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“Come on! It’s fucking awesome,” he yelled to Pearce.
“You’re as mad as she is. I’ll probably break my neck. Or you will getting back here,” Pearce replied. But nonetheless he walked across the plateau, turned, ran, built up speed, and jumped. He landed easily on each knoll, his long legs and sturdy muscles ideal for this sport.
“Holy shit, that’s fun,” he gasped as they stood on the third knoll. “But it’s too dangerous, you really shouldn’t be doing it,” he added frowning at Yasmin.
“You can get killed crossing the road. Besides, I don’t want to die of dementia or cancer, I’d rather live life to the fullest.”
“Yeah, you do, don’t you, honey,” Pearce said soberly, wrapping his arms around her. “You really do live life to the fullest. I guess that’s a lesson I needed to learn.”
“Well, we’ve started by taking this trip,” VJ added, enclosing them both in a hug, making them a unit.
“Excuse me for interrupting, but I couldn’t help overhear…” A hesitant voice sounded from behind a cairn of rocks.
The threesome broke apart and Yasmin saw an older man, maybe fiftyish, climbing out from what almost seemed to be a cave in the rocks.
“I’m sorry. Did we spoil your solitude?” she asked.
“I came up here to think a few things through. But watching you fly through the air like that reminded me of when I was young and used to go knoll hopping with friends. I’d forgotten all about how good it can be. I haven’t done that in thirty years, but I expect it’s like riding a bike and I’ll remember it. May I go back with you? I believe I need a ride into town.”
“Yeah, sure. I’m VJ. This is Pearce, and Yasmin.”
The man shook their hands and said, “Orson. I’m the locksmith for this area.”
“Ah. Someone stole your records and some keys.”
“However did you know that? I’m almost positive it’s my ex-wife. I didn’t want to say anything, but I’ve decide to tell Joe.”
“I think Sheriff Beeton may know. Does your ex have gray hair worn in an updo and drive an old brown car?” asked VJ.
“The hair, yes. The car’s her brother’s.”
“I saw them rob the little store at the turn-off to the national park,” explained Yasmin.
“That turd. I never did like him. Oh, well, I’d better get back and speak to Joe.” Orson straightened his shoulders and nodded at the others, then said to Yasmin, “May I go first this time?”
“Of course.”
He ran straight along the ridge and jumped like a professional. Yasmin followed him, then VJ, and finally Pearce. They collected their backpacks and headed down the mountain and back to the campground.
It’s been a very interesting day with such a lot happening. A new life to plan, a mystery solved, and more great sex ahead. Yasmin smiled.
***
In the end, the threesome accompanied Orson to the sheriff’s. In part because the older man had asked them to, but mainly because they were impressed with how he’d faced up to a disaster not caused by him, taking the path of justice instead of opting out.
They’d shared their lunches with him on the journey and gotten a good feel for a man of integrity, whose world had collapsed around him when his wife had followed her brother into a life of petty crime.
The sheriff was ahead of them. He already had the two criminals behind bars awaiting interviews. It seemed the man had convinced his sister that even if they were recognized, no one would bother to point the finger at them, as the robberies were for small amounts that would always be covered by insurance. That’s why they never used weapons, to keep the crimes too minor to be worth going to court over.
“Man’s brain-dead,” said the sheriff. “As if I’d let that continue on my patch.”
Pearce, Yasmin, and VJ forbore to mention that he’d been about to do just that until Yasmin had insisted on giving him a description of the woman.
After their stint in town, they decided to move on and spend the night somewhere fresh with no memories even though it was getting late. Which is why, when darkness fell, they were too far from any campground or trailer park and ended up parking in a truck stop beside the highway.
“Luckily we have everything we need with us,” said Yasmin.
“All we need is you,” replied VJ.
