Out of the Black by John Rector

it with five minutes to spare.
    I turned to the woman and said, “We’re early. He should be here any minute.”
    Silence.
    I could feel the adrenaline buzzing through me, making it impossible to sit still. I tried my best, but it was no use. Eventually, I opened my door and got out.
    The woman turned and watched me, silent.
    I walked around to the back of the van and stood by the white picket fence and looked out over the long field stretching into darkness. I could hear a train somewhere in the distance. The sound, a soft and steady pulse, helped calm my nerves, and almost made it possible for me to think clearly.
    Almost.
    Something about being out here, so far removed from the city, bothered me. I went over all the reasons I could think of why he’d want to meet way out here, but none of them seemed to fit.
    All I could do was wait and see.
    At exactly ten o’clock, a wave of headlights passed over me. I turned and saw a black Town Car and a black SUV pull into the parking lot and stop side by side. Their headlights shone bright, making it impossible to see.
    The wait was over.

    I walked around and stood in front of the van. For a moment, no one moved, then all the doors opened at once, and I could see glimpses of shadows moving behind the headlights.
    One of the shadows stepped forward, silhouetted by the headlights. He was alone, and he walked with a cane.
    He stopped halfway.
    I stood there, waiting for him to say something. When he didn’t, I went around to the passenger side and opened the door and helped the woman out of the van.
    She ran her hands over the wrinkles in her clothes, then straightened herself and started walking toward the man.
    She’d gone a few feet when I said, “I’m sorry.”
    The woman stopped.
    At first, I thought she’d keep walking, but instead, she turned and came back, stopping in front of me, her eyes never leaving mine.
    I told her, “I wish I could take it all back.”
    The woman reached up, slow, and ran her fingertips over my cheek, soft and gentle. Then she pulled her hand away and slapped me, hard.
    The sudden sting brought tears to my eyes. It didn’t hurt as much as it shocked me. All I could do was stand there, staring, unable to speak.
    The woman turned and walked away, fading into the lights. When she reached the old man, he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close.
    I stood there, watching for Anna and waiting.
    The old man said something I didn’t catch, then all at once there was movement behind the SUV’s headlights. People were shouting, lights flashed red and blue, and two cop cars turned off the road into the parking lot.
    “No.”
    I looked back, but there was nowhere to go.
    Several men ran in from either the light’to the out of side and up from the field behind me. They were screaming at me, telling me to get on the ground.
    “No!”
    I felt the first set of hands on my shoulder, and I reached up out of instinct and twisted the man’s wrist at the joint. He cried out in pain, and I spun him away, running toward the old man.
    “Where is my daughter?”
    The old mannd Jay’s

19
    “Matt, wake up.”
    Beth’s head is resting on my shoulder. She looks up at me and runs her hand down my bare chest then pokes my ribs. “Come on, you have to get up.”
    I reach for her hand and kiss it, feeling the soft warmth of her fingers against my lips. Then I roll over and face her, pulling the sheet up, covering us both.
    I kiss her, breathe her in. “Not yet,” I say
.
    “You have to.”
    I run my hand down her body, feeling her next to me, her skin alive against mine. “I want to stay with you.”
    “You can’t.”
    I kiss her neck, work my way down.
    Beth arches against me.
    For a moment, I’m lost in her. Then I feel her hands on the sides of my head, lifting my face up to hers. She’s staring at me, and her eyes are clear and warm came around the corner. AK. It was and perfect, the color of autumn.
    “Wake up, Matt.”
    “But—”
    Beth puts