“Thank you,” she said.
He raised the hood. Tyler was glad to be hidden from his view. She considered asking the location of Seaside Lane, but wanted as little as possible to do with him. She could find Dan’s place without the help of this lech.
Abe was still bent over the rear of his Mustang, pumping in gas. She walked over to him. He looked at her and smiled. “What’s up?” he asked.
“The guy says there’s a motel about half a mile up the road.”
“I was starting to wonder if we’d find one.”
“Apparently there is only one. The Welcome Inn.”
“Clever.”
“He says it’s on the right.”
“Fine. We’ll follow you in.” The feed clicked off. He pulled the spout out of his tank and stepped backward, holding it away from himself so gasoline wouldn’t drip onto his Nikes. He hung up the nozzle. Then he sniffed his fingers. He caught Tyler grinning. “Stinky,” he said.
She laughed. “We’ve got some Wet Ones in the car.”
“Thanks,” he said. “I’m a big boy. I can live with it.” He screwed the gas cap on.
“Oil’s half a quart low,” Bix said, coming up behind her.
“Thanks,” she said. “See you later,” she told Abe, and returned to her car. Watching from the window, she saw him pay cash. He pushed the wallet into his rear pocket. It made a small bulge. The other pocket apparently empty, curved smoothly over his right buttock.
The passenger door swung open. “Hi ho,” Nora said, climbing in.
“Everything come out all right?” Tyler asked.
“Right as rain. Did you ask Clyde about a motel?”
“Bix. Yeah. Dead ahead.”
“Terrific.”
Tyler found her credit card as Bix approached.
“Eleven-fifty,” he said.
She gave him the card. He left with it. “What a turkey,” she said.
“Yeah?”
“Like this.” She leered at Nora’s breasts, wiggling her eyebrows and running her tongue across her lips.
“Ask him for a date. Definitely.”
“Right.”
A moment later, he stepped in front of the car. He jotted down the license plate number and came back to Tyler’s window. She took the plastic clipboard from him, and started to sign the receipt.
“You with those guys?” he asked.
Tyler didn’t answer.
“They’re our Secret Service escort,” Nora said.
“Yeah? Who you trying to shit?”
Tyler plucked her card from its slot.
“You don’t recognize Amy Carter when you see her?”
She ripped off the top copy of the receipt.
“Well, now,” Nora went on. “I guess you wouldn’t. She’s incognito.”
Tyler handed out the clipboard. Bix yanked it from her hand. He crouched and stared in at Nora. “You’re a real laugh.”
Tyler started the engine. She released the emergency brake and shifted to first.
“Wi—”
She popped the clutch. The car lurched forward.
“I didn’t catch that!” Nora yelled, turning in her seat.
“I did,” Tyler said.
“What did he call me?”
“A wise-ass cunt,” Tyler said, and pulled onto the road.
“Did he?”
“Please. Don’t flip him the bird. He knows where we’ll be staying.”
“Ah. Well, all right. Coward.”
“That’s me.”
“Seaside?” repeated the pleasant, bald man behind the registration desk. “Did you come in by way of town?”
“Yes,” Tyler said.
“What there was of it,” Nora added.
The man chuckled. So did Jack Wyatt, who was waiting behind them with Abe.
“Well,” the man said, “you want to head back through what there is of town. Just this side of the monster palace, you’ll see a dirt road on your right.”
“Just this side of Beast House?” Tyler asked.
“Yep. The monster palace. The road’s called Beach Lane. It’ll take you to the beach parking, but you don’t want to go that far. Just about a hundred yards in, you’ll come to Seaside. That’ll be to your right. Doesn’t go to the left.”
“Thank you,” Tyler said.
“Where’s the best place for dinner?” Nora asked.
“You’re there. Right next door. The Carriage House. Of course I’m partial as I run the place. But you can’t do better. Fine steaks and seafood and ambience at moderate prices.” He checked his wristwatch. His arm, unlike his head, was matted with hair. “If you’re after something to cut the thirst, our Happy Hour’s just started. Two drinks for the price of one, and free hors d’oeuvres. Runs till six.”
“Hey, all right!” Nora said. She turned around. “Maybe see you guys there. Say in an hour or so?”
“I’ll be there,” Jack assured her.
Abe nodded. He met Tyler’s eyes. “Are you going off now to look up your friend?”
“Yeah, I guess so.”
“Good hunting,” he said.
“Thanks.”
He frowned at his shoes, then looked again into her eyes. “That offer for dinner’s still open. Have him join us.”
“Right,” she said. “He and his wife.”
“The eternal pessimist,” Nora said.
“Anyway, good luck.”
“I’ll need it.”
Abe and Jack stayed in the office to check in. Nora followed Tyler outside. “You sure you still want to find Dan?” she asked.
“What does that mean?”
“Looks to me like our friend Abe is more than a little interested in you.”
Tyler trotted down the porch stairs and got into the car. Nora climbed into the passenger side. “He’s gorgeous,” she added.
“I hardly know him.”
“Ah, but admit it, he makes your little heart go pitty-pat.”
“You’re imagining things,” Tyler said, and started the engine. She headed for the courtyard entrance. “You don’t have to come along. If you’d rather stay here and clean up, or…”
“Do I smell?” Nora sniffed her armpits.
“I don’t want to keep you from the Happy Hour.”
“No sweat,” she said. “Hey. Ritzy clientele.”
“Yeah.” Tyler drove slowly past the gray Mercedes, and pulled to a stop in front of the next duplex over.
