Covert Identity Read Online Free PDF Page A

ready?"
    At that moment, she was almost hypnotized by his eyes and would have agreed to anything. Words were beyond her, so she nodded.
    "You're good back there. I hardly notice I have you on the bike. Some people wiggle so much it's hard to drive."
    Yay, I got a compliment. Hmm, wonder who else he drives around... A new girl every day, probably.
    The big road scared her. There were so many cars everywhere, and the wheels on the semis were taller than she was. The speed would have been intoxicating if it were only them, but the cars meandered between the lanes and an old man with Indiana plates would have smashed right into them if Jimmy hadn't veered to the side.
    She forced herself to exhale. They were clearly invisible, but at least he knew what he was doing. If she survived this she would pay more attention to bikes, and give them more room.
    The dread faded quickly. As soon as they were on the ramp off the interstate, she thought she could probably get used to it.
    He pulled up outside a Cracker Barrel. Not what she expected, but on the other hand, she didn't know what she expected. She didn't know where bikers ate, or what they ate besides beer and ice cream, but imagined more of a food stand with greasy burgers than a sit-down restaurant with an old-fashioned store.
    There were other bikes outside, all different than his but a fair number. How blind had she been to the world around her?
    She muttered, "I am so prejudiced," and didn't realize she said it aloud until he glanced over at her.
    "What's that, babe?"
    "Nothing. Just talking to myself."
    He called me babe.
    If someone else did it she'd probably snap that she wasn't a little pig. When he did it, it seemed endearing.
    His eyes glittered with amusement, as if she were the most entertaining thing he ever met.
    Once inside, all the knick-knacks in the store charmed her and she forgot all about the differences between their ways of life, both real and imagined. She hadn't been to a Cracker Barrel in years, and she had forgotten how much fun stuff they had.
    A woman looked at a cartoonish ceramic figurine with a dog hugging a sheep, and the little decoration called out to her.
    "Wow, that's just too cute."
    The woman looked at her, about to answer with a smile. "Yes..." Her eyes fell on Jimmy and she mouthed the words on his vest. Her eyes widened and she clenched her jaw, spun around, and hurried towards the restaurant. She didn't quite run, but it was close.
    "That was rude."
    Jimmy placed his hands on her shoulders. "People are afraid of me. I'm sorry."
    Do they need to be?
    She couldn't say that .
    "Doesn't that feel strange? Having people fear you?"
    He shrugged and took the sheep from her hands.
    "It is what it is. You want that?"
    The figurine looked out of place in his coarse hand.
    Why did you join a band of criminals? You're such a sweet guy, why would you want to be feared and challenged by others all the time?
    It was too early for such personal questions. Maybe he'd done something in his teens, or maybe he'd followed a friend. For all she knew, he could be ready to leave them.
    Was that even possible?
    Jimmy put a hand on her shoulder and steered her towards the register. Once seated in the restaurant he made her forget all about the incident, and she had the time of her life.
    *****
    E very day went along the same lines. Jimmy called in the evening, came over to drive her somewhere during the day, and said he had to go when she asked him to come in.
    They had a good time, but she found it strange.
    Mona said, "Maybe he's gay."
    Was she just a cover? A make-believe girlfriend for show? Maybe she was a girl best friend, like she might have a gay best friend.
    "He can't be. That just wouldn't be fair."
    "Let's have a girls' night out, forget all about men for a bit."
    "Thanks, but..."
    Mona laughed. "I get it. You want to be here in case he shows up."
    Friday broke the pattern. The day came and went without word from Jimmy. Sharon forced herself to work,