He did the same.
Annette marched right up to the door and knocked loud.
Carson cringed each time she pounded her fist there. He doubted that whoever was inside was going to be happy to find unexpected company on their porch.
A few more heavy knocks and the door opened. “What?” a scraggly-looking weasel demanded. He stood about five ten, with longgreasy hair and a mug taken right off the most wanted bulletin at the post office. But he couldn’t have been over nineteen. Just a kid.
“We’re looking for Dane Drake.” Annette’s voice was strong, fearless.
The guy stared at her for three beats then glared at Carson for about one. “What the hell do you want with Dane?”
Annette moved in closer to the guy. Carson tensed.
She put her face in the weasel’s and said, “I owe him a blow job. You got a problem with that, LeBron?”
The bastard’s gaze narrowed. “I know you. You’re that bitch that got Dane and me out of trouble one time.”
Talk about friends in low places.
“You got that assault charge off my back.” He nodded, grinned. “Yeah, I remember you.”
“That’s right,” Annette shot back. “Now I need your help.”
She had gotten an assault charge dismissed to keep this guy in line.
Carson wanted to be indignant, but, if it benefited their cases, lawyers did what she’d done all the time.
“Name it,” the long-haired creep said.
“I need to find Dane Drake now. Do you or any of your friends have any idea where he is?”
LeBron got that deer-caught-in-the-headlights look on his face. “I’m not too sure—”
“Yes, you are,” Annette argued. “You know exactly where he is. Now tell me.”
“Okay, okay.” Lebron glanced at Carson.
“It’s all right,” Annette assured him. “You can talk in front of him.”
No way this guy was going to roll over on his friend. “Take Highway Eleven until you hit Three. He’s hiding out in the Holiday Inn Express in Fultondale. Says somebody’s after him.”
Dread pooled in Carson’s gut. If anyone else got to Dane first ...
“Thanks, LeBron,” Annette said. “Now we’re even.”
As they hustled back out to the Rover, LeBron shouted, “Hey, if Dane don’t want that blow job, I’ll sure as hell take it.”
Annette didn’t respond. She jumped into the passenger seat and ordered, “Drive. Fast.”
1:15 a.m.
Fultondale
Holiday Inn Express
“He won’t be registered under his own name.” Carson surveyed the vehicles in the parking lot. “There’s no way to know which room he’s in.”
“That’s where you come in.”
