Chapter 4

“Jester?” Birdy sat up on the bed next to Jester’s suitcase. Jester was washing off his exhaustion in the sink after the long drive, “Yeah Birdy?” He replied, grabbing a hand towel and rubbing it over his face.

“Why towns? No city?” she asked.

“Well, it’s easier for us to get by in drifter towns. No one asks questions, no one sticks around for long, and cash is king.” He plopped himself on the bed next to her and wrapped an arm around her shoulder, pulling her closer, “This way, I can get a job without having to submit paper work or proof of licensure. Paperwork is a pain, takes too long to get paid, and this way we can see the world in a sense. Main land anyway, not the broken island chains. You like adventure, right?” It was more of a statement than a question, but Birdy still reflected thoughtfully. Jester stood quickly, causing Birdy to fall back on the bed. She remained still for a moment and then stood beside him, “What now?” She asked again and took his hand in hers. Jester still found it an alien feeling, her holding his hand. She began to hold onto him with more frequency of late though and he wasn’t entirely opposed. As long as it wasn’t a time too soon after his latest kill he was okay with it, able to differentiate between her affections and the waning desire to torture, mutilate, and kill. He gave her hand a light squeeze, she liked that, then he replied, “Let’s check out the dining scene, yeah? Grab a bite and then hit the sack.” She happily let him lead her out of the room and into the town, bathed in the light of the setting sun.

The two settled on a twenty-four hour diner, it reeked of old cigarette smoke and cheap coffee but it would do. The food came out relatively quick after the two ordered. Jester kept to a lighter meal, a cobb salad, no ham. Birdy ordered chicken strips off the kids menu. The two ate their meals quietly, Birdy, oblivious to everything around her besides her meal, and Jester, always listening in to what was going on in the space he occupied. He began eavesdropping on a couple truckers seated at the dry bar area “Yeah man, I used to pick up hitchers to keep the route more interesting, but since the MOL’s been active along my route the roads have been desolate. Now I’m paying more for coffee at the gas stations than I’d like.” “I hear ya man, but that one doesn’t really scare me so much as that ‘Master’ fella, been years and he’s still taunting enforcement. What the hell is this world coming to?”

‘Master’, that was one of the few still active killers that Jester actually admired. The man, or woman, was a genius. Probably in his early sixties by now, Master was nationally recognized despite gag orders, while Jester was just getting started. In this world national recognition meant that there were more kills than a gag-order could suppress and enforcement needed to alert the public. Usually the kill count was in the double digits to gain this status, however that all depended on the brutality of the kill. Master was artfully, and horrifyingly, brutal. There was a running theory that Master was actually a group, but the leading psychologists didn’t agree to this theory. The killings were too personal to be a group. Reminiscent to Magnum Opus’ killings of the three men at the Grasslands was what Jester had thought, only briefly. There was no way there could be a connection between the two. Master worked alone, and so far left no survivors.

Birdy stared at Jester from across the table, she had finished her meal and was now content to just watch her companion with a gentle expression on her face. She often would observe people and scenes like this, a bright curiosity in her dark green eyes. It was unnerving though when Jester would catch her staring at him while he slept, as lovely as those eyes were he still hadn’t grown accustomed to waking up to see them mere inches away from his own. He was far more comfortable with that gaze having a table between them. There was no point in questioning her when she did this, as he was wont to do. At first when she would stare like this he was as uncomfortable at night as he was in the daylight, by now he knew she was just being ... Birdy, observant.

“I’m gonna take a smoke. Ask for the check if the waitress stops by, and another lemon pop for me.” He said and then sauntered to the lounge area by the wet bar for a cigarette. He found himself alone at the bar save one other patron. Even the bartender made himself scarce. He quietly lit up a cigarette and slowly sucked at it.

“Cute kid ya got with ya.” The man on the other end of the wet bar spoke whilst swirling the liquid in his glass. Jester cast him a side glance but nothing more. He got a bad feeling from this stocky man. One more drag and an exhale of smoke, Jester crushed the remaining cigarette into the ashtray and stood to rejoin Birdy.

“Stay safe out there stranger.” The man said as Jester passed him by. It gave Jester a chill, but he wasn’t about to give this guy anymore attention than a coldshoulder.

“Check.” Birdy said and held the small slip of paper the waitress had left. Jester pulled a few bills from his wallet, set them on the table, took Birdy firmly by the wrist, and headed out with a little more haste than usual. Birdy didn’t object, she quickly fell into step with him as he led her out. Once in the motel room he began to re-pack his suitcase. Birdy had a small bag that she hadn’t yet unpacked, making it easier to get their items together quickly.

“Jester, sick?” Birdy asked as she watched him move about the room ensuring nothing would be left behind.

“No. Just a change in plans.” He replied curtly and left to throw the bags into the altima. Birdy followed behind and quietly took her seat in the passenger side. She looked out the window to see someone was watching them, and for some reason, she felt a pang of unease. Something in the back of her mind stirred, maybe a memory, maybe the stirring of a primal fear. The sound of Jester’s door slamming and the ignition roaring to life pulled her attention away from the stranger.

“Good change.” She said as she gazed out the windshield and towards the distant mountain range.

The lights in the phonebooth between the diner and the motel buzzed with that unmistakable electric sound signaling the end of life for a fluorescent bulb. The man picked up the receiver and dialed a number from memory, two rings and someone picked up on the other end, “Valecon enforcement non-emergency and employee line.” came the voice on the other end.

“Yeah, this is badge 02051993NDD, I’m cashing three days of PV effective immediately.” “Do you have any cases pending urgent?” “No.” “Enjoy your vacation sir.” The man hung up the phone and went back into the diner. His night just got a little more interesting.

They had been driving all night, but finally they found themselves in a town Jester deemed appropriate for their needs. It was small, and Birdy couldn’t find it on the territory map Jester gave her. It was perfect if only for that anonymity alone. He parked at the only motel in the town and turned off the altima. The two sat in silence. Jester was by now far too exhausted to speak, Birdy too was feeling sleepy. She had stayed up with him the entire drive, staring at the map and listening to Jester when he spoke about anything, and nothing at all. Finally Jester got out of the vehicle, followed by Birdy, and entered the lobby. They checked in using cash and went directly to the room. Once inside Jester collapsed onto the bed. Birdy dutifully lifted his legs onto the bed, straightening him out atop the blankets and then laying beside him. She wrapped her arms around one of his, pulled close, and began to allow herself to fall asleep next to him. Jester too allowed himself the reprieve of rest. He was sure no one had followed them on the road. That stranger gave him a sick feeling in his gut, he didn’t like it. The man didn’t outright scream ‘law enforcer’ but Jester was not about to allow himself to get sloppy. He did his research and vowed not to allow for any foolish mistakes to point the finger at him being the Monster of the Lakes killer. Not only that, what would become of Birdy if anything happened to him? ‘What indeed?’ He chuckled as sleep overtook him. How long had it been since he met her, well over a year ... with that as his last thought exhaustion finally overtook him. The two rested peacefully in this new, unexpected, environment.