Danny arrived at Tyrone and ScarLo's "house" but this time the gate was shut. I started to honk the horn but it quickly opened and he came inside.

Inside was the "truck", which was actually a modified Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Cargo Van. He was white and extremely non-descript, although that was perfect as all trucks carrying PPE were that way these days as they were often robbed so this fit with their cover story.

ScarLo was outside, carrying a few things to the van frantically. Tyrone was no where to be seen. She waved to him and both smiled as Danny pulled into the drive way. Danny would later decide their was also relief in their faces, although he hadn't noticed it at the time.

Danny climbed out and grabbed his bag. He hurried towards the van. He would not mention Luis to him, nor would he mention his conversation with Carol.

ScarLo ran over and embraced and kissed him. It was a real kiss, he knew. In spite of what else, the kiss was not fake nor the emotion behind it.

"I'm so glad you made it" she said with a half smile. "I was worried. Shit has gone totally crazy".

"Totally" Danny said sucking in a breath and exhaling. If they only knew.

"I'll second that" a smiling Tyrone said from behind them, popping out of some bushes.

Before Danny could ask where he'd been Tyrone brought him in for a hug.

"Glad you made it too, man. I was worried. I'm glad you're coming with us tomorrow. To be honest, we were leaving tomorrow with or without you".

Somehow Danny didn't believe that at the time and later he knew it to not be true.

"You already got the truck...well, van" Danny said, gesturing towards the Benz.

"Yeah" Tyrone said. "To tell you the truth, we've had it a couple of days now. We knew this was happening with or without you and wanted to be ready at a moments notice".

"Good thing then" Danny replied

Tyrone nodded.

"All the boxes are inside already too, loaded up. The PPE and the fake stuff..."

"Must have cost a fortune. The real stuff I mean..."

"There isn't much", Tyrone acknowledged, then nodded. "But yeah, it did".

"What's that in your hand?" Danny asked, noticed the manilla file holder for the first time.

"It's our travel papers" Tyrone said. "Got them and printed them off today. Your fake Pass is ready too. We'll pick that up in Indiana as scheduled".

Tyrone looked down at his small, meager bag.

"That everything?"

Danny nodded.

"All I really need".

"Okay..." Tyrone said, nodding. "Well no need to wait around. Shall we..."

They started towards the van and he paused and turned, looking at his Subaru for the last time.

He actually felt choked up. It had been a good car. He'd had no problem leaving behind his apartment, but the car...

He sighed, feeling like he was abandoning a child. He unlocked the doors and sat the keys in the seat and took out an ink pen and post it note and began writing with Tyrone and ScarLo looking on silently.

To Whomever Finds This Car: It is yours. Take good care of her. She was good to me and now she'll be good to you.

He left the note in the seat with the keys and shut the door without locking it.

"What was that all about?" Tyrone asked as Danny joined them and they walked towards the van.

"Just had to say goodbye" he replied.

Tyrone opened the back of the van and sure enough, there was a sea of boxes but he had devised a way to snake around them quickly and to the front of the back. Moving three boxes aside he pulled a hard to notice latch in the corner and the wall folded down and and revealed a small cubby hole big enough for Danny to fit in with decent comfort. Inside there was a pillow and sleeping bag as well as several grocery bags full of what looked like snacks and a zip up cooler.

"You should be hidden pretty well in there. We'll stop when we can so you can use the bathroom and stretch your legs. There's food and snacks in the bags, water and soda in the cooler. There's a few beers because why not? My iPad is in there and I managed to snake a charging cord from the cab inside so you'll have unlimited power"

Thank God for that, Danny thought. Like an idiot he'd left his laptop at the apartment, but considered he was being watched and followed maybe that was the smartest move.

"Oh, and most importantly this..."

He reached and held up a two-way radio.

"We've got one in the cab so we can communicate. If you need to piss or anything, just let us know. We can also keep you updated or just chat..."

"Hopefully that's enough to keep you occupied, man. There's plenty of music, movies and eBooks on the tablet. And, um, I'm sure ScarLo can come in and visit with you some too..."

He winked and slapped him on the back.

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"So you know it's one of us, before we open the latch we'll knock like this..."

