CHAPTER NINETEEN
“One room for two people? Sure thing, we have one available,” the receptionist said cheerfully, her curly, dyed blonde hair smelling of hairspray. Her name tag read “Cherry,” with a smiley face doodled beside it. She typed on her keyboard and asked, “How long would you be staying?”
“Three nights should be enough,” Tammy said. “My son and I might want to extend our stay, but we’ll be sure to check with you first.”
“Oh, that won’t be an issue—it’s rather dead here this time of year. How did you hear about us, by the way?”
“We decided to be spontaneous and stop somewhere in the area,” I said. Since they were keeping a low profile online, we weren’t likely to find them through a regular search. I gave Cherry a once-over, trying to detect anything out of the ordinary about her, but this middle-aged bundle of perkiness didn’t strike me as a collaborator of The Society, though it made sense for her boss not to share such information with his employees.
“Okay, super,” Cherry said. “I’m putting you in one of our best cabins. You’ll have a bit of a walk to the swimming pool, but it should be quieter—not that it gets noisy out here.” She handed Tammy two keys. “There you go. Have fun!”
We thanked her and stepped into the cool desert evening air.
“No one’s around,” Tammy said as we walked past dark brick cabins, coyotes howling in the distance.
“She said it was dead this time of year.”
“What’s so special about this time? It’s spring. This should be their busiest season.” She eyed me. “It’s a sign we’re in the right place, but it also makes us stand out.”
We reached our cabin, which was indeed farther from the rest but closer to the parking lot. Tammy unlocked the door and flicked on the light. The room was simple but clean, with two single beds and an old-looking television. Tammy put her bag on the floor and went to check on the sliding door leading to the patio out back. She tested the strength of the lock until she was satisfied.
“Which bed do you prefer?” I asked.
“I’ll take the one close to the window in case someone tries to break in.” She sat on the bed, stretching her neck and yawning. It wasn’t late, but we had been on the road for hours.
“I’m going to take a shower,” she said. “Hide your gun underneath the mattress, but make sure you can easily pull it out.”
“Okay. I’ll go over Ben’s file out back.”
“Don’t lose yourself in what’s there.”
“Meaning?”
“Nothing you’ll see there is personal—just facts. Treat them as such.”
Before I could reply, she walked to the bathroom.
I hid the gun underneath my mattress, put a jacket on, and stepped outside with the folder. The light on the patio was weak, but I angled the chair so I could read. It was fully dark by now, not even streetlights in the distance. It felt like being stranded in the middle of an endless sea. I watched the stars for a while, glittering brighter than they did closer to LA.
My phone showed bad reception, but I still sent Jenny a message to tell her I was okay and had taken a few days off to clear my head.
I opened the thick folder, struggling to accept how much information was available, waiting all these years for someone to do their goddamn job. I flipped through the photos, a few old enough to be in black and white. Behind each photo, someone—possibly Ben—had written things like, “A politician,” or “On the board of Wells Fargo.” Some of the written documents were hard to understand, using terminology that went over my head, but I got the impression that all their leads had run cold—dead end after dead end.
Toward the bottom of the folder, I came across two photos of young boys. Eliot was easy to recognize with his blue eyes and jet-black hair, but The Director took a bit more observation, maybe because his dying image still floated in my mind. Behind each photo, someone wrote, “Adopted, likely illegally. No trace.” I searched for more information about them but found nothing. I also wondered why I hadn’t seen any mention of Mr. White in the dozens of documents. The High Council was mentioned a few times, but Ben’s team had clearly known less than I did about them. It must have been frustrating working for years on a case that went nowhere, fighting against forces that operated from the shadows.
I closed the folder, my head aching. I needed a shower and a good sleep. The thought of being surrounded by The Society’s employees was terrifying, but it would be even worse to discover I was at the wrong place and not any closer to finding Hayden. I wondered if he believed I was coming for him, and whether that belief brought him comfort or dread.
Tammy stepped out, her gray hair still damp. “Found anything helpful?”
“No, but I don’t understand most of it.”
“I’ll have a look.” She lit a joint, spreading a strong scent of weed.
“Shouldn’t we be sharp?” I asked.
“I’ll be sharp tomorrow.” She handed me the joint, and I took it and inhaled. It was strong enough to put Jenny’s joints to shame, and it would likely knock me out until morning.
“What are the chances of anyone recognizing you?” Tammy asked as I handed her back the joint.
“I don’t know. It’s been a long time, and I doubt they expect to see me here.”
She nodded. “I’ll wake up early and have a walk around the area. Later, we should head over to the shopping center we drove by to eat and ask the locals about this motel.”
“Okay.”
I took one more puff and went to wash the day from my skin.
*
“This place is a ghost town,” Tammy said as she entered the room. I had just finished getting dressed after getting a decent night’s sleep.
