“Oh, none of that. Mom’s hip ain’t what it used to be.”
She gave me a sympathetic look. “Of course. Same with my old man. He owns this place, but he slipped in the shower last year, so now it’s mostly me running this show.”
I returned a sympathetic look as I processed her words. As the owner’s daughter, there was a strong chance she knew of any shady dealings. “Sorry about your dad. Must be hard running this whole place by yourself.”
She waved her hand, and I noticed a diamond bracelet around her wrist. “It’s really not so bad. Some days I don’t see anyone, but I have my magazines and books to keep me company, and the paycheck’s great.” Her face turned somber, likely realizing she’d said too much.
Our gaze lingered a few seconds too long until I looked down at the pamphlets. “So, let’s see about trips without too much walking…”
Ten minutes later, I returned with two pamphlets to the cabin. Tammy was still taking her nap, so I ended up taking one as well. When I woke up an hour later, Tammy was smoking out back. I stepped outside to see that the sky had turned from blue to deep orange.
“I spoke with Cherry the receptionist,” I said.
Tammy blew smoke. “Did you advise her to change her silly name?”
“No, but it turns out she’s the motel’s owner’s daughter. He got injured last year, so she’s taken over. She mentioned that some days she doesn’t see any guests, but she let it slip that the money’s great. She was also wearing a diamond bracelet.”
Tammy nodded. “Nice work. You think she might be suspecting us?”
“I don’t think so. We mostly talked about trips around the area. Oh, if you see her, try to limp a little—I told her you have a bad hip.”
She rolled her eyes and gave me the finger.
“Mind if I go for a quick swim before we head off to eat?” I asked.
“Go ahead, but keep a low profile. And if we’re going to stay here for a few days, we should get some groceries.”
“Okay, we can do that at the shopping center.”
I grabbed a towel from the bathroom and stepped outside. Like before, I walked between quiet and dark cabins, feeling like the only guest around. It was highly possible that The Society’s employees only stayed here every few weeks, which put me in a tight spot. I’d go broke if I didn’t work, and Tammy didn’t come across as wealthy.
As expected, the pool was empty of people, and the setting sun provided a perfect backdrop. I took off my clothes and stayed in my boxers, then jumped into the pool. After the hot day, the water was warm but still refreshing. I floated on my back, watching as stars gradually appeared in the dimming sky. With my ears beneath the water, I might as well have been floating in the middle of the ocean. I began to swim lazily back and forth, my stiff muscles grateful for the exercise. As dusk settled, lights flickered on around the pool, though the area remained mostly dim. I could picture Hayden and me swimming here, touching beneath the water, his fingers slipping into me because that was what he’d likely do in a public swimming pool. I missed his touch, the way he kept me on my toes, and how he never hesitated to show his desire and affection. My weaknesseswere his strengths, and I loved that. It felt cruel to have him back in my life for such a short time, but I had no right feeling sorry for myself knowing what he must be facing.
A little while later, I heard footsteps approaching, likely Tammy coming to call me for dinner. I swam to the edge of the pool and craned my neck to relieve some of the tension from swimming.
The footsteps grew louder until a figure came into view on the path ahead. It wasn’t Tammy, and it didn’t seem like the man had noticed me. My muscles clenched in an instant. Even in the dim light, I recognized the dark and handsome face of Samuel, whom I’d last seen when he left me hurting after the yearly visit. He walked casually toward what was likely his cabin.
I didn’t realize I’d stopped breathing until my chest began to hurt. I wanted to duck under the edge of the pool, but I worried that any movement might catch his attention. I waited for him to pass so I could climb out and return to Tammy. Based on the direction he was walking, we could narrow down the location of his cabin and then focus our surveillance.
Despite standing perfectly still in the water, Samuel must have sensed my lingering stare. He slowed down and glanced my way. There was barely any light, and I was standing with just my head above the water. I turned around slowly, my stomach churning, feeling like a sitting duck. I held my breath, dreading Samuel’s approaching footsteps, but the seconds passed without a sound. I dared to turn back, only exhaling when I could no longer see him.
I climbed out of the pool, the chilly air making my wet skin prickle with goosebumps. I grabbed my towel and listenedfor any footsteps, relieved to hear nothing but faraway coyotes howling in the distance. Not stopping to dry off, I snatched my clothes and hurried back, my eyes darting at every shadow. When I reached the cabin, I locked the door behind me.
Tammy rose from her bed, fully dressed and ready to leave for dinner. It only took her one glance at my face to ask, “What’s wrong?”
“I saw someone from The Society.”
“Did he see you?”
“I’m not sure. Maybe. I was in the pool and there wasn’t much light. He kept walking, so I don’t think he saw me.”
She didn’t look convinced. A second later, she reached for the gun underneath her mattress. “Is he dangerous?”
“Yes.”
“Get dressed. We’ll take the car and park it farther away, then walk back to survey the cabin for any visitors.”
With my skin still damp, I hurried to put on my clothes and shoes, then grabbed my phone, wallet, and gun.
