I stand out in the pouring rain, tapping my fingers against my soaking wet jeans. No one answers.
I knock again. Still, there is no reply. I turn around to go when the door opens just a crack, letting out a sliver of flickering firelight.
"What do you want?" Shadowed in the light is a woman.
"My name's Caden. My wife is in the car. It's broken down. She needs help."
"Get it somewhere else." The woman starts to close the door. I don't let her. "I'm sorry--" From her tone of voice I can tell she's anything but-- "but I'm very busy."
That I can believe. "It won't take a moment. Just loan me your keys. I really need to get her to the hospital. You don't understand!"
"Maybe," the woman muses acidly, taking a step away from the door," I don't want to." She pushes hard against my hand that is blocking the door. I don't budge.
The fire inside flares up, illuminating for a brief moment the woman at the door. On her hand there is a wet, scarlet stain.
"It looks like you need help, too." I say.
"It's none of your business, mister. Go away."
I can't wait any longer. Nice isn't working; it never does. I push the door open. "Do you know who I am?"
"Should I care?" She shoots back.
"There was a robbery recently. One man was dead and two more were injured. They won't ever walk again."
Slowly she makes the connection. "The Caden?"
I smile at her, though from the look on her face I take it that it wasn't a very nice one. I don't care. "Look, lady, the way I see it, I have two options: one, I can take your keys. Two, if I'm feeling especially mean--Like, say, now--I can kill you and take them from your corpse."
With a molten scowl, she tosses them away from me. "Here," she mutters, "take them."
Effortlessly, I take them from the air. I turn away. As an afterthought, I add, "Thanks."
The woman's face softens a bit. She closes the door. "I hope you crash and die." She tells me.
With a smile, I walk over to the car and start it up. It's no wonder she was hesitant about handing over the keys. The car is a new Camaro, with an amazing custom paint job.
After sloshing around in the mud for a while, I finally get out. I pick up Elyse, And race down the slick highway to the hospital.
Something in my headlights stops me.
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