Time is Money (13 page)

Chapter 36

I Almost Got Away With It

D
ana sat on the bus staring blankly out the window. All she wanted was for the bus to hurry up and pull out of the station. It seemed as if the bus driver was doing everything, but getting in the driver’s seat and pulling off. As Dana sat on the bus, she wondered how Ghost was holding up right now. Had he gotten away? Had the cops murdered him? Would she ever speak to or see him again? Those were all the questions that ran through Dana’s mind. Finally, the bus driver boarded the bus and got behind the wheel. He drove about ten to fifteen feet away before he stopped. Dana then heard his voice over the loud speaker.

“Sorry passengers, but I’ve been ordered to not leave the terminal. It seems as if the cops are demanding that they check all buses before they depart. I’m sorry for the delay and the inconvenience.”

Dana’s heart immediately leaped into her throat after hearing that message from the driver. She just knew that it was over for her. Tears rolled down her face as she pulled her 9mm from her waist and sat it on her lap with her shirt covering it. If she was going out, she definitely wasn’t going to go quietly.

* * *

Stone made his way back upstairs and saw Captain Fisher standing there with an angry look on his face.

“Good work back there Stone,” Fisher began. “But there’s still one missing and I think she’s on one of these buses. No bus is to leave until it has been thoroughly searched!”

“Copy,” Stone replied as he walked out to the loading dock. He immediately saw armed officers searching all of the buses. “Hey which one of these buses hasn’t been searched yet?” he asked a uniform officer.

“Those three right there haven’t been searched yet sir,” the officer told him.

“I’ll take care of it,” Stone said. He reached the first bus and reloaded his gun before he boarded it.

Stone slowly walked down the aisle on the bus looking from face to face. The whole time he walked the aisle, he prayed that he didn’t see Dana. After searching the entire bus, Stone walked back to the front of the bus. “You’re clear to go,” he told the driver as he hopped off that bus and hopped straight onto the next bus. Stone slowly walked up the aisle looking at each and every passengers face carefully. Once he was sure that Dana wasn’t on this bus either, he walked back to the front of the bus and told the driver, “You’re clear to go.” Then he exited the bus. Stone quickly headed over to the last bus and boarded it. He slowly made his way down the aisle looking from face to face, making sure that he kept his 9mm down by his side. His face was covered in sweat. He didn’t realize how hot it was in the bus terminal until now. Stone slowly eased his way down the aisle and stopped when he spotted Dana sitting in a window seat with a big floppy hat on her head. He looked and saw tears running down her eyes. Her eyes told Stone that she was sorry, told him that she still loved him, told him that she was human, and had made a mistake. Stone continued down the aisle as if he didn’t see Dana sitting there. He then made his way back to the front of the bus and told the driver, “You’re clear to go.” Stone hopped off the bus and watched as it slowly pulled off. Stone made eye contact with Dana as the bus was pulling off and he saw Dana mouth the words, “I love you.”

“I love you too baby,” Stone mouthed back as he watched the bus pull out of the station. It was at that moment that he knew that he would never see or hear from Dana again. Stone knew the real Dana, the loving and caring Dana. Inside he felt like he had done the right thing because he believed in second chances and he knew that he had saved Dana’s life the same way she had saved his by not letting Ghost kill him.

“What a day,”
Stone said to himself as he headed for his car to go home and get some much needed rest.

Chapter 37

Three Weeks Later

A
fter a long day of work, Stone stepped out of his car, checked the mail, and headed upstairs to his apartment. The first thing he did when he got upstairs was pour himself a strong, stiff drink. He then looked through his mail that he knew would be nothing but bills. Stone paused when he came across a posted letter that was addressed to him with no return address. He quickly opened the letter and began to read.

Hey Stone,
​
this letter is just to say thank you. I really appreciate what you did for me. You taught me that there is such a thing as real love. I know that we more than likely will never see one another again so this letter is just to let you know that I appreciate you and because of you, I have officially turned my life around and used my second chance at life to do some good for once. I will always love you no matter what and you will always hold a special place in my heart.

Yours truly,

Dana

I love you!

Stone read the letter and all he could do was smile. He was happy that Dana had changed her life around for the better. It was too bad that it took her losing her entire family to finally come to this conclusion. Stone looked down at the letter and said,
“I love you too baby.”

– THE END –
 

New Release

48 Hours to Die

An Anthony Stone Novel

by Silk White