Cantina Problema: Conclusion

“Now…” He said. “…This better be a good story.”

I was handcuffed to the steering wheel of the car I was now driving at top speed away from the Cantina. I had only just met my passenger, yet he seemed content to risk a lot just to hear my story.

By the time we stopped, and figured out how to get loose of the cuffs, by using a saw my passenger found in the boot, I had explained to him all about uncovering the plot to have me murdered and claim on the insurance policy. The chase across the border and the other events, leading to my now single, fugitive-esque life.

The Chevy seemed too nice to leave, but my passenger friend was right. It would be too noticeable and most likely The PI had some way of tracking it. You don’t own a car like this, and not know where it is at all times. I never got the Private Investigator’s name, so he would just be ‘The PI’ to me from now on. We had driven through the night, and would have a decent gap between him and us now, so we began walking down the road, towards a small town a few miles away. Where we would hopefully lay low.

Hang on! Suddenly I realised, I didn’t know my passenger’s name either, and he in all probability didn’t know mine.

“Hey, this is awkward, but I don’t think we introduced ourselves, I’m Al-”

“Alvin Eroson.” Said my passenger.

“How… How did you know that?”

“Freaky, ey?” He said, grinning at me, his disheveled face and unkempt facial hair fully revealed in the morning light breaking over the nearby hills. Man, I thought I looked worse for wear.

“I found this folder in the car when we were driving. It looks like it was that thug’s dossier on you,” it has some basic information and a few photos.” He said, passing it to me. “Figured you wouldn’t want it left in the car in case it’s found by the authorities first.”

“Thanks, yeah. Probably not, don’t even know how it would all look now to the cops. It all got so weird and complicated so quickly.” I said to him, tucking the folder under my arm.

“My name’s Hector,” he said, “good to finally meet you properly Alvin.” My now named passenger said as we continued walking down the long road, there was nothing in sight any way I looked. It would be a couple of hours till we reached the small town.

Hours later...

Tired, sweaty, and beginning to feel the pangs of hunger, we finally walked across an imaginary line that now meant we were in the small town we had been heading towards for hours. A giant metal signed officially making it clear we were now in Coddeltown, whereas just a few yards earlier due to that invisible line, we had not been. Although as we got closer I could see the sign had been vandalised, so it now read-

WELCOME TO CODDELTOWN, HOME OF THE CASSOWARYS!

Hmm, Odd Town sounds about right...

We quickly found our way to the local watering hole, a small sports club attached to a little motel type set up. Any port in a storm, I thought.

“Man, I nearly forgot about this place, He was here after it happened…” Hector said, more to himself than to me.

“What’s that bud?”

“Oh, Um… Nothing.” He said, looking more downcast than I had seen him before.

We entered the pub section of the building, and passed an intimidating plaster statue of an Owl as we walked in and to the bar.

“What will it be, fellas?” The barman asked.

“Bourbon.”

“Bourbon.”

We both said in unison. When the barman went to pour some of the glowing brown liquid into some glasses, Hector took the bottle from his hand, snatched the glasses from the bar top, and walked over to a booth and sat down.

“It’s been a day and a half.” I said to the barman, handing over some cash to pay for the whole bottle. I went to turn and join my new friend, then thought about the last few days.

“Actually, I’ll get another bottle if you don’t mind.” I said, sliding him some more cash.

It really has been a rough few days.

“You two planning on driving later?” He asked before handing the bottle over.

“No car.” I said, shrugging, “...and to be honest I don’t think my friend is going anywhere for a while, and to be honest… neither am I.”

“Okay then, but don’t you two go around causing trouble here, right?”

“We’ll do our best, but if anyone comes looking for us…” I said, sliding another note to him, “you’ve never seen us, got it?”

He picked up the note, and examined it, it was a genuine $100 note.

“You got it.” He nodded.

I walked over to join Hector in the booth that would most likely become our home for the next day at least.

“Welcome to The Owl, gents. I hope you’ll enjoy your stay.”

Hector and I poured a glass each, clinked our glasses together and just before he took a sip, he said to me with a faint smile.

“Have to admit, your story was pretty good.”

“You gonna tell me yours?” I asked.

“Maybe,” he said, “but first…”

He finished his glass, and started pouring us both another one.

“One more.”