CHAPTER 20
AFTER LEAVING THE Chapel Hill Police Department, Alex and Bree check in at the Carolina Inn, a luxurious hotel smack in the middle of campus.
Once in their suite, they flop down on the bed side by side. After a few moments, Bree sits up and opens her laptop. “I ran an under-the-radar Bluestone search on Melissa’s phone.”
Alex leans over as Bree scrolls through Melissa’s outgoing texts to Damon, which take on an increasingly urgent tone as time passes.
Will u b home tonite??
What’s going on??
Hey! Take your phone off DND!
Why are u ignoring my texts?! Where are U??
I’m getting rlly worried now! If you’re working on something, LMK!
Bree slams the laptop shut. “If she’s keeping any dark secrets, they’re not here. At least, they’re not obvious.”
Alex stands up and walks over to the window. “Look. Damon trusts her. Maybe we should too.”
“You’re right,” says Bree. “I’ll reserve judgment until we hear what their friends have to say tonight.”
Alex realizes that neither of them has eaten since breakfast. His belly is grumbling. “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I’m hungry.” He hops off the bed. “Let’s see what Nana Mama packed for us.”
Alex reaches into the side pockets of their luggage and retrieves the two heavy Tupperware containers.
Bree joins him in the suite’s kitchenette as he pulls off the lids and peeks inside.
“Wow, Nana,” she says. “You’ve really outdone yourself.”
Each Tupperware container holds several ziplock bags. The largest contains portions of Nana Mana’s famed lemon and herb roasted chicken. Another is packed with roasted potatoes. A third has thick slices of homemade cornbread. And a fourth has utensils, cloth napkins, and pats of butter.
Underneath, in another little plastic sealed bag, there’s a short note written in Nana Mama’s old-school cursive.
I love you both, and I know you’ll find Damon soon, safe and sound.
“Bless you, Nana,” Alex murmurs. Bree pulls plates from the suite’s cupboard and spoons out portions. One after the other, the plates go into the microwave. Alex pulls two bottled waters from the minifridge. In a few minutes, the hotel room starts to smell like their kitchen at home.
When the reheating is done, Alex and Bree sit down at the small table.
“My goodness,” says Bree, digging into her chicken. “There’s enough food here for three people!”
She stops cold as soon as she says it.
Alex reaches over and puts his hand on hers. “Soon,” he says, “we’ll all be together again. I promise.”
And Alex always keeps his promises.