“You didn’t see anyone?”
“One or two people, but they kept to themselves and drove their own cars. It might be that they were driving somewhere else to get picked up by The Society, but I’d rather wait a day or two before following anyone in your car.”
“Should I also go look around?”
“Don’t bother. Let’s just drive to the shopping center—I’m starving.”
I was too. This time, she agreed to let me drive, and I took it as a sign of trust. It took us about ten minutes to reach the shopping center, which was a miniature by LA standards.
We sat at Applebee’s with only three other customers. When a waitress came to take our order, Tammy put on a friendly smile and said we were looking for a place to stay and were considering Delight’s Hot Springs Resort.
“Oh, you can do better than that place,” the waitress said, hands on her hips. “Nobody goes to Delight’s anymore—lord knows how it’s still open. They used to be more popular back in the day, but it’s like they stopped trying!” She seemed thoughtful. “They do have their regulars, though. I frankly can’t imagine why anyone would stay at the same motel for such a long time, but to each their own, I suppose.” She recommended two other nearby motels, and we pretended to consider them.
After we finished eating, we walked around and asked more people for a good place to stay, specifically about Delight's Hot Springs Resort. Most didn’t know the place, but those who did either thought it had been closed or that it wasn’t worth our time.
It all boded well for us staying at the right place, but it didn’t bring us any closer to finding out where The Society was taking its employees.
Back at the motel, Tammy went to take a nap while I walked around the premises, wearing a hat in case I was seen. It was hot, but not humid. The swimming pool caught my eye. The water seemed clean, and the open sandy plains in the background made for a peaceful scenery. But I hadn’t brought sunscreen, and the sun was high in the cloudless sky, meaning I’d need to wait a few more hours.
Before heading back to the cabin, I decided to go to the reception desk and pretend to be searching for activities for “mom” and me. Cherry was behind her desk, listening to a local radio station and reading a magazine. She looked startled when she noticed me, as if the concept of people walking into the reception area was rare—which I was sure it was.
“Hey there,” I said cheerfully and walked closer, enjoying the cool AC.
Cherry put her magazine down, which may have been Playgirl from the glimpse I got. “Oh, hi! How are you and your mom doing?”
“Super. We’re debating what to do around here tomorrow. Any interesting places you can recommend?”
“Oh, you’ve come to the right place.” She grabbed a stand with pamphlets and placed it between us. “How much walking are you interested in? Some of the trails around here can be brutal.”
“Oh, none of that. Mom’s hip ain’t what it used to be.”
She gave me a sympathetic look. “Of course. Same with my old man. He owns this place, but he slipped in the shower last year, so now it’s mostly me running this show.”
I returned a sympathetic look as I processed her words. As the owner’s daughter, there was a strong chance she knew of any shady dealings. “Sorry about your dad. Must be hard running this whole place by yourself.”
She waved her hand, and I noticed a diamond bracelet around her wrist. “It’s really not so bad. Some days I don’t see anyone, but I have my magazines and books to keep me company, and the paycheck’s great.” Her face turned somber, likely realizing she’d said too much.
Our gaze lingered a few seconds too long until I looked down at the pamphlets. “So, let’s see about trips without too much walking…”
Ten minutes later, I returned with two pamphlets to the cabin. Tammy was still taking her nap, so I ended up taking one as well. When I woke up an hour later, Tammy was smoking out back. I stepped outside to see that the sky had turned from blue to deep orange.
“I spoke with Cherry the receptionist,” I said.
Tammy blew smoke. “Did you advise her to change her silly name?”
“No, but it turns out she’s the motel’s owner’s daughter. He got injured last year, so she’s taken over. She mentioned that some days she doesn’t see any guests, but she let it slip that the money’s great. She was also wearing a diamond bracelet.”
Tammy nodded. “Nice work. You think she might be suspecting us?”
“I don’t think so. We mostly talked about trips around the area. Oh, if you see her, try to limp a little—I told her you have a bad hip.”
She rolled her eyes and gave me the finger.
“Mind if I go for a quick swim before we head off to eat?” I asked.
“Go ahead, but keep a low profile. And if we’re going to stay here for a few days, we should get some groceries.”
“Okay, we can do that at the shopping center.”
I grabbed a towel from the bathroom and stepped outside. Like before, I walked between quiet and dark cabins, feeling like the only guest around. It was highly possible that The Society’s employees only stayed here every few weeks, which put me in a tight spot. I’d go broke if I didn’t work, and Tammy didn’t come across as wealthy.
