At 10:11 p.m., the rain became heavier.
Thunder rolled across the highway.
The truck driver left first.
Then the college students.
Lily locked the front door after them.
The sign remained lit.
Inside, only five people remained.
Lily.
Walter.
Brandon.
Kyle.
And the two other men from Iron Peak.
The restaurant felt different with the outside world shut away.
Smaller.
Quieter.
More intimate.
Brandon finished his burger.
He threw a few bills onto the table.
“Let's go.”
Kyle grabbed his gym bag.
They stood.
Brandon looked toward the back booth.
Walter was still there.
Still drinking coffee.
Brandon walked over.
“You staying all night?”
Walter looked at the clock.
“No.”
“Then why haven't you left?”
“Waiting for the rain to slow down.”
Brandon laughed.
“You afraid of rain?”
Walter shook his head.
“No.”
“Then what's the problem?”
Walter looked out the window.
“Road gets dangerous when people drive like they have something to prove.”
Kyle stared at the floor.
He knew exactly who Walter was talking about.
Brandon didn't.
Or pretended not to.
“Come on,” Kyle said.
The four men walked outside.
Lily watched through the window.
Brandon got into his truck.
The engine roared.
Kyle climbed into the passenger seat.
They pulled out of the parking lot.
Walter watched their taillights disappear into the rain.
Lily came over.
“You okay?”
Walter nodded.
“Fine.”
“You know them?”
“No.”
“You sure?”
Walter looked at her.
“I've never met them before tonight.”
Lily crossed her arms.
“Brandon's not usually that bad.”
Walter smiled.
“That's what worries me.”
“What do you mean?”
Walter stood slowly.
His left leg stiffened.
He put on his jacket.
“People don't become dangerous because they're angry.”
Lily waited.
“They become dangerous when they don't know what to do with their pride.”
He left five dollars beneath his cup.
Then walked toward the door.
Lily followed him.
“Mr. Hayes?”
He turned.
“Yeah?”
“Can I ask you something?”
“Sure.”
“Why do you always sit in the back?”
Walter smiled.
“Old habits.”
“From what?”
Walter looked at the rain.
“From a life I don't talk about anymore.”
Then he stepped outside.
Lily watched him walk to an old dark-green pickup parked beneath a tree.
The truck was rusty.
The paint was faded.
But the engine started immediately.
Walter drove away.
Lily locked the door.
She had no idea that across town, the same rain was about to turn Brandon Cole's confidence into fear.
The Accident
Brandon's truck hydroplaned less than ten minutes later.
Kyle shouted.
“Brandon!”
The truck spun.
Brandon fought the steering wheel.
The rear tires lost traction.
The vehicle crossed the center line.
Headlights appeared through the rain.
Brandon jerked the wheel.
The truck slammed into a ditch.
Airbags exploded.
Silence followed.
Kyle groaned.
“Brandon?”
“I'm here.”
Brandon's hands shook.
Kyle checked his forehead.
Blood.
Not much.
But enough.
The truck's engine was still running.
Brandon tried to open his door.
It wouldn't move.
“Great.”
Kyle reached for his phone.
“No signal.”
“Mine either.”
Rain hammered the windshield.
Then they heard another sound.
A truck engine.
Headlights appeared behind them.
An old green pickup pulled over.
The driver's door opened.
Walter Hayes stepped into the rain.
Brandon stared.
“You?”
Walter walked toward them.
“You hurt?”
Brandon didn't answer.
Walter approached the driver's side.
“Turn the engine off.”
“Why?”
“Fuel line may be damaged.”
Brandon hesitated.
Walter's voice became firm.
“Turn it off.”
Brandon obeyed.
Walter examined the vehicle.
Then he looked at Kyle.
“Can you move?”
“Yes.”
“Good. Get out through the passenger side.”
“What about him?”
“I'll get him.”
Walter opened the passenger door.
Kyle climbed out.
Then Walter returned to Brandon.
“The driver's door is jammed.”
“I know.”
“Unbuckle.”
“I can do it.”
“I didn't say you couldn't.”
Brandon looked at him.
Walter reached inside.
“On three.”
He braced himself against the frame.
“One.”
“Two.”
“Three.”
Walter pulled.
The bent door shifted.
Brandon pushed.
Together they opened it enough for Brandon to crawl through.
Once outside, Brandon stood in the rain.
His leg trembled.
Walter noticed.
“You hurt?”
“My knee.”
“Can you walk?”
“Yes.”
“Then walk.”
Brandon almost laughed.
“You always talk like that?”
“When people are scared, they waste time.”
Brandon looked at him.
“I'm not scared.”
Walter nodded.
“Okay.”
He turned away.
Kyle followed.
Brandon stood there for another second.
Then he looked back at the wrecked truck.
For the first time that night, he understood something.
He hadn't controlled the situation.
He had only believed he did.
What Walter Knew
Walter drove them to a small roadside garage owned by his friend.
The garage was closed.
But Walter had a key.
Kyle stared at the walls.
Old motorcycles hung from hooks.
Tools covered every workbench.
Photographs lined the back wall.
Walter noticed him looking.
“Don't touch anything.”
Kyle nodded.
Brandon sat on a wooden stool.
His knee hurt.
Walter brought a first-aid kit.