That’s when Dale grabbed me, twisting his body down and sideways for a moment so he could pick me up in a fireman’s carry. Then I was draped over his shoulders as Russell and Dale ran across the dance floor, breaking the hokey-pokey line where they were just putting their left foot in.
“To the left!” Russell insisted, guiding Dale. “Emergency door. I can take her if you want.”
“No.” Dale turned and hit the door with his hip. I read the red letters upside down—EMERGENCY EXIT ONLY ALARM WILL SOUND. And they weren’t kidding. It drowned out everything, the music, even the girls screaming and chasing after them. It blared out in bursts, so we heard waves of sound.
You put your—
BEEP
And shake it all about.—
BEEP
“Up the hill.” Russell hadn’t even broken a sweat. He pushed Dale to move faster, but of course he had the extra weight of me on his shoulders. “Limo’s waiting.”
Thank God.
I took huge gulps of the night air. It was cool, but not cold. I gasped as Dale jostled me, almost losing his footing.
“Sorry,” he gasped. “Damned dress shoes. Slippery. Grass is wet.”
It hadn’t rained, but the hall was also a golf course and they had likely had the sprinklers running.
“I can walk,” I insisted. “You don’t have to carry me.”
“Left, left!” Russell guided him. I heard the crackle of a walkie talkie.
“Do you have the package?” came through on the radio.
“All tied up with a nice pretty bow,” Russell replied. I could see him far better than I could see Dale.
“Ever think you’d be running from rabid fans?” He winked at me.
“I hope they don’t bite.” I couldn’t see them in the dark but I could hear them. Had they made it through the door before it was shut? The alarm wasn’t sounding anymore.
The radio crackled. “The eagle’s ready to fly.”
“Ten-four.” Russell said into the radio as they crested the hill.
I strained to see as Dale mostly slid down the wet grass in his dress shoes, taking me with him. There was a limo in the parking lot, the back door open, driver waiting. He was holding a walkie talkie.
“In!” Russell insisted.
Dale had to put me down, which he did. I wobbled—still wearing only one heel. He pressed me into the limo, climbing in behind.
“Thank you, Russell!” I called, leaning over to wave to him.
“All in a day’s work.” He grinned, giving me a half-salute.
“I guess this means you’re really famous,” I said, glancing at Dale.
That’s when I saw them coming down the hill we’d just traversed. How many? Fifty? At least! I turned to Dale as Russell shut the door and the limo began to pull away.
“Poor Aimee!” I saw them through the tinted glass. They weren’t stopping. In fact, the crowd picked up speed when they saw the limo leaving.
I twisted in my seat to look out the back. Three girls were out front, calling after them, the rest bringing up the rear. One of the three looked familiar.
“I think I know her.” I frowned. “I think she was one of Aimee’s friends from high school. Laura? Something. Oh, Lisa! She was there when you played that show at the mall. Do you remember?”