Dark Justice(40)

“When police later searched Leringer’s home last night, they found a second victim, Nathan Eddington, an employee of Leringer’s security company, StarrCom, in Menlo Park.”

A second murder?

Wait. Nathan Eddington. Wade had asked if I knew that man.

“. . . in this quickly escalating case, a third victim was discovered early this morning—a sheriff’s deputy who was surveilling the home of Hannah Shire. His name has not yet been released to the media.”

What? The deputy who’d been watching my house was also dead?

“Police now view Mrs. Shire as a person of interest in all three murders and seek to question her. Mrs. Shire fled her home in the night, taking along her elderly mother, who suffers from dementia. The sheriff’s department is asking your help in locating Hannah Shire. She is driving a dark blue Ford Escort—”

I lunged for the remote and punched off the TV. Couldn’t bear to listen any longer. For a moment I stared at the wall, trying to breathe. Three homicides. Three. That deputy was dead because he’d been trying to protect me. I couldn’t bear the thought.

And they thought I killed him.

We had to get out of the hotel. Now. How long until Tina, the young woman behind the counter, saw the news?

What if she’d already seen it? The TV in the back office had been on when I checked in.

My head jerked toward Mom. Sleeping so soundly. She’d be almost impossible to move.

I had to check out first. Which was a real gamble, showing my face. Or should we just flee? But I’d be leaving all that deposit money behind. We’d need that money.

A minute passed, indecision twisting around my throat.

Next thing I knew, I was on my feet. I grabbed my purse and the door key, and eased out into the hallway. Twice I almost turned around. The minute Tina saw my face, I’d know if she’d heard the news. I reached the front counter, heart slamming in my chest. Tina looked up at me and smiled. My tongue fought to form words. “We need to check out now.”

We. I’d said we.

“So soon?” She raised her eyebrows. “You couldn’t have gotten much sleep.”

“I know. But I’ve got a long way to go yet.”

Tina keyed her computer to bring up my account. “Where are you going?”

A natural question anyone may have asked. But the words clawed at me. In an instant I could picture a false FBI badge flashed, demands to know what I’d said, where I might be headed.

“Michigan.” The name popped out of my mouth. I didn’t even know anyone in Michigan.

“Oh. That is a long way.”

She slid me the bill. “I have to charge you for a full day. But I can give you back the cash for the second and third days.”

“That’s wonderful. Thank you.” I slipped the money into my wallet, hoping she wouldn’t see my hands shake. “I’ll leave the key in the room, okay? I’ll be out in just a few minutes.”

“Okay.”

My knees felt like Jell-O as I walked away.

In the room I threw back the bedcovers and shook Mom hard to wake her. She fought me, arms waving. “No,” she slurred, “I don’t wanna get up.”

“Mom. We have to go. Now.”

“I don’t want. Too tired. And hungry. I want to go home.”

I pulled her into a sitting position. Her white hair stood out in all directions, her mouth turned down. Her clothes were wrinkled. “I’ll feed you, okay? Let’s just get in the car first.”

And go where, Hannah? Wouldn’t we be more vulnerable in my car, with everyone looking for it?

“No. I . . .” Mom looked around the room, confounded. “Where are we? Where’s my bed?”

“Come on. I’ll tell you when we’re on our way.”

“I’m not coming.”

“Yes, you are!”

Forcefully, I swung her feet toward the floor.

“Stop it, Hannah!” Mom tried to push me away.

“Shhhh.” I gripped her hands, forcing them together. Stood over her, breathing hard, my throat closing. Mom in another screaming fit would attract a lot of attention. And she’d take her own time calming down. By then it would be too late.

“Listen, Mom.” I felt myself sway, too tired, too overwrought. How would I even drive? “Remember the Bad People? Remember how they’re chasing us? That’s why we have to go. They could be here any minute.”

Mom’s head tilted, her confused eyes finding mine. “How do you know?”

“It was on the TV news. Remember that reporter? Now everyone’s looking for us.”

Three men—dead.

“That reporter knows the Bad People?”

“No. But she’s not helping us either.”