It's a Setup! [174]

"Do you think they followed us?" Diego asked as his wild eyes checked the car windows.

"Of course they followed us," Rafael replied. "It was a setup - a trap - and we haven't escaped yet."

"We're gonna die!" Diego blurted out. Rafael hit the brakes, causing the car to jolt and Diego to slam into his seat belt. The wild-eyed man gasped to catch his breath.

"If they want to kill us, they'll have to catch us. Now, where are we headed?"

"The border?"

"Wrong - we're headed to Antonio's Deli."

"A deli?"

"You think they'd ever think to look for us there?"

The younger man was about to balk at this line of reasoning, but was swayed as he mulled it over.

"It's like the tortoise and the hare - but we're the hare," Diego said, eyes glazed in thought. "They win the race to the border, but don't get the prize."

"Yeah, something like that."

It wasn't long before the two pulled into an around-the-back parking spot at their destination. While both had avoided talking about it, the whole experience had shaken them. They sat in the car, silent, for a few minutes before either made an attempt to go in and browse for food they probably wouldn't even eat.

They avoided Antonio - a gregarious shop-keep who would make their presence known - and spent the night in their car. Hoping beyond hope they'd avoid detection, the made their way to the border at first light.