Teague
McMurtry is an interesting character. From a huge Florida family, he
embraces his roots happily—even if it means he has to search high
and low to find a woman he's not kin to. Imagine his delight when he finally finds the woman of his dreams.
When
Teague meets beautiful and sultry Vivica, he thinks his life is
taking a turn for the better. Little does he know that he's been
targeted for death by a violent biker gang led by Vivica's psychotic
older brother. Now Teague must put his skills to the test to protect
himself and the woman he loves.
(This scene is particularly close to my heart, as it's based on something that actually happened to me one morning.)
The
road was empty as he drove south toward his job site in Oak Hill. He
had an estimate to do down there and had to be in New Smyrna by
10:00, leaving him a couple hours in between. By the time he got to
the police station in Edgewater, only a few blocks from his home,
he'd joined a convoy of sorts. In the lead was a bronze Ford F150.
Directly in front of Teague was a guy on a motorcycle. Behind him was
another motorcycle, a red Jeep and, he thought, a third bike behind
the Jeep. It seemed odd since the road had been so empty before. He
couldn't quite remember when he came upon these others, but figured
they all had the same idea, keeping out of stop and go school zone
traffic on US-1.
The
pickup was going the speed limit, which was a little frustrating. In
fact, the driver went 25, then 20, 30 and 15. Teague wanted to lay on
his horn, but didn't want to startle the biker, so he kept his
frustration to himself. The biker didn't look any happier with the
truck than he was. From time to time, he glanced behind him, trying
to see around Teague's white Dodge Ram. Apparently, the motorcycles
were traveling together and somehow Teague had gotten in between
them.
At
the turnoff for 442, the guy ahead of Teague gestured with his left
arm, motioning as if he were turning. Teague slowed, anticipating the
right turn, but the biker sped up, his black Ninja following the
truck as it continued past the intersection. Instead, the red Jeep,
followed by another biker, turned right and headed up 442. This left
the Ford truck, Teague and two bikers. He wondered what was going on.
His overactive imagination clicked into high gear and he started
imagining scenarios.
Maybe
the guy in the truck is with them and he's giving directions to the
guy on the white Ninja?
He
thought that over, wondering how they were communicating. The guy
ahead of him was probably about his age with short, sandy brown hair.
He had on a T-shirt, baggies, skater shoes and sunglasses.
The
biker behind Teague was also on a Ninja, this one bright blue, He
wore a white helmet with a dark visor. He was wearing clothing
similar to the man ahead of him. What characterized them both was the
fact they were heavily tattooed. Teague had first mistaken their
coloring as a tan or sunburn. Closer inspection revealed elaborate
tattoos on neck, arms and legs.
The
road turned right, coming to an end at US-1. Stopping for the light,
the man ahead of Teague leaned back on his bike, glancing at the man
behind Teague, he pointed left. The other fellow nodded, giving the
lead biker a thumbs up. The light changed and the white Ninja
followed the truck while the blue one followed Teague.
Feeling
a bit paranoid, he moved over to the right lane, anticipating that
the biker would go around him. It didn't even occur to him that the
other man would stay behind him, but he did. He didn't ride Teague's
bumper, rather stayed at least two car lengths back, shadowing him.
If Teague changed lanes, so did the biker.
The
hairs on his neck stood at attention. Something was decidedly weird.
This man's behavior negated everything Teague had ever seen bikers
do. They generally crowded until they could pass, then buzzed around
the other vehicles way too fast, disappearing suddenly as they sped
up.
Approaching
the gated subdivision near Oak Hill, Teague signaled his turn. The
biker looked ready to follow, but continued down the highway. As
Teague checked in at the security gate, the biker slowed, making a U
turn at the next intersection, then he continued back up US-1. Once
he was cleared, Teague drove to the house whose yard he was
landscaping. He tried to put the bikers out of his mind, but their
odd behavior was so out of the ordinary, he couldn't.
©
2017 Dellani Oakes
No comments:
Post a Comment