He reached the corner of Banger and Marbury, and the gas station and con ve nience store were closed.
“This here’s run by Booger Jackson. I guess Booger had something better to do than keep things open to night,” he said. “That’s the way it is in this neck of the woods.”
I looked at my phone. Still no reception.
“I’ll give you fifty dollars if you’ll drive me to Trenton,” I said.
“Fifty dollars. That’s a lot of money.”
I wasn’t convinced his truck could make it all the way to Trenton, but I’d go as far as he could take me. If I had to flag down another driver in Cherry Hill, it was better than staying here.
“Okay” he said. “I guess you must be in a bind to get home.”
He took Route 206, and I didn’t object. I didn’t think the truck was Turnpike material. Twenty minutes later, I had cell ser vice, and I called Diesel.
“I’m on my way home,” I told him.
“Are you okay?”
“Yes. I’m surprised you’re not combing the woods, looking for me.”
“I was in the air with Boon all afternoon. He just brought me back to Trenton. Ranger has twenty men on the ground. You need to call him.”
“I have a favor to ask. I have no clean clothes. Could you take the laundry basket to my mother’s house and ask her to throw everything in the washer?”
“I’m on it.”
I dialed Ranger.
“I’m okay,” I said.
“Where are you?”
“I’m on my way home.”
Lula was next on my list, and then my mother.
“I’m sending Diesel over with laundry,” I told my mother. “I’d really appreciate it if you’d throw it all in the washer.”
“Where are you? I tried to call. I made lasagna. It’s still warm.”
“Give some to Diesel when he gets there, and I’ll be there in about a half hour.”
“Was that your mom?” Elmer asked.
“Yes. She’s going to hold dinner for me. You can take me to her house in Chambersburg.”
“I haven’t been to Trenton in about twenty years. You’ll have to give me directions.”
IT WAS DARK when Elmer finally chugged to the curb and parked behind the Subaru at my parents’ house.
I wrenched my door open and jumped from the pickup. “I’ll be right back with your money” I said.
“I’ll be here.”
A black Porsche Turbo slid to a stop behind the truck, and Ranger got out. He closed the distance between us, pulled me to him, and held me tight.
“Are you really okay?” he asked.