Page 59 of The Awful Truth

Luka

Genius! Aurora Suites. I’m on the third floor.

Is there a hot tub?

Luka

Yes.

If you didn’t bring swim shorts, go buy some. He’ll be in the hot tub in the evenings. He has a limp and looks just like the actor John Malkovich.

Luka

You’re the best! I was starting to think I should give up because my attempts at getting anyone to talk have failed so far.

Hopefully you’ll get a break soon. I wish I could be there with you. We could sit in the hot tub and look at the stars.

Luka

I have to run. Let me know if you find anything out, okay?

She smiled at his message. She was the best. That felt good. Intoxicating, really. She would prove to him that she was the best partner he could hope for. Tucking the phone back in the drawer, she got busy booking the room for her boss, her heart filled with joy even though her hands were shaking at what she was doing.

Just as she was logging onto the hotel’s website, one of the sergeants, Joe Arbanas, walked into The Director’s office without a word to her. Petra couldn’t stand Sergeant Arbanas. He was one of those self-important cops who liked to push his weight around. He certainly wasn’t about to ask a lowly secretary for permission to talk to his boss. He closed the door and sat down.

Petra quickly booked the room, then pretended to be busy working, when really she was looking up words to do with yachting and murder, hoping the perfect title would fall into her lap. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see the two men were in what looked like a rather intense conversation, both of them leaning forward and talking quietly.

A few minutes later, they walked out. Sergeant Arbanas went back to his desk on the far side of the office while The Director walked over to Petra’s desk with his briefcase slung over his shoulder. “How did you make out with the room?”

“Great. I have you booked at a nice seaside hotel with a hot tub. Breakfast is included,” she said. “I’ll email you the confirmation right away.”

“Thank you.”

“Let me know if there is anything I can do while you’re away.”

He smiled at her, and she felt a little better, hoping maybe he was feeling less suspicious of her than he was earlier. But then he said, “Just be your usual self.”

His meaning was not lost on her. But it was too late now. She had jumped in the water with both feet and there was no swimming back to shore from here. Only forward through choppy waters to the other side where her future was waiting.

THE DAY BEFORE THE INCIDENT

“The trouble with a lot of self-made men is that they worship their creator.” ~ Waldo E. Martin

2:47 P.M.

MERCY

Mercy spoke quietly into her phone while listening for signs that Travis had finally woken up. It was well after two in the afternoon and he hadn’t emerged yet, but she knew he would soon. She was in the expansive en suite, and had just had a cool shower after spending the bulk of the day by the pool getting some sun. Her skin was hot to the touch, and she knew she should’ve moved to the shade rather than trying to extend her summer glow by another few weeks.

Rhett had called, begging to skip baseball practice on Friday night. His friend, Jaxton, was having a sleepover with several of the boys from their class and he was desperate to be there. She had just told him no for the eighth time, and her voice was starting to rise. Lowering it again, she said, “That’s enough, mister. You wanted to play competitive ball. You knew what that meant.”

It meant that she had tried to talk him out of it, knowing he wouldn’t want to go to practices three days a week, but she had given in, like an idiot.

“Mooommmm…seriously. I just need one night off to have some fun. It’s been a tough week with you and dad gone. I’m trying so hard at school. You know I am. And I never miss baseball.”

“I already told you, Auntie Faith will drive you over after practice.”

“But the Fortnite tournament starts at five p.m. sharp. I won’t be able to get in later.”