As expected, the pool was empty of people, and the setting sun provided a perfect backdrop. I took off my clothes and stayed in my boxers, then jumped into the pool. After the hot day, the water was warm but still refreshing. I floated on my back, watching as stars gradually appeared in the dimming sky. With my ears beneath the water, I might as well have been floating in the middle of the ocean. I began to swim lazily back and forth, my stiff muscles grateful for the exercise. As dusk settled, lights flickered on around the pool, though the area remained mostly dim. I could picture Hayden and me swimming here, touching beneath the water, his fingers slipping into me because that was what he’d likely do in a public swimming pool. I missed his touch, the way he kept me on my toes, and how he never hesitated to show his desire and affection. My weaknesses were his strengths, and I loved that. It felt cruel to have him back in my life for such a short time, but I had no right feeling sorry for myself knowing what he must be facing.
A little while later, I heard footsteps approaching, likely Tammy coming to call me for dinner. I swam to the edge of the pool and craned my neck to relieve some of the tension from swimming.
The footsteps grew louder until a figure came into view on the path ahead. It wasn’t Tammy, and it didn’t seem like the man had noticed me. My muscles clenched in an instant. Even in the dim light, I recognized the dark and handsome face of Samuel, whom I’d last seen when he left me hurting after the yearly visit. He walked casually toward what was likely his cabin.
I didn’t realize I’d stopped breathing until my chest began to hurt. I wanted to duck under the edge of the pool, but I worried that any movement might catch his attention. I waited for him to pass so I could climb out and return to Tammy. Based on the direction he was walking, we could narrow down the location of his cabin and then focus our surveillance.
Despite standing perfectly still in the water, Samuel must have sensed my lingering stare. He slowed down and glanced my way. There was barely any light, and I was standing with just my head above the water. I turned around slowly, my stomach churning, feeling like a sitting duck. I held my breath, dreading Samuel’s approaching footsteps, but the seconds passed without a sound. I dared to turn back, only exhaling when I could no longer see him.
I climbed out of the pool, the chilly air making my wet skin prickle with goosebumps. I grabbed my towel and listened for any footsteps, relieved to hear nothing but faraway coyotes howling in the distance. Not stopping to dry off, I snatched my clothes and hurried back, my eyes darting at every shadow. When I reached the cabin, I locked the door behind me.
Tammy rose from her bed, fully dressed and ready to leave for dinner. It only took her one glance at my face to ask, “What’s wrong?”
“I saw someone from The Society.”
“Did he see you?”
“I’m not sure. Maybe. I was in the pool and there wasn’t much light. He kept walking, so I don’t think he saw me.”
She didn’t look convinced. A second later, she reached for the gun underneath her mattress. “Is he dangerous?”
“Yes.”
“Get dressed. We’ll take the car and park it farther away, then walk back to survey the cabin for any visitors.”
With my skin still damp, I hurried to put on my clothes and shoes, then grabbed my phone, wallet, and gun.
“Ready?” Tammy asked impatiently.
“Yes.” I followed her outside and locked the door behind me.
We walked quickly toward the parking lot, where only three cars were parked. My keys dangled in Tammy’s grip as she moved toward the driver’s door.
I almost tripped at the sudden blast of gunfire. I swirled around, gun in hand. Despite the near-total darkness, Cherry’s puffy curls were easy to spot. She held her shotgun aimed at the sky, meaning she wasn’t trying to kill us—yet.
“I knew there was something off about you two!” Gone was the perkiness in her tone. “How ‘bout you come closer so I can see you?”
Through the thumping of my heart, I heard footsteps coming from the side.
“Tammy—”
“I hear it. Get ready to reach the car.”
“Hi, wasn’t I clear? Get your asses over here and—”
Cherry’s head exploded in a splash of blood, her body crashing to the ground.
“Now!” Tammy shouted, the gun in her hand smoking.
I turned around to close the last few feet to the car, but before I could reach it, the passenger's window shattered. I tried to stop mid-run, ending up tripping and crashing to the ground. The gun flew from my hand.
Close by, Tammy fired two shots toward the shooter’s direction, but he was invisible among the shadows of the trees.
“Get in!” she called and leaped into the car. With my ears ringing, I rose to my feet, giving up on the gun that I could no longer see. I opened the passenger door, but pain exploded in my thigh before I could jump in. I screamed and tumbled backward.
“Jonah!”
Another shot flew above my head, hitting the car. “Get out of here!” I shouted at Tammy through the burning pain. I couldn’t bring myself to climb into the car, and a silhouette of a man was coming closer, his gun raised toward us.
“Fuck,” Tammy hissed and started the car. “I’ll find you!”
Unlikely , I thought, as another bullet hit the car, this time smashing another window and sending rain of glass on my head. My thigh burned like lava, my body drenched in sweat. I could swear I felt the bullet in my flesh, buried inside a broken bone.
Tammy slammed the paddle, sending gravel everywhere as she sped away. More shots followed, and right when I thought Tammy was going to escape, her scream pierced the air. I couldn’t see where she’d been hit, but the car swayed violently before disappearing into the night.
