On the Run

For my current address and phone number, I took a calculated risk. I had scoped out an upscale apartment complex in Scottsdale, and determined that it had vacancies. I used the listing for the rental office as my telephone number. If everything went as expected, I would be living there in a few days as Victoria Ross, and I could call the bank and give them a new phone number before they printed my checks.

Brian raced me through the remaining forms, and after entering a few strokes onto his computer, he left me alone for a few minutes. This was the moment of truth. Would he reappear with a policeman in tow, to escort me to a holding cell until the FBI could arrange for my extradition to Illinois? Or had I managed to stay one step ahead of them?

When he returned to his desk, the smile on his face told me that I was home free. “I wanted to make sure we could get you some temporary checks and an ATM card before you left this evening, and it will be no problem. Have you picked out the style of checks that you want?”

I showed him my selection, pink checks with flowers around the border, and he smiled as he noted it in his computer. “Very pretty, just like you,” he said lamely.

Here I was, wearing a dress and nylons, being hit on by a guy who obviously found me attractive as a woman. For some reason, I felt like flirting back. Maybe it was because I had been cooped up with no human companionship in a dreary motel room, or maybe I was feeling a rush from the deception I was pulling off. “Are you sure you’re not after my money?” I teased him.

“No, I mean it,” he said. “Here’s my card. I’m not allowed to call you, I’d lose my job for sure, but if you want to get to know Phoenix, I’d love to show you the sights.” I put his card into my purse along with my temporary checks and ATM card, and smiled at him as I got up to leave.

“Thanks, Brian. Maybe I will.” I shouldered my purse and headed for the door, a rich girl in a hurry. It was getting dark outside, and I had to make it back to my sleazy motel before the winos and derelicts claimed the streets. I would be no match for them dressed as I was.