AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Chapter 6
The heat was blasting in Alex’s car, but Gideon’s feet still felt like lumps of ice. When he’d fallen through the ice in that ditch, icy slush had soaked his shoes, socks and pants. The crust of ice covering the ditch had slashed his skin. He couldn’t tell whether the liquid dripping down his legs was blood or water. Didn’t matter. Nothing he could do about it right now.
Alex drove slowly toward the lights he’d spotted. When she reached what looked like an entrance, she turned left. The car slewed wildly, but she controlled the skidding vehicle.
As they crept closer, the front of a long building came into view, with semis parked off to the left. A few cars stood in front of the building.
“Pretty empty for a place that was the only one for miles. Looks like most people stopped before we did,” he said, struggling to keep his voice non-judgmental.
“That’s good. Less competition for motel rooms,” she retorted.
“Yeah.” He watched as she inched toward the building, pumping her brakes. The car rolled to a stop several feet away from the building. Close enough. As soon as she turned off the engine, he stepped out of the car, ignoring the way his legs ached in the cold, and hurried around to her side. Opened the door.
She frowned up at him. “You afraid I’m gonna take off on you? Don’t worry. I’m not running. At least not now. Not until I’ve eaten something and warmed up.”
“I’m not worried you’re going to run. You’re a smart woman. You know it would be suicidal to keep driving in this storm.” He glanced down at her as she climbed out of the car. Grabbed her arm as her feet went out from under her.
He let her go as soon as she steadied. She closed the door and used her fob to lock it. Then they struggled through deep snow to the building.
He checked it out -- a typical truck stop diner. Bare bones. No frills. Several men sat at tables, drinking coffee and studying their phones. Truck drivers, most likely. A young couple sat at a booth in the corner.
Alex chose a booth as far away from the other patrons as she could get. Good. He didn’t want anyone overhearing them, either. It didn’t take long for a waitress to bustle over with menus. “Coffee?” she asked.
“Yes, please,” Alex said.
“Make it two,” Gideon answered.
Neither of them spoke as they studied the menus. Alex set hers aside. Let her gaze drift over the single waitress, pouring coffee and delivering meals. The other patrons. Cataloging all of them, he realized.
“None of them are your hitman,” he said in a low voice.
“And you know that because you are?” she shot back.
“No. The only ones with coats are that young couple. The rest of the men are probably staying in the bunkhouse the truck stop advertised,” Gideon said. “We’re the only ones…”
He stopped before he could add ‘stupid enough to drive so long in that storm’. But she sighed. Looked away from him. “I should have stopped earlier,” she admitted. “But you didn’t have to keep following me. You could have stopped anytime you wanted. So don’t try to pin this on me.”
“You’re right. You made your own choices, and so did I. Wasn’t going to blame you.” But he wondered how long it would take to get his car out of that ditch. Made a mental note to call a tow truck. Maybe the motel would have a television so they could watch the weather channel. See the forecast.
The waitress came to take their order, breaking the uncomfortable silence. Alex ordered a grilled cheese sandwich, fries and a salad. He ordered a hamburger and fries.
As the woman tapped her order pad into her pocket, Alex said, “We saw a sign for a motel at this exit. How much farther is it?”
“A couple of blocks,” the woman said. “But it won’t help you. It’s closed for the winter. The owners go down to Arizona in November and don’t come back until May. Not a lot of call for hotel rooms during the winter.”
Alex curled her fingers into a tight ball. When she saw him watching her, she tucked her hands beneath the table. “Any other motels in town?”
“Not a one,” the waitress said cheerfully. “But the high school is open for travelers who need shelter. They have cots. Blankets. Sandwiches. Water.” She gave them directions, then tore off their order sheet. “I’ll put this order in for you. Shouldn’t take long.” She smiled. “Not real busy today.”
Alex watched her walk away, then glanced at him. She looked… hunted. “I don’t want to stay in a high school,” she said in a low voice. “God knows who else might show up there.”
“Your hitman?” Gideon shook his head. “No way he could have followed you here. Not in that storm. I was watching for people hanging behind me. Didn’t see a soul.”
“Doesn’t mean he’s not there,” Alex said. She stared at him, as if memorizing his features. So she could identify him later? “Or he might be very close right now.”
Gideon sighed. “I’m not going to kill you, Alex. Okay? I guarantee I won’t harm you.”
“I doubt a hitman would lose any sleep about lying to his victim,” she shot back.
