Walking up to the passenger side of the truck, she waited while he maneuvered the window down with a push of a button.
“Get in.”
Without hesitation, Cara opened the door and jumped in.
The truck spun out as soon as she shut the door, and she grabbed the dashboard before she was almost flung off the seat.
“Buckle up,” he spoke without glancing at her.
She clasped the seatbelt around her that Billy had showed her how to work. Cara was beginning to feel like a pro dealing with trucks. It was kind of comforting in this strange world.
“I’ll give you a lift to the next gas station twenty miles from here, and then you’re on your own.”
Cara nodded. “Thank you.” She didn’t try to convince him to help her; it would have been a wasted effort.
“Why were you in the mental hospital? Did you try to hurt yourself or someone else? My guess is someone else with the amount of police presence looking for you.”
“I wasn’t in a mental hospital.” Cara felt a chill climb up her back. She was very familiar with the mental hospitals and nursing homes. Both were a dumping ground for the unwanted in their society.
“Don’t lie to me, or I’ll dump your ass on the side of the road, and this time, I won’t come back.”
“I’m not. I was not nor have I ever been a patient at one of those institutions.”
“Then suppose you tell me why the police were looking for you.”
“I don’t know. I did not know anyone in that town other than Billy. I can only think that the one responsible for me being here sent them.”
“And that person would be?”
“I don’t know.”
He turned to look at her with a snarl on his lips. “Listen, cupcake, I’m taking a chance just having you in my truck. If you’ve committed a crime and I’m caught with you, then they could get me for being an accessory. Now, for the last time, tell me why the police are looking for you.”
“I’m not lying. I don’t know. I haven’t done anything illegal.”
“Why were you in Corbin?” he snarled the words between clenched teeth.
“Is that the name of the town?” At his sharp nod, she went on, “Because that is where I was dropped.”
“Who dropped you off?”
“I don’t know.”
Jericho could feel his patience straining at her ambiguous answers.
“Let me see if I understand this correctly. You were dropped off in Corbin for no reason by someone you don’t know with the police in said town looking to arrest you for no reason that you can think of.”
“Yes.”
“I ought to put you out here now. The only reason I don’t is because we’re almost at the gas station. Is that all you’ve got to tell me?”
“All that you will believe.”
He looked at her with exasperation. “I don’t believe anything you’ve told me. Can you at least answer one question truthfully?”
“I have answered all your questions truthfully. But yes, I’ll answer your question.”
“Why are you wearing a winter coat and gloves in eighty degree weather?”