Sins of a Siren Read Free Page B

“I dunno…I ain’t ever rode a train. Do they have beds?”
    The agent gave her a condescending gaze. “You’ll want a roomette.” He looked at his screen, then back at Trenda. “Are you traveling alone?”
    The sound of the train’s air brakes announced its arrival. Anxiety filled her voice. “Yeah, yeah, just me.”
    The agent rolled his eyes from the scratch on her face to his screen. “That fare is $299 plus an additional $286 for the bedroom. Do you still want it?”
    She spotted an Amtrak security guard in a transparent, rain-covered poncho talking into his two-way radio as he entered the ticket area from outside. She dug into the pocket of her jeans and removed her bankroll as she stared at the blond-haired guard.
    â€œYeah…I want it.”
    After purchasing her ticket, she pulled the bill of her cap down low on her forehead and went to board the train. She peeked back over her shoulder and noticed the guard walking toward the ticketagent window. She checked her watch while standing in line to board the train; midnight straight up.
C’mon, y’all…let’s go!
    After boarding the train and receiving directions to her roomette, she checked the time and breathed a little easier.
Cool, the train should be leavin’ any minute now.
She entered her small roomette, closed and locked the door. She then tossed her bags on one of the reclining seats and collapsed into the other one. She checked her watch. “Damn, it’s ten after twelve. Why ain’t we movin’?”
    A specter of panic paid her a visit. Ignoring her instincts, she went to her window, eased the curtain back a few inches and peeked out. “Oh hell no!”
    Outside, about twenty yards from the train, she saw the original security guard along with two additional guards talking to the conductor who had taken her ticket. Trenda quickly pulled her curtains closed. She sat back and tried to slow her breathing and racing pulse.
    The plans of the just are legitimate; the designs of the wicked are deceitful.
—P ROVERBS 12:5
    Shut up, Daddy!
    Many people in her position may have said a prayer, but after growing up in her household, she refused to seek comfort from the Higher Power. She preferred to get her comfort from cash or good sex.
    A sudden jerk of the train shook her out of her sense of impending doom.
Yes! It’s about damn time we got goin’!
As the train picked up speed, she worked up the nerve to peek out the window again. To her horror, the security guard looked directly into her eyes as the train pulled past him.
    Frozen with fear, she couldn’t retreat. Her eyes locked on the guard’s blue eyes briefly before the train banked to the left, ending the moment.

Six
    D
amn, I gotta pee
, Trenda thought, an hour later, as she waited for the train to leave the D.C. train station. Her fear of running into a security guard kept her locked in her room with a full bladder.
    Once the train left the station, she slowly opened her door and looked down the corridor.
Cool, ain’t no guards out here.
She then eased her door closed and walked to the restroom, at the end of the car.
    After draining herself, she looked into the mirror as she washed her hands.
Shit, I hope this cut don’t leave a scar
. She then gently lowered the shoulder of her sweatshirt and inspected her other wound. She winced as she wet a paper towel and cleaned up her cut. Fortunately, it had stopped bleeding, but it looked deep. She nearly lost her balance as the train wobbled over an old bridge.
I sure hope this muthafucka don’t hop off the tracks!
    Outside the bathroom, her stomach growled.
I wonder if they got food on this train.
She worked up her nerve, opened the sliding doors between the cars and stepped through. The car was nearly vacant. A few reclined seats held sleeping passengers. In the dimly lit car, a sign on the wall of a dinner plate and utensils pointed toward