Test Drive – Part 1

So what do you say I post another story?

This one is pretty old. The original draft was written back in high school (approximately 197 years ago, for those keeping score). I decided to submit it to the annual student magazine, where it was judged by a literary professor at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln.

I’m not certain how, but it took first place. This fact is even more strange when you consider that due to an unfortunate error in the editing process, a full three paragraphs of my story was accidentally omitted from the magazine. Maybe I should have taken this as a sign regarding how I should edit my stories? I don’t know.

I do know that I had always felt the writing was a bit clumsy, so I really was honestly shocked when it won.

It’s pretty much been sitting in my files, confined to a darker corner for punishment, banishment, or maybe just to keep some of my other weird ideas company. After firing up this blog, I had the notion to bring it into the light, polish up the prose a bit, update a few things here and there, and toss it at you guys to see what you think.

I might have more to say about it later. Things that shouldn’t be said before you read it. So see you on the other side…

 

Test Drive 

by Robert Wurth 

Part 1

 

“That one,” said the voice. 

“No. That’ll be the third one this month. That’s too many, too soon.” 

There was a pause. “I said that one.” The voice grumbled in anger. Then followed silence in the small office save for the hum of the overhead fluorescent lights. 

Jack Krander threw his hands up in defeat. “Whatever,” he said with a sigh. He turned and glanced out of his office window. He could see a man standing out there casually looking at the cars. “You know,” Jack said without turning from the window. “Missing persons reports are piling up.” The voice did not respond. “Won’t be long before the police make some kind of connection and start asking questions.” He turned and glared at the small intercom box on his desk. Still the voice did not respond. “All right,” Jack said at last. “But this is it! No more for awhile.” 

Jack’s face contorted with expressions mirroring the anger and desperation wrestling for control in his mind. He stalked to his office door and grasped the doorknob. He hesitated before turning it, allowing himself a few seconds to compose himself. By the time Jack stepped out of his office, his professionalism took over and a large salesman’s grin, a grin that he certainly didn’t feel, spread across his face. As he walked between the rows of cars, he studied the man who had wandered onto his car lot. 

The man looked to be in his mid-thirties. He seemed relatively fit, but signs of sitting at a desk all day long, or possibly a few too many beers after work, were showing in his gut. His haircut was stylish and expensive and was almost successful at hiding a slightly receding hairline. The man wore a tailored business suit, but looked uncomfortable in it, as though it were a new addition to his persona. 

Jack had the man sized up almost instantly. That was his gift. He was very observant and could read people easily. It helped to make him a very successful salesman, and lately it made him a rather successful…he didn’t entertain that thought any further. 

The man was alone. Jack’s sharp eyes noted that not only was there no ring on his left hand, but not even the tell-tale tan line he so often saw when potential customers were walking down the row of sportier models. He had a girlfriend perhaps, but no wife. That didn’t do much to help Jack’s mood, but at least it was something. 

 

 

There was a quality to Jonathan Morris’s demeanor that was not unlike a sixteen year old waiting to receive his first driver’s license. However Jonathan’s day had managed to soar far beyond the adolescent milestone of legal driving. He had achieved what he considered his pinnacle. The Big One was his. The boss had just informed him this morning that the position of Executive Advertising Director was his if he wanted it. Hell yes, he wanted it. With this position, Jonathan finally became one of the Higher-Ups. 

If the corner office and executive parking space weren’t enough to put a grin on his face, the six figure salary certainly was. But that 15 year old heap he drove, the one with the cracked windshield, the one that occasionally left a dark spot on the concrete after he pulled away, it just wouldn’t do for that new parking spot. 

As he looked over a newer model sports coup, Jonathan noticed the salesman walking toward him. He felt a momentary twinge of revulsion and then a half grin formed on his lips. He decided with amusement that not even a car salesman could dampen his mood today. 

Jonathan suddenly found himself confronted with an out-thrust hand and a large toothy smile. “Jack Krander,” said the owner of the smile. “You are…?” 

