Sweet as Pie Crimes Read Online Free Page A

MURDER, etched in blood red so bright that I couldn’t see anything else.
    “Becca, I can see you’re scared, but I’m being honest when I say that I’m a victim as much as the person who was murdered!” I heard Marcus say.  His voice sounded hollow and faraway, and I didn’t believe anything from the man’s mouth anymore.  Even his true blue eyes seemed like a lie.
    “I believe you,” I whispered dishonestly, not wanting him to think I was afraid of him even though my fear was as clear as a shallow stream.
    “Ah damn it, I shouldn’t have told you.  I should have just said I was accused of robbery or drug dealing.”
    “Convicted,” I corrected him.  “You said you were convicted, not accused.  Those are two very different things.”
    “Not when you’re innocent they’re not!” Marcus shouted as I immediately regretted my statements.  Better for me to stay mute than to wake whatever beast was dormant in this man.
    “I’m sorry.  I didn’t know what I was saying,” I offered feebly, my eyes roaming desperately towards the horizon, looking for a possible escape.  But the countryside was harsh and unkind, brutally inhospitable.
    “It’s okay,” he said more softly, lunging forward in a way that made my heart freeze.  “What can I do to make you believe me?  Damn i t, if we could only get on the internet, I could show you everything.”
    Ignoring his last statement, I started to piece the puzzle together, finally realizing that he was an escaped convict.  The impact of the word “murder” had initially left me numb, perhaps even dumb, as I didn’t factor in why this man wasn’t in prison anymore. 
    “How did you escape?” I dared to ask.
    “Long story.  And a story that I can never tell anyone.  I’m not going to rat out the guys who helped me get my freedom back.  And I’m not going to relinquish my freedom ever again.  No one’s going to lock me in a cage.  I got my freedom, and I intend to keep it,” Marcus rambled on as a chill permeated the air, and leafy trees fanned a cold gust in my face.  Noticing my cold, Marcus blurted out, “Get used to the cooler weather, pie baby, because it’s going to be a lot colder in Canada.”
    “Excuse me?” I squeaked, partially disgusted from his derogatory nickname for me and wholly incensed by his insinuation that I would be accompanying him to Canada.
    “I can’t stay in the United States anymore.  They’re too hot on my trail now.  I’ve gotta get to Canada, and I’ll look a lot less conspicuous with a nice lady on my arm,” Marcus reasoned as I glared at him, my previous fear boiling into anger.
    “You selfish ass, do you really think I’m going to go to Canada just so that you can look ‘less conspicuous?’  I have a life of my own back in Washington, not to mention a business to run.  As soon as the sun comes up, it will be easy for me to get out of Idaho and find my way back…” I trailed off, knowing I should have kept my fat trap clamped shut.  Now my enemy knew my plan, and he was not happy with it.
    “I told you before, Becca.  I don’t want to force you to do anything, but it seems like you’re leaving me with no choice.  I don’t want to drag you to the Canadian border, but I will if that’s what it takes to get you there with me.” Marcus spoke levelly and matter-of-factly, defying the madness of his words with his calm demeanor.
    I looked down at my still muddy feet.  My once clean white tennis shoes were dirty, but they were more than fit for running.  True, Marcus was half a foot taller than me and athletically built, but that didn’t account for my fear and adrenaline.  Not to mention my fury.  With all those emotions rising to the surface, I might be able to run like Jackie Joyner Kersey…if only just long enough to get away from this escaped convict. 
    Before I knew what I was doing, my rubber soles had hit the concrete, and I was running faster than I knew myself capable of.