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I cleared my throat. “Water is fine. Thank you, Grace.” She tapped the table and paused as if she wanted to say something else, but left. I chanced a glance over to see if that Brent guy was still staring, but I didn’t see him anymore. I tried to tamp down the disappointment as I stared back into the ice inside my glass.
I didn’t bother looking around anymore and watched the glass as if it held the meaning of life. Lost in thought, I jumped when a plate was placed in front of me.
“Here you go, darlin’. The fries are hot, so watch out for those.” She slid a chocolate milkshake onto the table next. “This here is on the house. You looked like you could use something sweet.” I blinked at the milkshake, touched by the gesture. Then, before I could thank her, the waitress slipped away to another table.
I ate slowly, keeping my head down, only glancing up when I heard the bells jingle, alerting everyone that a new customer had come inside the diner. Honestly, I didn’t know what I was looking for. The killer could walk right up to me, and I wouldn’t even realize who he was. It was the main reason my parents had been so desperate for me to escape. They were convinced he would never just let a victim go.
The burger was perfect, and the fries had just the right amount of seasoning on them. Maybe it was that I hadn’t eaten such good food in weeks, or it really was that delicious, but I found myself cleaning the plate, leaving nothing behind but some smears of ketchup. The shake was the best shake I could ever remember tasting.
I realized I needed to use the restroom. I eyed my suitcase, wondering if I could trust it sitting at the table or if I should make a spectacle of myself by lugging everything with me. I finally decided that it should be safe enough, but I was going to ask the waitress to keep an eye on it for me, just in case. I looked around, trying to see where she might be, when I spotted the construction worker again.
He was talking on the phone. His conversation seemed urgent, and I had to look away quickly when I saw him glance at me from his seat across the room. I wondered idly where he had disappeared to earlier when I hadn’t spotted him, then figured he must have gone into the restroom himself before taking his seat.
Grace came out of the back through a swinging door carrying two plates of food, and I watched her carry them over to an older couple. She spoke to them for a minute, then saw me watching and smiled. She came over to me immediately and scooped up my empty plate.
“Was the food to your liking, then?”
“It was great, thank you.” I hesitated, then asked, “Would you mind keeping an eye on my bags while I run to the ladies’ room?”
“Of course, darlin’. But just so you know, no one in this town would dream of taking what doesn’t belong to them.”
I didn’t call her out on the lie. No town was that perfect. There were thieves, rapists, and murderers everywhere, but I thanked her anyway and slid out of the booth. Walking to the restroom would mean walking past the gorgeous construction worker. I kept my head down, not wanting to make eye contact with him or anyone else. Though I couldn’t resist taking a peek from under my eyelashes to see if he was wearing a ring. A man like him had to be taken, even if he wasn’t married. He was too beautiful to be single.
I spotted the dark band on his hand. It looked like one of those silicone ones, which made sense, considering his profession. It wasn’t surprising. Even though I had no intentions of even talking to him, let alone trying to date him, I still felt some disappointment fill me. Whoever she was, she was a lucky lady.
I pushed the door to the ladies’ room open, noting the theme of the restaurant carried on in here, and feeling relieved that it was empty. I quickly locked myself in one of the two silver-colored stalls. Once I was finished, I left the stall and washed my hands, avoiding the mirror. I hadn’t looked at myself much since my escape. It wasn’t that my appearance had changed. It hadn’t. I still looked the same, though somewhat thinner. It was that I could see the haunted look in my eyes. I didn’t want to be reminded of my ordeal every time I saw my reflection. It still wasn’t over and I didn’t want to be reminded that it might never be unless they caught the Castle Killer.
I splashed some water on my face, trying to clear my head. It had been a long two weeks sitting on buses. The poorly circulating stale air had made my skin feel dry. I patted my face with the paper towels I pulled out of the dispenser and took a calming breath before heading back to my table.
I was relieved to see my things were still sitting exactly where I had left them, and swung my backpack up over my shoulders. Then, grabbing the handle of my suitcase, I wheeled it over to the cash register and waited. Grace came over after just a minute and smiled. She seemed to always be smiling. It made me wonder if anything bad had ever happened in her life. I immediately felt terrible for my thoughts. I didn’t want to be that person, the hateful one who resented anyone happier than I was.
“Hey there, darlin’. Your tab was paid, so you’re all set.”
I had to force my open mouth to close as the shock ran over me. “No,” I shook my head. “That’s not necessary. You don’t have to do that.”
She just shrugged. “It wasn’t me.”
“Well,” I reached into my pocket, pulled out a five-dollar bill, and slid it to her over the counter. “At least let me give you a tip.”
She raised her hand. “Tip’s been taken care of, too.”
I sighed and pushed it over another inch. “Then maybe I can pay you for some information? I need to find a hotel within walking distance that will be safe—” My eyes darted nervously around the diner; I swallowed and then finished quietly. “For a girl traveling alone.”
Her eyes softened, and she got that same pitying look on her face again that she had before. “There’s an inn a few blocks up the road that way. It is a bit pricier than the fleabag motel that way.” She hooked her thumb over her shoulder with a look of disgust on her face. “But if you tell them Grace sent you, they will give you a good discount.” She reached out and squeezed my hand gently. “Take them up on that offer, yeah?”
I pulled my hand away and gave a small, forced smile. “I’ll do that. Thank you for the good food, Grace.”
“Anytime, darlin’. Come back and see me soon.”
I didn’t say anything as I grabbed the handle of my suitcase. Instead, I just nodded once in acknowledgment and walked out the door back into the hot, humid air.
Once I was a couple of blocks away from the diner, heading toward the inn she had told me about, I realized I’d forgotten to ask what town I had ended up in.
Three
BRENT
I watchedthe beautiful girl walk out the door without looking back. She had shadows in her eyes. Gorgeous, haunted blue eyes. Whatever had happened to her had left a mark. That was something I understood all too well.
