Hired Hearts

I take a step backward as the towering man steps forward from the shadows of the house. He is a man of dark complexion, maybe Middle Eastern? His brow furrows as he takes surprisingly light and swift steps to arrive at my side. I take another step backwards, but not before he grabs me by the upper arm.

“I said come with me Kane. I just want to help. And you need all the help you can get. We need to get you out of here.”

My thoughts return to the man I had just left bleeding on the floor of his own home and as I look into this stranger’s somehow comforting face, I decide to trust him. He has an air of familiarity about him, something that puts me at ease. I give a nod and he pulls me towards the side of the house.

“Go just behind the house. You will find a path within the trees. Walk until you see a bench, then sit and wait. I will be there soon,” he says as he nudges me forward.

“What about my car?” I ask. He just waves me along, then turns and runs to the front of the house. I face the looming trees, take a breath, and enter.

Forty-five minutes later, I sit alone on a cold stone bench. I found it quite easily, but how long does this man expect me to sit here? I don’t even know his name! This was a bad idea. The cops will be looking for me, I should get going. I jolt up to my feet and hear a twig crack in the distance. As I scan the trees, I see my new guardian walking towards me. It’s about time.

“My car?” I prod.

“Taken care of. To the police, it appears that you were beaten, burned to a crisp, placed in your car, and driven into the nearby lake. Craig took off after murdering you in cold blood. They will be looking for him instead of you. I hope. You did conveniently leave your wallet in the car.”

This plan doesn’t seem very foolproof. It seems that there is no definitive way for the cops to decide that I’m the one in the lake instead of Craig. But what choice do I have?

“You know me, though how, I’m not sure…” I start the sentence with no idea how to finish it. The man gestures for me to walk with him.

“My name is Lincoln. I had business at your office today. But as I arrived, the building was going up in flames. I saw you get out of your car, and I saw the scene you made. I heard what that officer said to you. I heard him say your name. And I realized the same thing as you- they think you are responsible. I saw you flee. I don’t know why, but I was intrigued. I followed you. I saw you through that man’s window. I knew the cops would be looking for you. I don’t know why, but it felt like I was supposed to help you. So I did.”

We arrive at a car. He unlocks it, and I get in the passenger side. Some random stranger wanted to help me? Someone who appeared to be a criminal?

“How do you know I didn’t set the fire?” I ask. He smiles gently.

“I just had a good feeling, Kane.”

We sit in silence for a few minutes, the road ticking by beneath our feet. There are no houses around. Where could we be going? I know basically nothing about Lincoln. Am I so sure that my gut instinct is reliable?

“Lincoln, where are we going? What’s next?” My mind starts to wander to all sorts of horrible places. Places of loneliness and despair, those horror stories that you read in the news and think they could never happen to you.

“To my home Kane. It’s only a few more minutes away. I have no connection to you, so the police won’t know to look here. It’s just until things die down.”

I turn my eyes back to the road. It seems reasonable enough. But then again, I did just murder a man. And Lincoln witnessed it. And Lincoln felt he needed to help a murderer….

The car shudders to a stop. We are here.

To Be Continued