Lost in Silence (The Lost Series Book 1)(6)

I’m not about to allow another complication in my life. I can’t afford it.

Even if his name is music to my ears.

*****

Hudson

I’m not sure why I made it my mission to protect a complete stranger but there was something about the man outside, screaming like a banshee, I instantly didn’t like. Usually my gut instincts were spot on about people and over the years I’ve learned to trust it. He was on my radar from the moment he began pounding on the door.

I knew she was home but I wasn’t about to admit that to him. Something told me to deny it. He was no good for her.

She had arrived less than an hour ago and she was alone, has been since she checked in a day after me. I knew he was lying the moment the words left Roland’s mouth, not that he gave the old man a chance to finish explaining it to me.

She was a pretty girl, from what I could see but not the kind of pretty that stops you in your tracks. Her long blonde hair looks unnatural against her skin coloring which means she’s bleached it. Her clothes are at least three sizes too big and threadbare. She was definitely on the thin side but it was difficult to tell because she hides under many layers of clothing, despite the California heat.

I knew she was running from someone or something the moment I laid eyes on her. It wasn’t just her appearance, she tried to blend into the streets around her but her quirky behaviors and demeanor were telling signs something wasn’t right. She looked over her shoulder when she arrived back from wherever it was she went. She was cautious but not cautious enough. I’d seen the black sedan leaving and arriving two days ago. She hadn’t.

I didn’t know why she was running, frankly I wasn’t one to care but after his fully loaded threat towards her, there was no way I’d leave her unprotected now. Whoever they were to each other didn’t matter to me because I was sure now he was the reason she was running.

I peer out my window scanning the parking lot. I’d chosen this room specifically because I could see everything from its window. It wasn’t difficult to get the keys from the attendant, dead presidents spoke in volumes. In my line of work you expect the unexpected and plan for it.

That’s how I knew about her stalker.

At first I thought my cover had been blown. Something I couldn’t afford to happen this late in the game. This assignment was risky and these fools were ruthless. They’d shoot a man no questions asked, if they thought he wasn’t who he said he was. Not to mention the man hours alone spent working my way up their ranks. I had to make sure he wasn’t there for me.

I tailed him for half a day. It didn’t take long to discover he wasn’t there for me, to my relief. He was there for her and he followed her like a starving dog. Something was disturbingly off about it. I kept watching and waited for him to make a move.

He waited longer than I anticipated, before confronting her. I didn’t think it would so public either. Something must have triggered him because he lost his cool entirely too fast. I doubt it was something she’d done. She was a creature of habit, her routine was the same every day. It had to be an outside source.

I needed to find out who this guy was and fast. I wouldn’t be able to move past any of it unless I did. My gut was reeling over it.

I reached for the phone on the bedside table and dialed the manager’s office. Roland answers on the second ring. “Morning Glory Inn.”

“Roland, it’s Hudson,” I pause briefly, allowing the dots to connect in his addled brain. His breath hitches. He was remembering the stack of fifties I left on the counter at check in. I purposely overpaid for my room. It wasn’t just the location I wanted but the privacy as well.

“Is he back?” his weasel voice sneers across the line. If I didn’t know any better he might have actually sounded concerned but men like Roland don’t like confrontation. Fact is, he didn’t want to deal with a mess and the cops.

“Thankfully, no. I want to know who is staying in the room he was trying to access,” I say. I don’t play games, don’t believe in them. They’ll get you killed if you’re not careful. Besides, it’s best to get straight to the point with men like him.

“I can’t give you that information, “ he’s bullshitting me of course, we both know it. He’ll give me the information and anything else I ask for, if the price is right.

“How much?” I ask straight up. Whatever the fuck he wanted, I’d pay it.

“I’m insulted...”

“How much?” I interrupt him, this time putting steel into my voice.

“I can’t...”

“Roland, my patience is thin and you don’t want to know me when it runs out. Stop fucking playing games with me. We both know you’ll give me the information I want, the only question is how much will it cost me?” If there is any game left in the old man, he needed to know not to push me any further.