Dr. NoSleep

The second I'm a couple of shops away, I break into a run and sprint as fast as I can out of the strip mall and down the street, racing to catch the bus.

I don't even care what bus it is, I just need to catch a bus and get out of here.

The number 35 arrives as soon as I reach the stop and I barely pause before hopping on.

I dig out my wallet and show the driver my bus pass.

She barely glances at it and jerks her head back in the universal gesture all bus drivers make that says, yeah, yeah, go sit the hell down.

I got places to be.

I collapse into a seat in the far back corner and rest my forehead against the window.

What's happening?"

my voice asks.

I didn't get it.

I reply after looking around to make sure I'm not going to be overheard.

What do you mean you didn't get it?

I didn't get it!

I hiss.

The clerk was right there, man.

He was just talking about the coaxial cable and asking me whether I was using HAM or CB and I just… HAM or CB?

He knows you were talking to someone?

I have a coiled beige wire running up out of my backpack into my ear.

It's hard to miss.

Right, right.