He Started It(78)

I speak before Portia has a chance to. “Did Eddie tell you about this trip? About our grandfather?”

“He did. But considering how many times your brother has lied to me, I had no reason to believe it was true.”

Eddie groans. He gets up and stumbles over to the sink. We all watch and then return to our conversation.

“Eddie didn’t lie to you about this,” I say. “Our grandfather passed away. Once we bring his ashes to where he wants them, we’ll get our inheritance.” Before he can ask how much, I say, “Eddie will then have the money to pay you back.”

“Yes, that’s what he said.”

“It’s the truth,” I say. “And maybe this sounds insensitive, but the three of us aren’t here because we wanted to take a family vacation. We’re here for the money.”

“Three of you,” he says. “You had five. You’ve lost a couple along the way.”

“Our spouses weren’t exactly enjoying this trip, given how many problems we had with the car.”

“Ah yes. The car.”

“The flat tire, the stolen starter? I assume that was you?” I say.

Nathan points to his nephew. “Jonah got a little bored on the trip, so we decided to have a little fun with your car. We wanted to make sure Eddie knew we were around. Just in case he forgot about his financial obligations.”

“I never forgot,” Eddie choked.

Jonah laughs. “I bet you didn’t.”

Portia rolls her eyes. “Do boys ever get sick of playing games?”

No one answers out loud, although Jonah shakes his head no.

“Back to the money,” I say. “Eddie can pay you once we finish this trip.”

Nathan stares at me for so long it makes me uncomfortable, and I want to fidget but I don’t. It feels like he’s sizing me up, trying to decide if he can believe me, since he can’t believe Eddie.

Good thing I’m not lying.

“And if he still doesn’t pay,” Nathan says. “Are you going to cover his debt?”

Like I said, he is an intelligent man. I agree because I have to, and because I have no doubt one of us will die today if he decides that’s how it has to be. I also agree because we need to get back on the road. This trip has to end.

“Absolutely,” I say. “I’ll cover it.”





It’s almost worse when Nathan and Jonah have left. Now we have to deal with the aftermath of what just happened, and everyone is pissed off.

“You just let them follow us,” Portia says.

Eddie, who has recovered a bit, says, “You sprayed me with mace.”

“You better pay Nathan, because I sure as hell won’t,” I say.

It’s not the money I’m angry about, though. I’m angry for the same reason Portia is.

Everyone has secrets, I get that. It doesn’t matter to me that Portia steals credit cards or that Eddie has a gambling problem. I have a bigger secret—about Felix—but they don’t need to know that because my secret doesn’t affect them.

Eddie’s secret does, though. It has altered our whole road trip, and he still didn’t say anything until his problem knocked on our door. That’s the difference between our secrets, and it’s a big one.

I’m starting to think there’s something about the Beaver Dam Motel. Both times we’ve been here, trouble literally came knocking. Tonight it was Nathan and Jonah. The first time it was the man from room number 9, the one who answered when I was looking for Nikki.



* * *



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He was in number 9 alone, as far as we could see, and Eddie quickly said, “Sorry, wrong room.”

That was it. We ran off and he shut the door. Less than ten minutes later, that same man came to our room and knocked. Eddie opened it.

He looked like someone out of a seventies movie, right down to his thick moustache, patterned shirt, and blue blazer. He looked around the room, his eyes landing on each one of us. Eddie, Grandpa, Portia, me.

“Can I help you?” Grandpa said, walking toward the man.

“I apologize. Two kids came knocking on my door and I just wanted to make sure everything was okay,” he said. “Just seemed kind of strange at a place like this. Kids being alone and all.”

Grandpa looked at me. Not Eddie, just me. “We were just playing,” I said. “Like doorbell ditch.”

Grandpa glared at me but smiled at the man. “I’m on a road trip with my grandkids. Sometimes they get restless.”

The man smiled back. “Oh, I understand. I’ve got kids of my own back home.”

“Thank for checking, though. Appreciate it.”

“Not a problem. Glad everything is okay.”

The man left, Eddie shut the door, and Grandpa told us we were not allowed out of the room again. That was the end of it, at least until the next morning. The same man was in the parking lot, packing up his maroon Honda.

The man waved to us. “Good morning!” he said.

Grandpa stared at him for a second before responding with a nod. “Morning.”

“Hey,” the man said, walking closer to us. “You mind if I ask you if you’re heading into Nevada? I’m afraid I don’t know this area very well and . . . well, I’m not much of a map reader. My wife is always yelling at me about asking for directions.”