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But I was done with that mentality

I handled check-in while he unloaded the bags Just as well because the wolish, even in Laredo Chance came up to the counter just as I concluded the deal, and I passed hi a certain petty pleasure in his annoyance that I’d booked separate rooms His jaw clenched when I blithely told him how much he owed but he forked over the money

"Why are we here?" I asked as alked Reading his look, I clarified, "This motel It doesn’t look like you, so there has to be a reason"

It was a peeling pink stucco building, set amid an industrial area The only other open business was the Denny’s next door Everything else had shut down, installing gates and bars to keep kids fro in

"You act like I’al"

"You are an elitist snob Why are we here?"

Chance sighed "I caught a peek at the file in Saldana’s office and I saw the address of the warehouse"

That hborhood"

He’d never have stayed here otherwise, and certainly not with hiscleaned by now, and I couldn’t reasonably be expected to find anything At the warehouse, though--well, they’d have probably taped it off as a crime scene, better safe than sorry Blood made people twitchy

I stepped into my room without enthusiasm What they called a queen bed looked no more than full to me, and the e s on the wall Gazing at the pasteboard furniture, I felt a touch claustrophobic and hoped I wouldn’t have to spend much time here Worse, it felt damp inside, so I flicked on the air con In response, water i

My backpack bounced on the bed where I tossed it, and I sank down beside it, unzipping the front pocket to delve beneath blouses and hair ties until I found what I was looking for Cradling it in my hands, I studied the black pillow, no more than six inches wide and embroidered hite characters I couldn’t read I traced the

"I knohat being with Chance can be like," she’d said with a half s you some luck of your own"

She had, in a sh Min always respected the half-step difference She’d taught reat laugh, really loud and infectious for such a small woman Oh, Christ, and she was--

Neither of us held much hope we’d find her alive

I clutched the pillow toloss sweep overit at bay with various defenses, first focusing on hi butMy eyes welled up, and I felt the hot trickle down ht I watched ," she’d whispered, pushing me toward the back door "You run to the black oak in the woods and stay there until , you hear me? Don’t you coht her I wanted to stay Even then, I thought I could make a difference Maybe that’s why I’ve lived my life the way I have

"If you love o"

I went

Behind un a chant, the last one she’d ever speak In the distance, I saw the scattered lightstoward our house like a wicked firefly army I don’t know if I kneould happen then, but my whole world went up in flaurdy man coical, and I think it surely was because none since then has sounded so sweet or lifted my spirits the way his harmonica did back then We had a constant parade of visitors, soer

I sat and rocked, fifteen years reainst this fresh loss In the movies, Chance would have sensedin ht He would have held ht I didn’t want him in my bed In reality, I cried myself out alone and fell into a sleep that left me sticky and thick when I woke

The roouttering neon from defunct businesses nearby At first I wasn’t sure what had roused ain I felt wrinkles frolimmer of reflection from thetold me my hair was smashed flat on one side I answered the door anyway

"Get your stuff," Chance said, low "We can’t stay here"

"What’s wrong?"

His tone alar on a type of trust I’d thought shattered forever, I grabbed my backpack and stuffed the handmade pillow inside As I slid ht sputtered and winked out Chills rolled alongthe street We stepped onto the dark lot, which suddenly seemed to me a cemetery of cars, so much dead, heavy metal

We left the Toyota parked, his hand onI knew the clammy sensation of dread on my skin, and the last tih I wanted to ask for answers, I was too frightened to do s see fro inon?"