One Last Ride Part 2

 She stifled back a gasp of shock as her eyes tried to process the sight before her. This most definitely did not look anything like the Hailey on the voicemail just sounded. That girl sounded to be no older than eighteen years old. Whoever appeared to be leaning on her back passenger window was not a young teenage girl, but a middle-aged white man. He had sleek, wet, black hair and red-rimmed blue eyes. I mean, it's not uncommon for someone with an Uber account to request a ride for a friend or family member, Tessa thought to herself, but I don't know there's something about the way  he looks that just doesn't sit right with me. Hesitantly, she rolled her back passenger window down. "Hi, Is Hailey-" Tessa began, but was cut off abruptly. "She actually requested this ride for me- I'm in a bit of a bind right now, as you can see," the man whirled around, waving his right hand as he turned as if to gesture towards the black abyss surrounding the car, "and I happen to be tapped for funds at the moment, so she's helping me out, you know? She's a good girl, Hailey. A real good girl." At this declaration, he smiled what Tessa was sure he intended to be a charming smile, but just seemed to make her even more uneasy than before. Yeah, this just doesn't seem to be worth it to me.. he's definitely giving off a creepy vibe. "I see..I'm sorry sir. I'd love to help you out and give you a ride, but Uber's policy really doesn't allow me to pick up people that aren't listed riders due to ride insurance discrepancies. I'm sure you can understand my concern." Tessa was sure that Uber wouldn’t know who the hell she picked up from Tom, Dick or Harry, though she did not like the idea of driving anywhere with this man in her backseat. "Listen.. I completely understand your cause for concern in this case, but it's eleven 'o’ clock on a Wednesday night, it's freezing outside, and I'm stranded in a dead zone. Please? I'm prepared to tip you generously if you can make an exception." At this, the man went into his pocket, and Tessa tensed, her hand jerking to her transmission shifter ready to speed off immediately, but the stranger appeared to have done nothing more than just retrieve a hundred-dollar bill from his pocket. That was all. What'd you think he was going to pull out? A machete, you crackpot.. just relax, Tessa's brain told itself. You need that tip. The car insurance is due in two days, AND you're still twelve dollars short for the rent tomorrow. Plus, he doesn't seem that creepy... not sell you to the sex slave trade in Columbia level creepy at least. Like low-level creep. It won't be that bad. Plus, Jay's still on the line. At this internal revelation, Tessa's eyes slid down towards her clock casually and carefully as not to alert the man of her intent. She could see from her peripherals that Jay was still on the line. He's gotta be able to tell that something's off here, too. Jay would never let anything happen to me. See, that settles it. With this thought now fresh in her mind, she decided to roll the die and take her chances with this one last ride for the night. However, Tessa still could not shake that eery feeling creeping into the pit of her stomach. "Alright then, if you're not going too far, I guess I can help you out tonight and make an exception." "I'm not headed too far out, just about twenty-five minutes west or so." "That actually might not be too far from where I was already headed then. I guess you can jump in, and we'll get going." "Ugh, thanks a lot!" "No problem, sir." Tessa unlocked her door, allowing the strange man to hop into the backseat passenger side of her car. She proceeded to start her ride, and as the GPS was still trying to register and re-route directions, she made a U-turn and headed back towards the main road. I'm definitely not trying to lose service with this weirdo in the middle of nowhere, she thought wearily. "Thank you again," the man suddenly spoke, breaking the silence. "You have no idea how much I appreciate this. You really helped me dodge a bullet back there." Something about that statement seemed to be parallel in meaning to Tessa. "Is everything alright? The weather has been pretty frosty this winter to be out and about after dark so late. Usually everybody's hugged up in a blanket, watching movies. I know I wish I was right now." This was what Tessa knew how to do best: pry without susceptibility. She was always great at getting answers out of people, or reading individuals. She could, for instance, tell when someone was lying or hiding something. She could also get people to unknowingly blurt out things that they otherwise would have tried to keep hidden by alluding to or dancing around subjects without openly pushing, or coming off as aggressive. She was like a police detective pretending to be friendly while conducting a cross-examination. The stranger laughed; it sounded off- a bit too tense, and he responded “I had a bit of business to attend to this evening that-regrettably, took much longer than I would’ve preferred to finalize.” Tessa felt her throat tighten-her tongue going numb at those words. Come on..push through and act normal! “Ah, I understand how that is! We’ve all had those crazy work nights.” She somehow found the words to reply in what she felt was a relatively calm manner. She didn’t know how, quite honestly. She felt as if cement was gluing down her tongue. “Oh, you wouldn’t even know the half of it, Tessa.” Tessa’s heart sank deep in her chest, paranoia beginning to set in deep. Did Hailey tell him my name? Because I don’t remember introducing myself to this man!