I looked up at him.Then at Pearl.Then Shay.Then Prime.
The words came out barely above a whisper.“I know where these photos were taken.”
Every face around me changed.
Push’s jaw tightened.“Where?”
I looked back down at Erin’s sleeping face on the poster.My stomach twisted hard.“My motel room.”
Chapter Sixteen
Push
The motel looked worse at sunset.
That probably shouldn’t have been possible, considering the place already looked like it rented rooms by the hour and accepted payment in cash, secrets, and poor life choices, but somehow the orange light dropping behind the roof made the peeling paint and cracked parking lot look even more depressing.
McKayla stood beside my bike, staring at the front office like she was preparing to interrogate a hostile witness.She probably was.
Anchor parked beside us and cut his engine.He clocked the motel office, then at me, then at McKayla.“You take lead,” he told her.
McKayla blinked.“Really?”
Anchor shrugged and swung off his bike.“You’re the PI.Ask what you need to ask.”
That surprised her.I caught it in the small shift of her face before she hid it.McKayla was used to fighting for space and answers.Anchor handing her both without argument threw her off for a second.
Then she nodded once and headed toward the office.
I followed on her right.
Anchor fell in on her left.
The bell above the door jingled when McKayla pushed inside, and the same girl from the other day sat behind the counter scrolling on her phone.She looked up with the same bothered expression she’d had last time, like customers personally offended her.
Then her eyes landed on me.And Anchor.
Her entire attitude changed so fast it was almost impressive.“Oh,” she said, sitting up straighter.“Hi.”
McKayla stopped in front of the counter.“Hi.I have a few questions about room eleven.”
The girl didn’t even look at her.
Her gaze slid from me to Anchor like she was trying to decide which one of us she wanted to make a terrible decision with first.“Can I help you?”she asked, still not looking at McKayla.
McKayla’s jaw tightened.
Anchor leaned his forearms against the counter, quiet and relaxed, letting McKayla handle it for now.That was Anchor’s thing when he wanted to be patient.He got still.Too still.Most people didn’t notice it right away.
I did.
McKayla cleared her throat.“Yes.Room eleven.I stayed there before.I need to know who checked into it after me.”
The girl finally glanced at her.Barely.“I can’t tell you that.”
McKayla nodded slowly.“Right.Of course.I know this is a very upstanding establishment and normally you’d never hand out guest information.”
The girl’s eyes narrowed.