He demonstrated the knock, which was two quick taps, a pause and then three more quick taps.

Danny nodded.

If you don't hear that assume it's not up and be ready for anything.

"Well, let's hope it doesn't come to that..." Danny replied.

"Yeah, but if it does..."

Tyrone reached into his waistband and pulled out a handgun. It was a Glock, but Danny didn't know that.

"Shut dude..." Danny exclaimed.

"You ever use one of these?" Tyrone asked in a blunt tone.

Danny shook his head. He'd barely seen guns in person.

"Well, it's very simple. You make sure the safety is off, you aim, you pull the trigger. If you're not using it, safety on..."

Tyrone walked Danny through a quick gun safety course and Danny paid close attention, but was still concerned.

"I don't know man..."

"Look, not having this will be the biggest regret of your life if shit goes down, so take the gun man. We're armed too".

Danny sighed and then reluctantly took the pistol from Tyrone with a shaky hand. Holding it awkwardly as the first time he had held a girl's titties, it felt heavy and hot in his hand, like a potato out of the microwave he should be getting rid of ASAP.

But he placed it safely in the corner of his new home, at least until they reached Indiana. The idea of that made his stomach knot.

"One more thing..." Tyrone said, reaching into one of the boxes. He pulled out a dark blue uniform that looked like a cop's uniform but instead at the words "SECURITY" on a patch above the breast pocket.

"I know you were reluctant about this too, and you don't have to worry about it until after Indiana, but I think it's a good cover for you..."

Danny shrugged.

"After the gun what's the uniform? That's like fucking a hooker who gives you AIDS but then worrying about the herpes she also gave you..."

Tyrone laughed out loud.

"That's the spirit..."

"Well, if you're ready...." Danny nodded. He climbed inside the cubbie hole it was dark, but there was some light through a crack. With that he noticed this side had a hatch too, so he could get out if he needed to. He also noticed an electric lantern Tyrone had neglected to mention beside one of the grocery bags as well and switched it on.

As if reading his mind Tyrone called out, his voice slightly muffled by the door "Oh, there's a lantern in there too so you can see..."

He heard the back door of the van shut and then there was silence. He looked through the bags. Beef Jerky, Pringles, candy bars, protein bars... There was also a second cooler that had some pre-made sandwiches in it and higher end Lunchables. He pulled the last bag to him and pulled out the orange bag. It was a bag of Cheetos. Personally he was a flamming hot kind of guy, but this was the classic cheese ones Luis had loved.

He thought about Luis and then he realized he wasn't ready to be couped up in this cubby hole. He knew it was necessary... but...not just yet.'

He climbed out and then opened the back door.

Tyrone and ScarLo were beside the van and didn't immediately see him. They were having an animated but low tone conversation.

"Did you have to...?" ScarLo asked Tyrone in a concerned voice. The kind you have when you ask a question you're scared to find out the answer to.

"No, it didn't come to that..." Tyrone replied and then saw Danny and his eyes got wide.

"Um... hey man?" he said. "What's wrong?"

"You okay babe?" ScarLo asked sheepishly

"I'm not really to be back there" Danny said. "It's not necessary yet, is it? Not until we get to the state line..."

"Um... yeah... I guess that's true. I was just trying to play it super safe is all" Tyrone stammered out. Danny could tell he didn't like the idea but he offered no further resistance.

ScarLo gave him another of her half smiles.

Danny climbed in the cab. Tyrone drove and ScarLo in the middle.

They left out the gate, which opened automatically. Danny took one last melancholy look at his Crosstrek and then they started down the street.

Then he saw it. A different car. A black Sedan. It was pulled over and parked on a curve beside the side walk.

"Fuck!" Danny exclaimed.

"What?" Tyrone asked nervously and expectantly all at the same time.

"I think that's the car that's been following me all day..."

"Following you!?" Tyrone said in his best surprised voice. "Nigga what!? You're just mentioning his now?"

Tyrone mashed the gas and flew by the car as quickly as possible. Tyrone looked in his rear view to see if the car was following.

But the truth is Tyrone knew the car wouldn't follow and so did Danny. Tyrone for his own reason and Danny because he'd seen there was nobody in the Lexus as they flew by it.