Page 2 of Hawk
He must’ve looked down at his shirt because he starts freaking out and keeping all kinds of weird noises. He swerves off the road and nearly loses control. He says, “They were stalling...didn’t want to give up the loot. Dennis told me to pop ‘em, but I didn’t want to do that, man. I’m no killer. I ain’t never killed anybody.”
“That still doesn’t answer my question. Talk! We don’t have much time!”
“Okay, okay, so, I hit the bank manager with the gun. That made them all move a little faster. Serves ‘em right, but I ain’t shoot nobody.”
“Where are your partners?”
“I don’t know, man. I don’t know what’s going on, Gideon. I can’t go to jail! I can’t go to jail, bro!”
“Calm down, Gage, and focus on driving. You ain’t going to jail, and I need you to keep a straight head right now. Now, think—what’s the plan? Where were you supposed to meet up with frick and frack? The Mustang is no longer in sight.”
“Ah, man! They’ve gaining on us, Gideon.”
Via the mirror, I count only one cop car behind us so far but I’m sure there will be more soon. I say, “I knew this was a bad idea. I knew it!” I glance at my side view again. I have to get Gage out of here before he’s caught. It’s funny that I’m the one in the motorcycle club that everyone in my family talks down about, yet he’s the one with two strikes. I have one. I can take another charge, but do I want to? No, I don’t. My life is pretty easy-breezy right now and this fool got me out here on a Friday morning being chased by cops. I know I can’t let my brother strike out. His entire life would be wasted away behind bars.
“Ay, Gage, listen to me.”
“I can’t go to jail, Gideon!” he squeals, sounding like he’s near tears and on the verge of desperation. When a man is desperate, he can’t think straight and Gage isn’t much of a thinker to start with, so there’s that.
“I can’t get locked up, man!” He’s straight wiggin’ out now.
“Gage, shut up and listen to me! Are you listening?”
“Yeah, yeah, I’m—I’m listening,” he yelps, swerving all over the road.
“Turn up here on Magnolia Street. I’m going to distract the cops.”
“No! No way, man. We’re getting away together. I’m not going to leave you hanging, Gideon.”
“Gage, shut up and go! Go, now! Make the turn.” I hang up so I can focus, hoping he does what I’ve instructed him to do.
He does…
He bends the corner so hard, the truck is on two wheels before safely landing on all four again after he turns. I keep going straight, speeding away from him on my Harley like I have no respect for life.
The plan works.
The cops don’t follow Gage. They follow me. I’m sure they’ve radioed for backup to find Gage, but hopefully, he’ll do the smart thing, ditch the truck and boost another car to clear the area.
And now, it’s my turn to get away from the law. I bob and weave in and out of traffic, gunning it, doing at least ninety in a forty-five. I’m a diversion for Gage, but I’m not trying to get caught either. I told my ol’ lady she didn’t have to worry about me getting caught doing anything. I didn’t say I wouldn’t get my hands dirty. I said I wouldn’t get caught, and I haven’t so far, and for good reasons. One, I didn’t want to go back to jail. Been there, done that. Two, Ivy told me she would leave me if I ever found myself locked up again. The woman has me wrapped around her finger with her figure-eight body, plump lips, and long braids that hang to that ample rear end I love to smack. I can’t risk losing her. She’s top tier, got the body of a goddess and she’s been my ol’ lady for three years. No way, I’m losing her.
Now, Gage got me out here running for my friggin’ life!
I glance in the sideview mirror. Now, I have two grizzlies on my tail.
“Crap, Gage!” I spat.
I hope he got away because something tells me my chances are slim to none. But one thing is for sure – I won’t go down without a fight.
I jump on Interstate 10 where I really let loose and eat road.
“Woooo!” I proclaim when I look in the mirror and see that I’ve left them in the dust. I’m home free, heading to one of my favorite bars in NOLA – The Grotto, run by Wraith one of my Sin City brothers. Already deciding the route I’ll take to get there, all I need to do now is shake them by getting more road behind me, but there’s a problem. Traffic is slowing and nearly comes to a standstill.
“Crap!” I blurt out, gripping tightly to the handlebars.
Could this friggin’ day get any worse?
I glance in the mirror again. People are clearing a path for the blue lights that encourage them to get out of the way for fear of penalty. It gives them easier access to me, but I have the advantage on the bike. I can maneuver between cars and find my way to freedom. That’s what I do. I weave around vehicles and when I’m able, I move to the shoulder where I gun it again and get off on an exit – the same exit where a state police squad car is already posted.