“I know. You see, that’s why I came. She’s my sister and asked me to visit.” Even though I delivered my lines like a pro, he still looks hesitant.
“C’mon now. Do I look like a serial killer?” My hands wide, I shoot him a naïve, school-girl grin.
“No, I guess not. Second floor, the door on the right. But make it quick.”
Halfway up the stairs, I turn. Sure enough, with his back to me, he thumbs his phone and someone must pick up. I can’t make out his words but the tone sounds urgent.
Pushing speed dial on my cell, I wait until Suds answers before sticking my Samsung in my pocket. “I’m in Long Island. Stand by.”
“Copy that.” His use of military jargon is strangely calming
I don’t know why I’m nervous. It’s crazy, right? Who would dare do anything in broad daylight? Doing my damndest to lose the stigma of being a danger magnet, I unzip my jacket and slide my hand near my revolver. With one eye on the floor below, I walk to the room and tap on the wood.
The door cracks open revealing a twentyish pregnant woman with an elfin face. Dark circles line her wide eyes. “Whoever you are, you should go.”
“I will, I promise, just as soon as you tell me you’re okay. Melissa insisted I talk to you.”
“Fine. Come in.” Sighing heavily, she steps aside, and I follow her into the tight space.
With standing room for one only, she plops onto a brass bed with a thick, white down comforter and stares up at the ceiling. “I changed my mind. Why can’t she accept my decision? I’m not going to let her take my little girl away.”
“I’m so sorry to have bothered you.” I smile sadly and am about to leave when she hops up, and grabs my shoulders so fiercely, her nails will leave marks for days.
“Tell her exactly what I said. Understand? Now go.” After shoving me out the door, she slams it hard.
On the way down, I wave at the guy, listening in at the foot of the stairs.
“Hormones. She’s fine. Thanks for letting me see her. Y’all have a nice day.” I traverse the way I came in, plop inside my car, and lock the doors.
“That was weird.” Talking to myself, I start up the car.
“What was?” Suds sounds full volume from the speakers, scaring the b’jezus out of me.
“Shit!” I jump a mile and hit the horn.
“You okay sugar?”
Damn, and I was doing so well to hide my nerves. “I forgot you were on the line, that’s all.”
“Saaaam. You’re jumpy. Why?” A dog with a bone, he won’t give up until he’s convinced I’ve told him the truth.
What can I say? The old guy was creepy? The crows freaked me out?“It’s a weird time of year to be staying at the ocean, the town is practically deserted, and she sounded legit about changing her mind.”
“Too bad for her. She’ll never win in court.” When he sighs, a crow swoops over my windshield and leaves a dropping.
I twist the wiper control to the far right, water sprays, and the mess spreads across the glass. “Agreed. She’ll have to fly the poop, I mean coop.”
“Which would mean more investigative work for us. Did you leave some kind of GPS tracker in the room?”
I smile. “In her purse. Just like you taught me.”
“That’s my girl.”
Chapter 8
Suds
After spending the night on a plane, I pay the Uber driver, unlock my street-level entrance, and race up the stairs. Two more doors later, I enter our office-slash-loft where Catrina greets me by swirling around my feet in a fiendish attempt at first-degree murder.
