The Sound of Broken Ribs(65)

“Nope. They tried their best, though, I think.”

“Well, I, for one, hope the nut job gets what’s coming to them. I read an article in—Rolling Stone, was it?”

Lei nodded.

“I read that you said the person said they just wanted to break something?”

“If you don’t mind, Pam, I really don’t like talking about it.”

“Right, right. Tactless—that’s Pam. Sorry about that. Come on over here and let’s get you checked in. All I need is a driver’s license and a credit card.”

“Can I pay cash?”

Pam stepped behind the wide wooden counter and grimaced. “I mean, we don’t really take cash. Being out here in the boonies, you never want to have cash in a register. Hell, we’re ten whole miles from any kind of law enforcement, and that’s only park rangers. Local sheriff is half an hour away if they do ninety getting here.”

“Oh. Okay. I just didn’t want to have to pay interest on something small like a cabin rental.” Lei was shocked at how easily the lies came. Then again, she was an author. She made a living spinning tales and weaving webs.

“I pray for the day I can consider fifteen hundred bucks a night something small.” Pam giggled and her body quaked and then rippled with aftershocks.

“Went up from twelve hundred since the last time I was here.” Lei’s smile said, I’m not complaining, but I want you to know that I noticed.

“Inflation, and all that.” Pam matched every inch of Lei’s smile.

Lei slid her American Express card out of its sleeve where it rested in her pocket book and handed it to Pam. “Is someone here around the clock?”

“Oh, no. At night, you have the run of the place. I’m off at nine o’clock every night. We’re too slow this time of the year to have anyone on overnights. But there’s a list of phone numbers of people to call on every fridge, you know, in case something should happen and you need assistance.”

“So I should get extra towels and pillows now, is what you’re saying?”

Pam grinned.

*

Why aren’t you running for your life?

Belinda looked around, plotted the best way by which to escape, but never actually moved. Something pinned her to the passenger seat. She thought it might have been her own guilt.

It was easy to think that all she had to do was get out of the car and walk up to the main cabin and throw a wrench in the author’s plans, but for the life of her, Belinda couldn’t be bothered. It all seemed like too much effort for too small a payoff.

You have no idea what she has in store for you. She could just want to talk or she might plan to chop you into little pieces and go full Jeffrey Dahmer on the cookable bits. You have no idea. So again—why aren’t you running?

She couldn’t be bothered. That’s the feeling that kept coming back over and over again. She couldn’t be bothered to open the door… to step outside… to run… She simply did not have the energy. She figured she was tired of running. Whatever would happen, would happen.

No more looking over her shoulder. No more worrying about jail. No more wondering what lurked around the next corner. Whatever would come, would come. This was it. Fate had finally caught up with her.

She placed her hands in her lap and tried not to think about her throbbing face.

*

“You won’t actually be charged until you check out, so stay as long as you want.” Pam handed Lei a key with a blue plastic diamond attached to the keyring. On the diamond was the number seven. “It’s the farthest back. That way, should anyone else check in, you won’t have to worry about noise or any nonsense like that. This time of the year, we get the rich teenagers on vacation from their prep schools. Mommies and Daddies rent out the cabins for the weekends. You shouldn’t have to worry about them, seeing as it’s the middle of the week, but you can never be sure when they’ll get a wild hair up their butts.”

“Thanks, Pam.” Lei turned to leave.

“Hey, Mrs. Duncan?”

Lei faced Pam once more. “Yeah?”

“If I brought some of my books from home, do you think you could sign them?”

“I don’t see why not.” Lei paused then added, “Make sure you call before you stop by, though. I might be busy writing.”

Pam’s jaw dropped. “Is that why you’re up here?” she asked in a conspiratorial tone. “To write?”

Lei winked at Pam and thought the big woman would melt into a puddle where she stood.

Pam clapped and bounced. “Wait until I tell everybody you were here, and that you were working on something new. No one’s gonna believe this!”

“Save it until after I’m gone—okay? I don’t need anyone bothering me.”

“Oh, of course. Of course, I’ll wait. No one will bother you. Promise. Girl Scout’s honor.” Pam gave Lei a three finger salute, as if that’s how the Girl Scouts did things.

Lei took her leave.

*

The author bitch dropped behind the wheel and drove toward the cabin set deepest into the surrounding woods. Belinda didn’t say a word until they were parked behind the structure and they were off.

“What now?”

“I don’t actually know.”