The
Great Escape
The bar smelled of stale beer and cigarette smoke and was
floating in some sort of haze in front of Craig Marshall’s eyes. High off beer
and a pack of peanuts he’d kept by his side the whole night he’d somehow
forgotten to cry. For a sixth straight night Margie had refused his calls and
now there she was standing next to Freddie by the pool tables.
Craig looked down at the scars on his knuckles and tried to
breathe deeply but not too deeply through the stitches and bandages that were
keeping his chest together. Walden stood by the door to the back room trying to
signal him. He probably wanted to fleece Craig out of the rest of his money in
their weekly card game.
Craig waved him off as he looked at what was now his
ex-girlfriend, looking oh so good in a pair of tight jeans that showed off her
strong legs. She ran a hand through her thick black hair while constantly
caressing Freddie’s neck. To think he’d meant to surprise her that night.
Looked like there was no point to that now.
Craig put down a bunch of bills and coins to pay for his
beer and pushed back from the counter. He was glad he’d stuck to two beers; he
wasn’t in the mood to call a taxi tonight not that he knew where he’d direct it
to. Ignoring his former girlfriend who glared in his direction while hanging
off his former best friend he winded through the crowd until he could push open
the exit door.
Outside in the snow he found the owner’s Rottweiler chained
to the front steps. The dog raised its head and met his eyes. Running all over
its fur were cuts and scrapes some of which looked new. Craig had heard the
owner ran some kind of underground fight ring for dogs. Poor mutt looked like it
had it worse than him. Spurred on by the beer Craig took hold of the dog’s
chain and planting his foot against the wall pulled until he tore the wooden
railing on the stairs. The chain fell to the snow and the dog was free.
“Enjoy you freedom you damn mutt,” Craig said.
He walked over to his Chevy but checked the trunk before he
jumped in. Amidst the spare wheel and the jack there sat a black duffel bag.
Craig opened it up and inside he found stacks of bills. Counting quickly he
estimated it came to 250 large. He knew Wiley would bring him his cut from the
jewellery heist. Now he could finally get out of this town.
Craig got behind the wheel but just as he was about to pull
out he heard a low whine coming from below his window. Rolling it down he saw
the Rottweiler looking plaintively at him. Craig shook his head. The dog had to
be out of its mind. It whined again and gave him a long slow look.
Craig shook his head again and opened the back door.
“Well what are you waiting for? Jump in already.”
The dog got its paws on the seat and jumped up into the back
seat.
“Stupid mutt,” Craig said, closing the door.
He revved the Chevy then pulled out of the parking lot.
Joining the few cars that were on the road at midnight he decided it was as
good a time as any to leave. He’d buy whatever clothes he needed on the way,
and maybe some dog food.
“Hey mutt, I hear Alaska is nice this time of year, what do
you think?”
The dog looked at him then barked once.
“Yeah that’s what I thought.”
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