” he said. He shoved it into his pocket without looking at it.

“Thanks. Do you see that guy over there who keeps staring at us?” she asked.

“That’s my cousin. He’s staring at us because he recognizes me.”

“I’m glad he’s someone you know. For a second I thought maybe Randall was having me followed. God. I’m so paranoid.”

“No, you’re safe,” he said.

“Is your cousin a criminal? Randall said everyone who sells stuff here is a criminal.”

“No. He’s a regular guy. Why are we talking about Randall?”

“I don’t know. We’re not.”

“Good. What are you doing after you’re done here?”

“I think I’m going to buy some knickknacks and get going,” Abby said. She and Charlie were starting to get entirely too casual about being seen in public together. She didn’t like that his cousin was watching them, considering them a couple, learning to identify her.

“Want to come back to my place?”

“Umm…”

“Or I could stop by the cabin? That’s what it’s for, right?”

“I don’t know,” she said.

“What’s wrong?”

“I don’t want to get caught.”

“You have sunglasses on and old clothes.”

“But people might still recognize me.”

“I don’t think so. No offense, Babe, but you look pretty rough,” he said.

“You don’t have to go that far.”

“I’m just saying, no one here would ever recognize you, or be connected to your hoity-toity world. Right?”

“I don’t know. I guess not.”

“Let’s get out of here.”

“We can’t go to the cabin, though. Randall is going to be installing cameras in there as soon as he gets caught up at work. I mean, he won’t install them, but he’ll get someone to do it. So seriously, Charlie, please don’t even think of stopping by there. It could be really bad.”

“They’re not there yet, though. Right?”

“Probably not. But still.”

“It was just a suggestion.”

“I know, but it’s not a habit we can get into.”