Whitewash by Alex Kava

Author:Alex Kava [Kava, Alex]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi, pdf
Tags: Fiction, General, Thrillers
ISBN: 9781426823633
Google: XdOq32K2bdkC
Amazon: 1469234319
Publisher: Mira
Published: 2008-10-02T05:00:00+00:00

55

Tallahassee

The car reminded Sabrina of a tank, huge and army green, though Miss Sadie called it Shenandoah green. Sabrina had never seen the old woman drive. Come to think of it, Sabrina hadn’t seen her do much of anything but putter around her patio garden. She had no idea the car existed, stashed inside Miss Sadie’s garage under a cover.

She packed the trunk with the few things she’d managed to gather in the small amount of time they decided they had. Sabrina estimated they had an hour at best before either the police or the man trying to kill her found her condo.

The car’s trunk was enormous and deep. So was the backseat where Miss Sadie spread out her colorful afghans and threw in three plastic garbage bags she had filled with sweaters and blankets. She explained to Sabrina that she could hide under the afghan and if they were stopped, the police would simply think she had old bundles of clothes. It was as though Miss Sadie eluded the police on a regular basis. The whole time she was saying it her voice remained calm and soothing. She made it seem as though they were packing for a summer vacation instead of a last-minute escape.

Lizzie shared the front seat with Miss Sadie and the cooler. The old woman could barely see over the steering wheel though Sabrina had noticed pillows already in place, one for Miss Sadie and one for the cat. From the way Lizzie settled into her spot—the huge white cat curled up into the passenger seat—Sabrina knew the two of them had taken many trips together.

The air inside the car was suffocating even with the windows rolled down. There was no air-conditioning, no radio, but the pristine seats smelled like new and the engine turned over immediately.

“Miss Emilie’s husband bought her this car, brand new in 1947 even though she didn’t like to drive,” Miss Sadie told Sabrina, without looking back at her. Both hands were on the wheel, and she raised her voice so she could be heard over the engine’s hum and the wind through the windows.

“I went to work for Miss Emilie when I was twenty-two years old. Several years later her husband’s fighter plane went missing shortly after the beginning of the Korean War. She didn’t drive this car much after that but she’d never part with it. Made me promise I’d never sell it, either.”

Miss Sadie’s eyes met Sabrina’s in the rearview mirror. “I took good care of Miss Emilie and her girls. Three beautiful girls, all accomplished, successful women now. They still visit with me from time to time, less and less now that their momma’s been gone. Yes, I took good care of Miss Emilie for forty years and in turn, she made sure I was taken care of.”

Sabrina had never heard the old woman talk much about her past. And Sabrina had never asked how she had been able to provide so well for herself. She knew Miss Sadie hadn’t married and had no children.

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