Melanie shook the negative thoughts away. It was not her style. She wouldn’t hide in the islands, but would allow Drew a bit of grace before involving the police. She knew people there that would help – she worked with them – but at the same time, she did not want Drew to become their prime suspect quite yet.
She picked up the phone to check in and maybe see if anyone knew about the river episode, but she hung up instead. It was probably a bad idea. Dead people did not use phones. She was torn, not wanting to go above the law but still wanting to save her brother. She’d made law her lifetime’s work. Coming to a decision helped to relieve the pressure. She was booked off on holidays – maybe she could allow Drew at least some grace to prove himself.
She hurried toward the bathroom, having decided the first move. Someone was in her apartment and didn’t want to talk to her, and she needed to know who it was. The fan from the bathroom had managed to dry the clothes she’d hung over the shower rung before falling asleep, but a faint dampness remained, causing her to shiver while pulling the pants over her warm legs. Melanie was grateful she’d been kidnapped in her sloppy, comfy clothes. Any piece from her tighter-fitting, designer wardrobe would have proven nearly an impossible task to squeeze into when damp.
Back inside the main room, she dialed a taxi, hating the lack of independence the absence of her car imposed. Her purse and cell phone were in the apartment, as well as clothes and money. She required enough to keep her until it was safe to return to the apartment and her life.
The key was no obstacle for she’d hidden one under the fire extinguisher close to their door in the hallway – Chrissy was always locking herself out. But perhaps the back entrance might give her more visual advantage today. She had hidden one there, too. Melanie had to thank her parent’s training for placing keys everywhere. The doors at the estate were always locked and alarms set.
A change of clothes, toiletries – a list began to form in her head. She sighed heavily, accepting the nagging truth of what she tried in vain to escape – a girl needed her stuff. She’d debated materialism with her father until it had become a righteous fast to somehow live without the luxury his money could offer. Her rebellious escapade in South Carolina only illuminated that she knew discontent with both poverty and abundance. It was a merry-go-round of confusion. She’d needed to discover her own worldview definition and learn to find peace wherever it might lead, but those demons she’d have to face another day.
Drew had left the motel key on the television stand. Melanie picked it up on her way past and zipped it securely inside her pants pocket. Nervous fingers parted the curtains as she scanned the parking lot, but nothing appeared out of the ordinary.
Once outside, she headed to the office where they informed her that the gentleman who had registered had paid for two nights.
“Thank you, Drew,” she murmured while stepping into the bright sunshine. The motel would do for one more night.
The taxi arrived promptly, and she jumped into the back seat. After providing the driver with the address of a neighboring convenience store, she laid her head back and expelled a deep sigh. Using her palms to massage the back of her neck she willed the knotted muscles into submission. Relaxing in a warm, bubbly bath to ease the pulsating ache of stress was out of the question today. Besides, she anticipated the source of her stress would not go away any time soon.
When they arrived at the store, she glanced at the meter for the cost and then asked the driver to wait before racing for the door and disappearing inside. Thankfully, Lorraine, a friendly, young cashier, was working that day, and not the nosy Mrs. Sickamore.
“Good morning, Lorraine.”
“Hi there, Mel. How’s the holiday going?”
Melanie swallowed hard. She had no debit card or cash and would need to rely on her good reputation with an acquaintance she barely knew. “The holiday is going well, but I have a rather unusual request.”
“Hit me.”
“Could I borrow twenty dollars? I need to pay my taxi fare, and I locked myself out of the apartment this morning without my purse.” She hated to lie, but Lorraine appeared none the wiser.
“Done that myself before, and a stranger helped me out. Guess it’s time to pay it forward.” She continued talking while reaching for her purse. “Is your car on the fritz?”
“Yeah. I have to get a rental later. I’m headed home, but I need to ask for another favor.”
“Sure. Hit me again.”
“I’ll bring you the money in about an hour, but if anyone asks if I was here today, could you sort of, forget you ever saw me?”
“My, how mysterious,” Lorraine said playfully. “Never fear – my lips are sealed.”
Melanie’s hand shook slightly as she took the money from the clerk’s outstretched hand. “Someday soon, I promise to return and bend your ear with all the juicy details.”
“Juicy? Now you’ve captured my interest. It will stay our secret, for now. Besides, I don’t have many close friends to blabber to. I like to keep to myself.”
“Oh, right. You’re new here. A student at the college, right?”
“Nice of you to remember. My classmates say I’m the forgettable type.”
“Well, I don’t think that at all. And Lorraine, I’d be proud to call you a
