then

That was the first night he spent there in that motel. Perhaps it was more of a wait station than anything. A place to stay until it was decided when to come back. It was a place you went when you wanted to escape the unthinkabale. The law.

Kale guessed, anyway. Not that Sal had said thats what it was. It was just there.

"So how do they decide this kind of stuff?" He wondered if Evan knew. He didn't. Naturally.

"I'm sure its something scientific." Evan didn't much care. All they needed was a TV with a good reception. An extra bed would have been nice. But at least it was queen sized.

"Kind of like that TV show Lost?" Kale winced.

Evan turned on the TV. There was the show Kale had just mentioned.

"Wooh." They both said in unison.

Kale remembered they were as giddy as preschoolers that night.

This was going to be a fantastic life. Getting away with murder, Kale supposed now. But it hadn't felt like it at the time. So certain, it was just one adventure after another.

That was when Evan mentioned his girlfriend Ellie, after they'd been filled up on TV, jerky and plenty of beer.

"And she doesn't know?" That just didn't seem fair to Kale.

"No, I wouldn't want to drag her into this mess, would you want to do that to somebody you loved?" Evan had both his hands behind his head. Laying there all comfortable next to Kale. It was like camping out except in a motel room.

"I guess not." Kale looked at the ceiling as if he might see a million stars out, but he didn't. "Man, that sucks. So what do you say?"

"Just tell her I'm working," Evan shrugged. "Cause, thats kind of like what it is, you know."

"Yeah, I guess so." Only it wasn't a steady paycheck. Sal didn't exactly share the wealth. Why in the hell was he in this in the first place? Kale supposed it was to have friends like Evan.