Tina could tell by the way her stomach was growling that it had to be at least 12 O'clock in the afternoon. The clicking noise from the strobe light was driving her crazy and she did her best to nurse her possibly broken hand. Vinny had her locked in a bedroom inside the trailer. The window was boarded up with thick plywood and there was a huge strobe light mounted to the ceiling. The strobe light flashed incessantly and made a horrible clicking noise. After finding nothing in the bedroom to smash out the strobe light with Tina had finally jumped on the bed and tried using her fist. The glass casing was thick and wouldn't shatter. Now her hand had swelled up and she was sure she'd broken it.
To make matters worse Vinny had removed the sheets and blankets from the bed so she couldn't hide under them to shield herself from the vicious bright flashes of light. He had even taken the pillow! Tina wondered if maybe that was another torture trick he learned from the Marines. Then she wondered if Vincent even had any plans of keeping her alive at all. Tina assured herself that he had to keep her alive or her father wouldn't pay the ransom money. She knew Vinny needed money because of the unpaid bills stacked on the kitchen counter. Her father was smart. He would want proof that his baby girl was okay before he would part with the ransom money.
Tina heard keys jingling outside the bedroom door. The monster had finally come to check on his prey. Vinny unlocked the door and stood in the doorway holding a pair of blue jeans and a red turtle neck shirt that was brand new and still had the tag on it.
" Here." Said Vinny tossing the clothes on the bed," I had to agree with you. You are starting to stink." Then he threw a stick of deodorant and some spray on perfume on the bed also." Gussy yourself up. We've got a big day today. You're going home."
Tina's mood brightened up like a Christmas tree. She was fortunate she never got raped and one day she could put all this behind her. Vincent lit a Newport and walked out of the room. Tina changed into the new set of clothes as fast as she could before he would come back.
Vincent's eye looked a little less blood shot and it looked like he had gotten some sleep. The strobe light on the ceiling was still blinking rapidly and making that awful clicking sound. Tina was in such a hurry to get out of the bedroom that she carried her sneakers out and put them on while sitting on the living room sofa. She didn't sleep that night at all and she felt stuck in a trance. She wondered later if she would develop seizures. Vinny puffed on his cigarette and watched her put her sneakers on.
"So how did you sleep last night?" He finally asked leering at her with his evil eye. Tina didn't even look up from tying her sneakers. Instead she pretended like she didn't hear him. Sitting on the sofa cushion next to her was a white plastic bag still partially opened. Tina peered into the bag and saw a black hoody and a pair of thick sunglasses. The kind old people wear over their glasses to keep the sun out of their eyes. Vinny saw her looking into the bag.
"That's my attire for special missions. It's like I'm bringing the UNAbomber back out into society."
Tina rolled her eyes and finished tying her left shoe. Her ankle looked swollen and still gave her pain and Vinny saw her rubbing it. He turned around to walk into the kitchen." Let me get you some Vicoden for that. We're going to be spending some time in public and I don't want us looking out of kilter with you limping around."
Vinny came out with a glass of water and a couple vicodens in his hand. He looked at his wrist watch after handing her the pain killers." Hurry up. It's 11:30 already and we have a long drive." Tina popped the pills into her mouth and chugged down the misty water. Sitting by the front door was two fishing rods and two dark blue brand new ponchos still in the wrapper. Vinny grabbed one of the fishing rods and a large tackle box that Tina surmised probably wasn't filled with fishing supplies.
Vincent looked like he was in a hurry." Help me carry the rest of this stuff. We've got to get going." He said holding the tackle box securely to his side. Tina picked up the other fishing pole and the two ponchos then followed Vinny out to the barn. Tina was shocked when they entered the barn and everything was neatly organized including beer bottles put away. The rusty trailer with the skiff neatly perched on top was snuggly attached to the Jeep Wrangler's receiver. Vinny unsnapped part of the big blue tarp that covered the boat. She handed him the ponchos and fishing poles and he placed them inside the boat. Tina stood on her tippy-toes to try and glance inside the boat.
"Don't look in there!" Vinny snapped at her. She didn't have the slightest clue what all the gadgets were inside the boat but she recognized the 4ft. model rocket Vinny had been working on. Vinny re-snapped the tarp back onto the boat which then concealed everything inside. Then he jumped into the driver's seat of the Jeep and left the driver's door opened. Tina walked over towards the passenger's door but Vinny called out to her.
"Don't get in yet. I need you to check the trailer lights for me so we don't get pulled over." Vincent turned the ignition switch halfway until the interior lights came on. Tina stood at the back of the trailer patiently waiting further instructions. Vinny pushed down on the brake pedal and poked his head out the door.
"How about now? Are the brake lights coming on?" He yelled to the back.
All the lights on the trailer came on except the right tail light didn't seem to be working." Everything looks okay." Called out Tina while she crossed her fingers.
Vinny put on the right turn signal and poked his head out once more." Is the right turn signal blinking?" He asked.
The right tail light did absolutely nothing at all and Tina almost giggled." Everything looks great!" She called out disguising her laughter.
"Good. Open the sliding door so I can back out."
Tina pushed the massive wooden door open far enough that Vinny could back out. A small splinter had dug into her thumb from sliding the door. Once Vinny finally backed out of the barn he got out of the Jeep, pulled the sliding door shut, and locked up the barn. Tina got into the passenger's side and fastened her seat belt. As they made their way down the long driveway Vinny put on his sunglasses and then gently squeezed her knee.
"And we're off like a herd of turtles." He finally said.
Something his grandpa used to say when he was a kid. Tina felt a rush of exhilaration which quickly diminished at the thought of Steve.