Episode 20-Daring Escape

“You’re what?”  Sophia turned sharply in the black vinyl passenger seat, shooting Jack Hermosa-Tyler a look of utter surprise. 

“You heard me,” Jack replied matter-of-factly as he turned the wheel of his white electrical van, pointing the vehicle in the direction of Brightan.  As a gentleman and a matter of pride, Jack refused Sophia the opportunity to drive them in her Jeep to their destined date spot.  So, they traveled roughly, lumbering in his white electrical cargo van.    

“Does Rev. Purpose know?”  Sophia fought to get the words out.  Shocked, she barely could speak.   

“I’m sure he has suspected for several days that my mission of rewiring the church is nearly completed.  By this time next week, I’ll be done,” Jack replied, swerving hard to avoid a discarded rusty muffler on the road. 

Sophia fell sideways, her head grazing Jack’s right shoulder before she managed to sit tall again in her seat.  “And then what?” she probed.  Though she knew the day would eventually come when Jack finished at the church, she dreaded the idea of her tenant packing up and leaving, returning to Minneapolis.  He had become a source of comfort to her in the weeks he had stayed in the guest cottage, strong and virile, easy on the eyes.

“I’ve been thinking about that.”  Jack offered nothing more.

“News around town is the soap factory will be remodeling and I’m sure they’ll need a good electrician…if you wanted to stay.”  Sophia glanced nonchalantly out the window, though deep down she burned with powerful emotion.

Before he could respond, out of the corner of his dark eye, Jack caught a glimpse of a car racing wildly towards the back of the van.  Looking more intently in his rear-view mirror, he muttered, “Holy hell.”  Reactively, Jack stiffened, gritting his teeth.  Instinctively, his distinguished jaw twitched. 

“What?” Sophia reeled again in her seat, twisting to see why Jack sounded so alarmed.

“Sit back and hold on,” Jack instructed, his deep voice booming.  “Hold on.”

Sophia braced herself, her blue eyes widening. 

The car, a Mustang convertible, raced faster, coming within inches of the white electrical van before slowing.

“What kind of lunatic…” Before Sophia could finish the question, she had an answer.  Reflected in the large side mounted mirror, she instantly recognized Angelina Sparks. 

“Lunatic is right,” Jack agreed, shaking his head, careful to look ahead, not distracted solely by Angelina’s wild driving.  “There’s something wrong with her.”

Glancing around, Jack calculatingly eased off the gas pedal, allowing the boxy van to slow.  Rolling down the window, Jack stretched forth his arm, signaling Angelina to drive around him. 

In response, Angelina revved her engine.

Again, Jack motioned for the determined tailgater to pass. 

Nearly clipping the silver bumper of the van when she swung around, Angelina took Jack’s cue, bringing her car beside the electrical van.  But before she could ease the front of her car parallel to Jack’s vehicle, Jack slammed on the brake.  Swerving, Jack skid as he turned away from the stalker, onto a gravel road.   

Angelina failed to react in time, shooting past Jack’s turnoff. 

Horrified, Sophia watched, predicting Angelina’s next move.

Jack stared straight ahead.  Pressing his foot all the way to the floor, he caused the van tires to produce a mountain of blinding dust.  Raising his voice loud enough for Sophia to hear, he asked, “Where does this road lead?”

“Lover’s Lane.”  Sophia sounded embarrassed, but Jack didn’t notice.  “It’s a secluded overlook on Raven Lake.”

“Does this road turn off before then?” Jack worried about being cornered by a jealous and maniacal Angelina Sparks. 

Sophia nodded, “Yes.  A turnoff leads to the landfill.”

“How far?”

“A quarter mile, on your left.”

Jack let off the gas pedal, slowing in anticipation of the turn.

“There.  Right there.” Sophia pointed.

Peering over his shoulder, Jack finally looked back for a brief moment, capturing sight of the racing Mustang in the distance.  Taking no chances, Jack floored the van again.

“It’s not far,” Sophia said, her eyes darting from the road ahead to the road behind them.  “Past the trees, follow the curve.  The road will split.  You need to veer left.”

Jack obeyed, taxing his white van to its limit.  Driving dizzying speeds on a black top road again, the needle in the temperature gauge moved into the red zone. The engine smelled hot.

“There,” Sophia uttered while Jack swerved. 

Surrounded by a thick stand of trees, Jack felt a slight sense of relief knowing they were better concealed from determined Angelina.   

The stinging scent of rotting garbage permeated Jack’s nose.  Sophia pinched her sultry lips tight as a sign of disgust.  Venturing deeper into the dumping grounds, Jack searched for a place they could hide from the spying eyes of Angelina Sparks, while allowing the van’s engine to cool.   

Jack drove past the empty attendant’s booth, toward another thicket of trees.  Glancing out his rear view mirror, he felt a wave of relief.  Absent was the red Mustang. 

“You think we lost her?”  Sophia dared ask, worried the vixen, Angelina, would emerge any moment.

Concealing the van amongst a cluster of spruce, poplar, and birch trees, Jack turned off the engine.  “I sure hope so.”  He forced a smile, causing Sophia to blush. 

Jack had wanted the chance to be alone with Sophia, but in his wildest dreams, the idea of spending a romantic evening at the county dumping grounds never crossed his mind.  But here they were, finding refuge in the landfill, unsavory scents permeating their nostrils. 

“Come on,” he prompted, jumping out the driver’s door, rushing to aid her out of the passenger side of his electrical van.  But as he rounded the front of the vehicle, he noticed smoke billowing from under the hood, making its way through the front grill. 

Sophia evacuated the van of her own accord, joining Jack in surveying the unexpected trouble.  “This doesn’t look good, Jack.”

He nodded in agreement.  Before he could open the hood, they heard a noise, saw a sudden movement in the trees’ undergrowth.

“Be careful,” Sophia warned, as Jack stepped toward the sound.  “It could be wild animal—a bear.  They’re out of hibernation now.”

Picking up a heavy stick, Jack armed himself as he moved slowly closer. 

“What is it?” Sophia called after him.

Jack failed to respond.  Finally, he gasped in alarm.

By this time, Sophia stepped right behind him, wide eyed, clasping her mouth with her quivering hand. 

A naked man moved from the shadow of the trees, standing tall, frightened.

Her voice muffled, Sophia uttered, “Heaven help us.  Earle B. Goode has escaped the hospital.” 

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