“Jonathan. Jonathan Morris.” Jonathan gripped Jack’s hand and shook it firmly. He noticed that the salesman’s hand felt slightly clammy.

“Good to meet you, Jon,” said Jack. He nodded at the car Jonathan had been eying. “I see you’ve found one of my favorites. Are you looking to get into something new?” 

 “Yeah. I’m thinking about it. Something sporty, maybe.” 

“You came to the right place.” Jack’s voice was shaky. He put his hand on Jonathan’s shoulder and ushered him away from the car. “This one is nice, but I think I want to show you a few other things first. Maybe we’ll get back to this one.”

Jonathan thought he noticed Jack looking over his shoulder a few times as they walked. Something was definitely strange about this salesman, but he tried to dismiss the thought. After all, he admittedly didn’t have a lot of experience with them. Maybe they were all a little odd like this. 

“So Jon, let me guess,” Jack said. “You got a new promotion?” The statement was blunt and forced. Even Jack cringed as soon as the words had escaped him. He was pretty sure Jonathan didn’t see it. 

Jonathan blinked several times. “Uh, yeah.” He felt more than a little bewildered at the man he was walking with. The salesman’s words were what he expected. His demeanor was not. 

“Good for you!” Jack steered them down another aisle of cars, these slightly higher end than the row of cars they just came from. “I’m sure you’ll find something to catch your interests here. We’ve got many sporty models, including some hot, new foreign jobs.” They stopped at a small, red convertible. “Here is a good car, Jon…” Jack fell into a fairly routine sales pitch. His voice seemed to steady the more he talked and almost as if he realized this, he didn’t stop talking for many long minutes. He moved the two of them from one car to another. 

Jonathan stifled a yawn and shuffled his feet. They were in front of the fifth car. “These are all nice cars, but none of them do anything for me,” he finally said, interrupting Jack. In point of fact, the second car had really appealed to him, but he hadn’t been able to get a word in to say so. Now he just wanted to find a way to gracefully exit the dealership. 

Picking up finally on Jonathan’s boredom, Jack leaned close in mock secrecy. “I hate to say it, but I agree with you.” Jack looked around as if to make sure no one was listening in. “It’s my job to sell you one of these wrecks.” He said as he started them walking in a new direction. “But if you’ll just give me another few minutes, I do have something interesting over this way.” His voice became slightly unsteady again and Jonathan thought he noticed a few beads of sweat on the salesman’s forehead. “I didn’t really want to show this yet because we just got it in last week.” Jonathan saw that they were approaching a garage. 

“You see,” Jack explained, “this thing just came in from Europe. It’s about as new as you can get. In fact, it’s the only one in this part of the country.” He paused while he fumbled with the keypad on the garage door. “In other words, it’ll provide plenty of bragging rights to whoever buys it.” He winked at Jonathan. The gesture seemed clumsy and staged. 

The door squealed as the chain of the opener raised it. “Technology-wise, we don’t have anything like it here,” he continued. “But I guess they’ve already started selling them in France and some areas of Germany. Anyway, I don’t really know all of the tech-stuff, but it drives — well, you’ll just have to see that for yourself.” The two men stepped into darkness. “Just a sec…” Jack said as he reached for the light switch. 

After the fluorescent lights flickered on, Jonathan got his first glimpse of it. To him, it looked as if someone had mixed the DNA of a Lamborghini and a stealth fighter. It was as if the designers had taken the fastest, meanest and sexiest elements of every exotic car Jonathan had ever seen and molded them in to one. 

The body of it was a dark, metallic gray with teal accents that stood out in such stark contrast that they appeared to glow. The entire car gleamed wickedly in the artificial light. The front end appeared to sit slightly lower than the rear, making the car look like a predator about to lunge. The front end had both curves and sharp angles that made it look like a sneering beast baring fangs. Massive air scoops on the sides were ready to greedily suck oxygen to fuel what could only be a ridiculous amount of power and speed.

To be continued…