Crime Pays

Jonah cracked open a cheap can of beer in the back of Rufus’s pickup. The truck was perched at the edge of a mountain that overlooked a lake; a city stretched below past the lake. Jonah gulped the cheap beer like water and wiped blonde foam from his mouth. Jonah fiddled with the can as Rufus tipped his beer bottoms-up and crushed the can, tossing in the flatbed behind him.

“‘Nother one?” Rufus chirped.

“Not yet,” Jonah lifted his half full can.

Rufus nodded and took a second can and cracked it open. Jonah looked out at the city beyond the lake.

“Hellluva thing, ain’t it?” Rufus agreed, noticing Jonah’s sentimentality.

“It is. It’s a shame… this is it.”

“Eh, this town ain’t all that great.” Rufus gestured to the city with his can. “All this stuff’s in every other town; not like there’s something special ‘bout here.”

“Yeah. Okay.” Jonah felt a lump in his throat as he avoided eye contact, swallowing the last of his beer. He felt a sharp nudge against his ribs as Rufus held a beer can out for him.

“Hey,” Rufus said kindly, “It ain’t too late to back out.”

Jonah took the beer can and stared at the tab. He tapped it with his fingernail to no rhythm. “No,” he said firmly. “I’m not backing out.”

“There ain’t no shame in that, Jonah. This kinda thing ain’t for everyone. Hell, I don’t even know if I—”

“We’re doing it,” Jonah interrupted. He snapped open the beer can and took a massive gulp.

Rufus nodded nonchalantly. “We’ll find a good place in a few months. One just like home. It’ll be so good we won’t even miss this dump.” As Rufus said that, his shoulders sank, feeling the weight of their decision. He paid no attention to how he felt, and he sipped the beer.

“Did you say bye to anyone?” Rufus asked quietly.

Jonah didn’t look at him. “No. You?”

“Yeah. Patsy. We got burgers and had one last night together.”

“Did you tell her?” Jonah looked at Rufus.

Rufus shook his head. “I mean, I told her where we might go afterwards. But I didn’t tell her where we’ll be hiding, if that’s what you’re asking.” Rufus eyed Jonah. “Why didn’t you say bye to anyone?”

“Cuz I don’t want my mind changed.”

Rufus nodded nonchalantly. “Well. I thought I’d just say bye to Patsy.”

Jonah furrowed his brow and looked at Rufus. “Did you tell her what we’re doing?”

Rufus frowned. “Yeah.”

“Why? What if she tells?”

“Well, I couldn’t not. She’s my gal, and I owed her an explanation, like she said, what I’m doing and why we’re going.”

“How much does she know?”

“I told her we’re doing a heist. But I didn’t tell her any details. I didn’t say nothing about Boomer Shelton or the ransom or nothing like that. I just… told her she ain’t gonna see me again.”

Jonah finished his beer and crushed the can. “Don’t say anything else to anyone. Not even to Patsy.”

“I won’t.” Rufus hung his head. “I am gonna miss her. And home. Knowing we ain’t ever coming back…”

“We’ll have more money then we’ll ever need, Rufus. There isn’t a person worth more than that.”

Rufus thought about what Jonah said. He picked his nails as he surveyed the lake and his hometown beyond it. He considered the memories he formed and the friendships he built. Rufus pondered the comfort of the life he had, and whether this crime was really worth it. If it was really worth more than Patsy.