“Are you armed?” Samuel asked, his footsteps getting closer.
“No!”
His features became visible, his face tense and alert. When he saw me lying on the ground, he lowered his gun. “How bad is it?”
“It’s in my thigh,” I wheezed. “I’m bleeding. Please call an ambulance.”
“Let me see.” He crouched down, smelling of gunpowder. “It’s not pretty, but you’ll live. How many others have you brought with you?”
“No one.”
He put his hand on my thigh and squeezed. Fire of hell consumed me, and I screamed into the night. “How many, Jonah?” he calmly asked.
“There’s no one else!” Sobs escaped me, my self-control reduced to nothing.
“Calm down. You won’t die. Possibly.”
“Is Hayden okay?”
He snorted and rose to his feet. “I think you have bigger problems than him.”
“Just tell me!”
He took out his phone, casting a bright light on his dark face. “He’s alive. Now shut up.” He made a call as I squirmed on the ground, my consciousness slipping.
He’s alive.
“Hey, it’s me,” Samuel said from far away. “I need someone to pick me up. Yes, now . We have a fucking problem.”
*
When I awoke some time later, my mouth tasted like ash, and my head was spinning like a washing machine. I was lying on a hard mattress, a thin blanket covering me. When I tried to move my right leg, a sharp pain sliced through me. I gritted my teeth, carefully reaching to touch the bandage around my thigh. It felt tight and secure. I was wearing only underwear and a gray shirt, the same kind of shirt I’d worn years ago. Anxiety and relief collided inside me. I achieved my goal of reaching Hayden—assuming he was truly here—but the plan had not been to end up a prisoner as well.
Tammy. I had no idea how severely she’d been hit or if my damaged car could have taken her to safety.
I glanced around, taking in the small, windowless room with the bare beige walls. A toilet and a shower cubicle were on the other side of the room. A nightstand next to my bed held a bottle of water. I reached for the bottle, but my unsteady hand caused it to fall to the floor and roll away.
“Dammit.”
I lifted the blanket and tried to sit up, grimacing at the awakening pain in my thigh. With my back against the headboard, I called, “Hey!” I needed information and for someone to help me pick up the bottle. “Hey!”
No one answered, and my head pounded from raising my voice. I carefully maneuvered my legs off the edge of the bed, then placed my left foot on the floor. With that accomplished, I gingerly placed my right foot down as well, trying not to put pressure on it. Pain shot up immediately, but not enough to stop me. I rested my hand against the wall and moved to stand, then hopped on my left foot closer to the bottle, which had rolled to the other side of the room. I managed three hops before my head began to spin, the walls shifting around me.
Shit.
Trying to keep myself stable, I couldn’t avoid putting pressure on my right foot. A lightning bolt shot up my spine, and I collapsed to the floor with a cry. The door opened seconds later, but I was in too much pain to look up.
“Give him a shot,” Samuel said.
“No!”
“It’s for the pain, Jonah. And where the hell were you trying to go?”
“Water,” I wheezed as another man I didn’t recognize crouched next to me. He injected me with a syringe above my bandaged wound. Moments later, the pain began to subside, and what felt like a thick cloud spread behind my eyes.
“Don’t fight me,” Samuel said as he leaned to pick me up. He placed me on the bed and went to retrieve the water.
“Call me if he needs more shots,” the other man said. “He shouldn’t stand for a few days.”
“Didn’t you say you’d bring a wheelchair?”
“Did I? Oh, yeah. Knew I forgot something.”
The shitty doctor left, and Samuel handed me the water. I drank most of the bottle before catching my breath.
“Do you need to use the toilet?” Samuel asked.
“No.”
“We got the bullet out, but you shouldn’t put any weight on that leg.”
“Fine. Do you know what happened to the woman I was with?”
Samuel shrugged. “She could be dead. I didn’t stick around to look for her, but I know for sure she didn’t follow us. Who was she?”
“Someone. Where’s Hayden?”
“Somewhere.”
I bit back my anger. “Who can I speak with about him?”
“You’re pushing it.”
“Then hit me, but tell me who I can speak with.”
He sighed. “He doesn’t want to speak with you yet; he’s waiting for you to get stronger.”
“The Director?”
“Yes. Now rest.” He shook his head. “I can’t believe you were stupid enough to come looking for us.”
“You took what’s mine.”
He snorted. “I’m sure he’ll appreciate your help.”
“I want to see him. Please.”
“He’s… occupied.”
“What the hell does that mean?”
“Get some rest, Jonah.”
He turned to leave, but before he could reach the door, I asked, “What’s The Director’s name?”
He glanced at me, his expression somber. “It’s Bo. I think you two know each other.”