Jay watched out as more and more miles passed, thinking about what he would say in his report and just how much trouble this was going to cause. Glancing down it looked like the mouse had fallen asleep, but knowing Mr. Squeck he wouldn’t put it past him to be trying to gather information or coming up with a plan to escape.

“Time for gas and a chance to let the dogs run.” Aaron told Jay as he flipped the turning signal.

“Hmm… Oh, yeah, would be nice to stretch.” Jay commented as he realized he had been deep in thought for a few hours and was a bit stiff. It looked like they were pulling off to a gas station that was likely the only thing the small town had. He started to arch his back and twist his neck to each side, feeling some of the kinks that had set in.

“Bunker Hill isn’t quite halfway, but I need some gas for the car and me.” The car slowed at the stop sign marking the end of the exit ramp as Aaron then tapped the dashboard loudly. “Wake up sasquatch. Chance to drain yourself and get something to fill it back up if you want. My treat since it doesn’t look like you came prepared. That’s a rookie move there kid.”

Jamie had startled awake with the loud tapping and looked out at the gas station they were approaching.

“Um… sure, thanks.” He said, before looking down at himself, seeing dried mud and debris all over him. At least the boxers weren’t in their wet and see-through state any longer. “You think it’s okay if I go in like this to use the restroom?”

“You’d be surprised at the magic tricks this badge works.” Aaron replied while pulling up to the pump. “Just wait till I’m done, then we’ll head in.” With that he was out of the car and started around to the pump, jumping and sliding a small amount across the hood on his way.

Jay had opened his door and stepped out as well, still holding the carrying container that held Mr. Squeck. From Jamie’s perspective it looked like he had leaned down a bit after shutting the door and started talking to the mouse. Even stranger was when it looked like the mouse was engaging back in some type of conversation.

Huh… not the weirdest thing tonight I guess. Feel bad for getting it so dirty back here. Jamie thought as he looked around, waiting for Aaron to finish filling the black sedan.

Surveying the outside didn’t reassure him much. The gas station was a bit run down, some oil spots showing under the dim yellowed lights. The windows seemed to have a small film of grime coating them, and the sign for the station was only partially lit, clearly not having had at least one or two lights inside it replaced. It was deserted aside from an older pickup that most likely belonged to the night clerk.

Aaron danced by the passenger side windows with a ratty looking squeegee in hand and started working on the front windshield. Jay had wandered in and could barely be made out through the window of the gas station.

Tap, Tap.

“Time to head in Sasquatch.” Aaron loudly told Jaime after tapping on the window with the handle of the squeegee he had just finished using.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Climbing out of the car, Jamie felt the cool breeze, bringing his attention back to how little he had on. He looked down and was about to question if the agent was sure it would be okay to go in, but realized it was too late as Aaron was already walking towards the door open to the station. Sighing, Jamie shut the car door and walked on.

“I’m agent Rosineau on official PD business transporting witnesses.” Aaron told the clerk, quickly flipping what looked like a badge in and back out of sight from the inside edge of his jacket.

The clerk, a young guy that couldn’t be more than eighteen with a face full of acne looked up for a moment before going back to watching something on his phone.

Looking around Jamie found the restroom and walked back, grimacing a bit at the thought of going into a bathroom without shoes or socks on. Finding the door locked he realized Jay must still be in there, as he hadn’t seen him in either of the aisles of the store.

A few minutes later Jamie heard a flush and water running, followed by the click of the lock and the door opening.

“Sorry, Squeck had to use the restroom.” Jay said passing by Jamie in the small hallway.

Jamie stood for a second looking at Jay’s back walking away, but decided better of asking about it. The bathroom floor looked clean enough, but he still tried to put it out of his mind. After relieving himself, and trying to rinse some of the dirt off his face and arms, he walked back out to find the two agents waiting for him.

“Go ahead and grab something, papa PD is paying.” Aaron said while waving a black credit card. The counter was already filled with a number of knock off energy drinks, bags of chips, donuts, and some other assorted snacks.

A glance at the machine slowly rotating hot dogs was enough to put that out of mind. There were a couple on it that looked unappetizing with a fly circling the area. Having made that decision, he wandered to the cooler of drinks. Grabbing a Pepsi and water he turned around to glance at the shelves of snacks. Picking out a bag of trail mix and a pack of powdered donuts he walked back up the aisle to the counter. It wouldn’t be a healthy midnight snack, but probably wasn’t that much worse than his usual pizza or Chinese take-out. In fact, the trail mix might even make it a bit healthier than normal.

After Aaron paid, the group walked out, Jamie grimacing occasionally as stray pebbles on the concrete would bite into his feet. Even though there was still a good amount of the great outdoors stuck to him, having been able to clean up his face and arms a bit made him feel better.

“Uhm… Aaron, do you have any clothes I could borrow?” Jaime asked a bit hesitantly as the car chirped and unlocked. The three of them having reached the doors of the black sedan.

“Outta luck sasquatch.” Aaron tapped the top of the hood looking at the two nearly identical men. “Hop on in boys, next stop Denver.”

Jamie brushed the dark leather rear passenger seat down, trying to get the mud, twigs, and pine needles out of the car. “Hey, I’m sorry about the mess.” He apologized as he climbed in. Seeing no evidence from his outdoor adventure had made it across the midline of the car, he scooted across the back to sit behind the driver’s seat, enjoying the feeling of clean leather over the crusted mud he had been on. Buckling in he opened up his soda and trail mix.

“It’s alright, I’ll have to switch out cars at main anyway. Protocol an all that. Who knows, maybe I’ll even get to hang around a bit.” Aaron told him, though appeared to be directing some of it at Jay. With that he pulled out of the parking lot towards the on ramp. A silence descending back on the car as the group ate their snacks. Jay eating his own power bar while also sliding the occasional sunflower seed into the container holding the mouse.

For how action-packed the beginning of the night was, it seemed a bit dull to Jamie now. If it weren’t for being able to glance up and see his doppelganger in the front seat feeding a mouse in a plastic cylinder, he would think he had imagined the chaos.

“So, can you guys explain what’s going on?” Jamie asked the two men in the front seat.

“No way.” Aaron loudly interrupted anything Jay had been about to say. After glancing over at Jay and in the rearview at Jamie he continued on at a more normal volume. “Sorry sasquatch. Less I know the better. You two seem nice enough. Jay has to be a real standout to have made it where he is. You can’t be that shabby being one of his variants. Still doesn’t mean I’m not just rearranging chairs on the titanic by bringing you two up to main campus in style.”

There was a pause as Jay and Jamie both looked at him.

“Look, I’m not saying I don’t hope it all goes well, but if it’s all the same I’d rather not watch my only chance at a lifeboat sail away just yet.” Aaron followed up and looked back at Jamie in the backseat. “The PD…,” he started and paused, for the first time seeming serious, “just… look, there are certain rules and issues at play. Once you get to Denver and meet the brass you can ask whatever you want. Talk about whatever you want. For the time being I’d really appreciate it if there were no questions and no discussing stuff.”

Settling back into his seat, Jamie popped half of a powdered donut into his mouth, thinking about the bit of an outburst by Aaron. Jay didn’t seem that surprised by it, and the mouse appeared to have laid down.

With that seemingly settled, the four drove on in silence. Miles passed and other traffic became more common as did signs for Denver.