I looked over my shoulder, the road empty behind us. Looking forward, I could see nothing. My hands vibrated against the steering wheel, the engine whining at me to speed up. Sitting lower in my seat, I tried to sound calm.
"I think we are good."
Matt stroked his gun, placed in his lap.
"We don't have to get out of the car?"
"No, he is going to meet us at the drop off spot. So, we get out of the car. He wants you to stay in the car when I hand over the money."
My eyes were darting, searching the dark on the side of the road. I drew a breath and waited.
"Is the transfer of money on me or him?" Matt asked.
I thought about it for a second. "On you, so you need to be ready."
I stared ahead at the road. The cell phone started ringing inside the car. I leaned forward to catch it. It was my call—the instructions were vague and the tension between us was high.
I read the instructions and looked at Matt.
"Drop me here," I said as I stopped the car.
I went out and stood behind the car.
Matt waited for me to get in.
"I will be back. Keep your eyes on him."
He nodded and I closed the door.
I walked a few paces away from the car, seeing if I could hear any traffic or anything. I waited and then started back towards the car, keeping a distance from the road.
The headlights of the car flashed once and Matt sat inside. I ran to the car and opened the door.
"We are at the drop off point. He wants us to get out."
"Fine, we get out."
I put on my gloves and picked up the gun. Not waiting for him, I left the car and walked briskly towards the road. I could see the road and the headlights of an approaching car were boring holes in my head.
"What's wrong?" I turned to see Matt standing by the car.
"Just stay here." I opened the passenger door and sat on the seat, gun in my hand.
Matt sat, held the gun on his lap, and there was no movement. He stared ahead.
A sports bike slowed down as it approached and then moved on. I straightened the gun on my lap. I was unsure of his reaction.
The sound of a car coming down the road caught my attention. He had put one man in the car. It was going fast towards us and my eyes never left Matt. He was sitting up.
"What do you want?" I asked him.
The headlights of the car flashed on as it reached us and the car slowed down.
"Money," the man on the motorcycle asked.
"What are you doing?" Matt asked.
The man on the motorcycle was dressing up, and I almost smiled. He had the helmet half-off his head, sunglasses on, and he was showing off.
"I want the money," he said to me.
"Get in," I said to him.
He shrugged and I knew something was going down. I pushed Matt to the back seat.
"My partner will drive you. Hurry up."
"Why don't you drive me?" he asked.
He had bulged his muscle-clothed arms on the handle of his bike.
"I have a gun and he has a gun. Get in the car."
I pointed my gun at him, trying to push him back in the car but he didn't budge.
"Matt will drive me."
"Get in the car."
I pushed him again and he took his bag from the motorcycle and put it on the back seat. I got into the driver's seat and he straddled the motorcycle.
"Don't try anything stupid," I said.
He sat on the back seat and I started the car.
"Tell him not to try anything. I don't want him dying."
"Are you kidding?" he asked.
"I don't want him dying."
I pulled off the road and left the car on the opposite side. He held his hand out and I pressed the button to start the windshield wipers. He turned his bike and moved towards the three lane main road.
I followed him, keeping the distance away. He let the bike move and I brought the car back. It was a normal place, with light flowing from the shops on the sides.
He stopped his bike and got off. "Where are we?"
"I don't know."
Matt pulled the door handle and got out. "I am Matt."
The man from the motorcycle nodded as Matt walked nearer. He placed his helmet on the motorcycle seat.
"Give him the bag," Matt said.
The motorcycle man walked forward and held out the bag. I looked at it carefully. Matt took out his gun and placed it in the back seat.
"Matt," I said. "I am sure we are doing this the wrong way."
"Let him get the money."
Matt walked a few metres from the car. His feet were heavy on the gravel and I listened through the window.
"Is it loaded?" the man asked me.
"Yes," I said. "Just stay calm."
"Whatever. I am in no mood for a gun fight."
"Point of no return here, man," Matt said.
The man took out his gun.
"Hey, man?"
I heard the click of the gun and the usual sound of the safety lock.
"It is your call. You want to do it, agree now," Matt said.
The motorcycle man looked at me, shrugged, and walked back to the car.