Cutting Loose by James Vaughan

Author:James Vaughan [Vaughan, James]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-05-18T22:00:00+00:00

Sol woke and stretched. She checked the tank again, saw it was still nearly full, then drove onto the track and continued south.

He turned on the radio.

“. . .will remove the weeds completely. Your garden will be the envy of your neighbors. Now, we are returning to the big story that has gripped everyone’s attention, the shoot-out and explosions in the Texas township of Delaney. And with me here on KLC at eighteen after three is the former sheriff of New Braunfels, Jim Liebnitz. Jim, could you envision something like this happening even, say, ten years ago?”

“Phil, no, I couldn’t. The Sixties brought in a new era, and this is, kinda, a development of that, along with, I guess, the Panthers and the rest of it. When the rules are thrown overboard, you get nightmares. I mean, killing folks cos you don’t like their opinions? I mean, that’s what it comes down to. Seems like the world has gone mad.”

“I hear you, Jim. For listeners just joining us, there has been a major incident when law enforcement tried to detain three known left-wing terrorists. Sheriff Forbush on the spot in Delaney says a house was deliberately bombed. The FBI was present, and in fact, had charge of proceedings since the three perpetrators were wanted for bank robbery, which comes under their jurisdiction. The three in question are Max Lindemann, Sol Monckton, and Carey Astaire. All three have achieved notoriety for their exploits―they’ve robbed banks both here in Texas and in California―and they’re wanted not just for robbery but also for murder. No fatalities are reported in this particular incident, though a local realtor who was held at gunpoint suffered injuries when escaping. Jim, how is the hunt proceeding?”

“Phil, colleagues at the scene tell me no one has been detained.”

“So all three got away?”

“That is my understanding.”

“Police had the area cordoned off―and all three escaped?”

“Yes, Phil. That is the position as we speak.”

“The FBI will surely have some―”

Sol turned the radio off. “He got away.”

“Yeah.”

They were silent with their thoughts for a while, watching the road unfurl ahead. She nursed the Plymouth over the undulating road, keeping the speed down to spare the undercarriage. Later, Sol turned on the radio again.

“. . . top of the hour with Harry Kershaw, bringing you all the hot news. And hottest of the hot is the hunt for three bank robbers south of Delaney, Texas. . .”

There was nothing of substance in the report; the few facts were eked out by interviews and speculation; the FBI had nothing to say. They stopped around 4.30 so Sol could take a pee and move around.

“Drive through the night?” said Carey.

“On this road? Risky. Make a mistake, bust an axle.”

Sunset was a glorious display of orange and violet that made long shadows over the jagged land before hills in the west suddenly extinguished it. Carey put the lights on and soon found a smooth area to the left where she could park.

Sol lay along the back seat wrapped in a rug against the night-time chill.

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