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“Can we stop halfway? I don’t think I can sit on the bike for that long.”
“Sure. Let’s get going.” I pick up her helmet and hand it to her.
“Maybe if he is following us, he wasn’t the one to take that girl in Savannah? If he did take her, he would have to leave her somewhere alone while he followed us,” she says as she tugs her helmet on.
“Maybe,” I agree as I reach under her chin and fasten the clasp on her helmet. I don’t say anything else. She’s desperate to hear the abduction is a coincidence, and Bryant isn’t about to ruin another young girl’s life. I wish I could give her that assurance. Right now, I can’t. I’m not a big believer in coincidences, but I don’t tell Hallie that.
Once we’re both back on the bike, I rejoin the interstate and open the throttle. It’s a long ride to the cabin, and I want to get as much of the journey done as possible before it becomes too cold to be on the bike. Although it’s mid-afternoon and the May sun is still warm, we probably only have an hour or so before Hallie will be freezing.
I ride as quickly as I dare, my eyes constantly checking my mirrors for any vehicle that might be following us. I weave in and out of traffic, but I’m sure no one is tailing us.
Just over an hour into the journey, I can feel Hallie shivering. I need to find a motel where we can stay until morning. Seeing a rest stop coming up in a few miles, I squeeze her hand before pointing to the road sign. Hallie squeezes my hand in acknowledgment, and I move to the inside lane as I prepare to take the exit. I’ve no idea if there’s a motel, but there should be one nearby if not. As we pull in, I breathe a sigh of relief as Sunbeam Motel flashes into view. Deciding to park the bike out of sight, I ride behind the motel and stop between two dumpsters.
“We’ll stop here for the night. It’s too cold on the bike to go any farther, and we have at least another hour to go,” I tell Hallie as I pull off my helmet. She climbs off and removes hers. Handing it to me, she wraps her arms around her body to keep warm. I can see the goosebumps on her bare skin and exhaustion on her face. “Let’s get inside.”
Taking her hand, I lead her around the front of the motel and into the reception area. Despite the motel being at a rest stop, it’s fairly decent. We make our way to the counter, and a middle-aged woman greets us.
“Hey there. Do you have a reservation?” she asks.
I shake my head. “We’re looking for a twin room if you have one?” I tell her, hoping they aren’t fully booked. She checks the computer screen in front of her. Hallie hasn’t said a word since we arrived, and I’m worried about her. She’s had over an hour on the back of the bike, overthinking everything that’s happened today. I need her to open up and talk to me.
“We only have doubles available.” She looks up at me expectantly.
“A double is fine,” Hallie says before I can respond.
I turn to her and raise my eyes in question. “Are you sure?”
“What choice do we have? As much as I like being on your bike, I’ve had enough for today.” She sounds dejected, and I hate seeing her like this.
“We’ll take the double,” I tell the woman behind the counter. She nods and processes our booking. After handing over some cash, I pick up the key and follow the directions she’s given us to our room. I push open the door, and Hallie passes me, flopping facedown onto the double bed sitting in the middle of the room.
“How are you feeling?” I ask, sitting next to her.
She rolls over, propping herself up on her arm. “Like I could sleep for a week.”
“How about we eat first, and then you can sleep? We never did get lunch.”
“What are we going to eat? I doubt they do room service.” She glances around the room and frowns. I follow her gaze. It’s not the best room I’ve ever stayed in, but it’s clean. There’s a large double bed on one wall with a nightstand on each side. On the opposite wall is a small vanity unit with a mirror above it. A hairdryer and a small television, along with a mini-fridge sit on the countertop. In the corner is a lounge chair, and down from it is a doorway leading into what I’m assuming is the bathroom. It’s basic but fine for the night.
“There’s a Wendy’s across at the rest stop. Let’s order to go, and we can come back here to eat.” She lets out a long exhale before sitting up and sliding off the bed. Pulling her phone from her pocket, she sighs.
“My phone was going crazy on the way here. My battery’s dead now. How will I let everyone know I’m okay?”
“Shit. I need to call Logan back.” I drag my hand through my hair while I decide what to tell her. I don’t want everyone to know where we’re going. The fewer people who know, the better, but her parents will be worried. “I’ll call Logan when we’ve eaten and ask him to let your parents know you’re safe. I don’t want you contacting anyone.”
“I have no way of charging it anyway.” She tosses it onto the bed.
“Food first, then I’ll call Logan.”
A little while later, we’re back with armfuls of food. Neither of us has eaten since breakfast, and it’s only once we’re waiting to order we both realize how hungry we are. It’s safe to say ordering food when you’re starving is never a great idea. We’ve come back with far more than we can eat.
When we’ve both eaten more than we should, Hallie kicks off her sneakers and flops back on the bed. “I’m stuffed,” she mumbles, her arm covering her face. Her tank has ridden up, exposing her tanned, flat stomach, and I can’t keep my eyes off her as she lies there with her eyes closed. Knowing I’m staring, I force myself to look away, clearing up what’s left of the meal.
“Here, I’ll help,” she says, sitting up and taking the trash from my hand. Climbing off the bed, she spots a trash can under the vanity unit and throws everything inside. She walks into the bathroom and then pokes her head back out. “I’m going to have a shower. I’ll have to put the same clothes back on, but I’m achy from being on the bike. I can’t wait to stand under the hot spray.”
I wait a few minutes until I can hear she’s under the water before reaching for my phone to call Logan.
“Hey, man. It’s me. Any news?” I ask as I sit on the edge of the bed.
