Chapter 12: An Accident

Emmy rode a brand-new electric scooter, dressed to the nines in a flaming red dress and shiny black flats, a small square purse hanging from her shoulder.  She looked every inch the city trendsetter, all gloss and swagger.  However, her tongue was even sharper than her style.  She had the nerve to mock Damon. Damon turned his head and shot her a look.  "Emmy, I'm just riding my bike. It's not like I'm blocking you." "I get a kick out of seeing you on a bike. Watching you pedal around cracks me up." She laughed and added, "I heard you used to live large. What, can't even afford an e-scooter now? Heading to town? How did you end up this pathetic?" Damon had owned an electric scooter once.  When the money ran out and he still had to send Ailee money for living expenses, he sold it for a few dozen bucks.  And now Emmy had the nerve to sneer at him. He wasn't bothered by her taunts. He could dish it out, too. "Emmy, I heard you snagged yourself a sugar daddy in the city. But looking at you now, I'm not so sure." In his eyes, country girls with flashy looks who seemed to be doing well in the city usually had one explanation: a rich older man footing the bill. "Hmph!" Emmy shot him a glare.  "What nonsense? I earn money with my skills. When have I ever needed a man?" She twisted the throttle, picked up speed. "Stupid country bumpkin, keep pedaling." She surged ahead and vanished down the road. Damon spat on the ground.  "A bitch like her, talking down to me? Hope you wipe out. Let's see how you like that." He was in no hurry, so he kept an even pace. Before long, near a bend, a woman's cry for help floated toward him. "Help! Help!" He knew that was Emmy's voice. Damon rounded the curve and saw her sprawled by the roadside, her scooter tipped over, pinning her leg.  She propped herself up with both hands, tried to get free, and failed. "Hey!"  Spotting Damon, she looked at him like he was her lifeline.  "Damon, move the scooter. It's crushing my leg. I... I can't get up!" "Oh?"  Damon dismounted, eyed her, and asked, "Is it broken?" "N-no... I don't think so. But I can't pull my leg out. Hurry up, move it!" There was a bossy edge to her voice. He smirked.  Pulling out his phone, he said, "Let me snap a pic for the record." He snapped a few photos. Emmy went pale and glared at him.  "Move it! Do it now." "Why should I?" Damon pocketed his phone, grabbed his bicycle, and started to leave. "Hey!" Tears welled in her eyes.  "Damon, you aren't a real man. You..." He didn't break stride, as if he hadn't heard a thing. "Please, I'm begging you, help me." Emmy's voice finally lost its edge. Damon still ignored her.  Help a woman who'd just mocked him? Not a chance.  Let her stew. "I'll pay you!" she shouted.  "I mean it. Ten dollars!" Damon swung onto the bike and sped away. Emmy burst into wrenching sobs.  Who knew when anyone else would come by?  She had no chance of shifting the scooter on her own. Meanwhile, Damon rode off with a light heart, even whistling as he went.  He reached town in no time.  From a distance, he spotted Eddie lurking with two henchmen in a hole-in-the-wall by the roadside.  Damon coasted up, parked his bicycle, and stepped inside. Eddie started to duck into the back, but when he saw Damon enter, he froze and turned with an awkward smile. "Uh... Damon, you... You're here." He and his two lackeys wore the same fake grin. Damon regarded them calmly.  "Eddie, why are you hiding from me?" "I... I..." Eddie flinched.  "I needed the bathroom, so I thought I'd, uh, borrow theirs." "You think I don't know you're dodging me?"  Damon crooked a finger. Eddie's smirk vanished, and his face went ashen.  He shuffled over, panic etched in every line.  "Damon, what... what do you need me to do? Just say it." "Well..." Damon grabbed Eddie's shirt and steered him outside, then pointed at his bicycle.  "See that? That's my ride. Tell me, does a ride like that match my style?" Eddie shuddered.  "I... I only have a motorcycle. Maybe we could... swap?" "Now you're talking." Damon clapped Eddie's shoulder.  "I'm not here to fleece you. We switch rides, and from now on I'll look out for you. When I make money, I'll pay you the difference. Fair enough?" "More than fair." Eddie didn't dare argue. "Maybe it's just for a few days. If I get bored with your motorcycle, we'll switch back." Damon patted Eddie's shoulder again.  "Let's swap now. I have business in the city." "Okay." Resistance never crossed Eddie's mind. "Damon, let's go to my place," he offered, already pushing the bicycle. They went to Eddie's house, a standalone three-story red-brick home that looked impressive by town standards.  He ushered Damon in. "Want some tea?" Eddie asked. "No." Damon's reply was cool.  "I have urgent business. I need to get moving." "All right." Eddie handed him the motorcycle keys.  Then he blurted, "By the way, are you going into the city to find Jasper? He left last year." "Why would I look for him?"  Damon shot Eddie a glare, mounted the bike, and roared off toward the city. He had barely left town when two vehicles came up behind him.  In front was a white BMW, behind it a blue cargo truck.  The BMW overtook Damon when the truck suddenly gunned it and slammed into the car. Bang! The BMW shot off the road and plowed into the rice paddy. Damon jammed the brakes and stopped just short of the truck's tailgate. His gut clenched. Was this an attempted murder?