Total pages in book: 110
Estimated words: 107557 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 538(@200wpm)___ 430(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107557 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 538(@200wpm)___ 430(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
Using Google maps, they began checking all the motels—from decent to economy to absolute shit holes—on the eastern side and worked their way west.
They’d go into the office, flash their badges and show the front desk clerks both T-Bone’s and Sadie’s picture, informing them Sadie was an endangered person.
After two more large cups of joe, a whole bag of strawberry Twizzlers, some gas station beef jerky, and a couple of Snickers bars, they were getting discouraged. No one had seen Sadie or the asshole prospect in or around their motel.
“We might be at this for days,” Rez grumbled after stopping at motel number six and climbing back into the car, this time into the passenger seat.
“Then it takes days,” was Nox’s simple answer.
“Can you stop at the next Micky D’s?”
Nox shot him a frown. “If you don’t have the shits from all the crap you’ve already stuffed down your gullet, a mystery meat patty will guarantee it.”
“You’re thinking of another fast food joint. The one where you have to run for the toilet bowl after your trip to the border.”
“Yeah, because of explosive diarrhea. Micky D’s might not make you shit out your innards, but it’ll sure as fuck make you regret that dollar menu.”
“Forget I asked. I’m not hungry now with your fucking visuals,” Rez grumbled.
“Just trying to save your ass. Literally.”
“Look at you over there, doing the Lord’s work.”
“I’m stuck in the fucking car with you. It’s called self-preservation.”
Damn, it was good to hear Nox joking around again. Even if it was at Rez’s expense. “Dude, if I shit my pants like T-Bone, just set me out in the middle of a field for the coyotes.”
“Nah, I’ll just stop at a car wash, have you bend over and use the pressure washer on you.”
“Nice.”
“You will be nice… and clean after that.”
“Thanks, brother, for having my back… end. You’re the hero I didn’t know I needed.”
Nox made a noise that sounded suspiciously like a muffled chuckle.
When Rez glanced in his direction, the man’s expression was once again serious.
After another half dozen more motels in just as many hours, they were now past Wheeling and on the west side of the Ohio River.
After this trip, he never wanted to see some dank-assed, shitty motel lobby with ‘70s wood paneling and ‘80s furniture riddled with suspicious stains again in his life.
To make matters worse, he kept burping up the goddamn cheese dog topped with chili he ate at their last piss break.
“You fucking mind?” Nox grumbled, cracking the window because of the last toxic belch he let loose.
“If it doesn’t come out the top, it’s going to come out the bottom. Pick your poison.”
“There’s the next one,” Nox announced with a chin jerk. “Pull in there.”
Rez ducked down so he could read the lit sign. Brookside Motel. “Where are we now?”
“West of Bridgeport.”
“Bridgeport, California? ‘Cause it sure feels like we’ve been on the hunt for weeks now.”
“Ohio.”
As he pulled off the road into the parking lot, the headlights glanced across the seedy one-story, sprawling motel that looked like it had been left behind in the sixties.
It was a one-star accommodation at best. And it might’ve not even deserved that rating.
Their cell phones dinged at the same time. “What’s the update?”
“Still no luck,” Nox said, reading the text. “They’re heading on to the next place.”
“He mention us stopping for the night and getting a few hours of shut-eye?”
“What do you think?” Nox asked.
“Not all these roach motels are open twenty-four seven. We might get to the point we need to stop for the night.”
“Then tell Big Deck. Whining like a bitch to me isn’t going to help.”
With a sigh, Rez pulled the car up to the office, threw it into Park and shut off the engine. “We both going in?”
“Yeah, I need to stretch my legs.”
With a nod, Rez unfolded himself from the driver’s seat, tried to touch the stars when he stretched, then arched his back to loosen up his tight muscles.
A buzzer sounded when Nox opened and held the motel’s office door for Rez. “Ladies first.”
Rez pinched his cheek and then patted it lightly, “Thanks, handsome, you’re such a gentleman,” before blowing him a kiss.
“We don’t allow your kind here.”
They both stuttered to a stop. “Our kind?” Nox growled.
“Yeah, you gays.”
Nox and Rez shared a look before setting their sights on the beer-bellied, unshaved man behind the counter wearing a dingy wife-beater tank top. If he didn’t fit the stereotype of an employee working the night shift in a roach motel, Rez didn’t know who would.
“We’re not a couple.”
“Then, what are you?” Mr. Congeniality asked.
“Cops,” Rez answered.
“Don’t like that kind, either.”
“Very welcoming,” Rez said under his breath. “Gives me the warm fuzzies.”
“Not asking to be your best friend,” Nox informed the clerk as he finished taking the few steps to the front desk. “Just here for some information.”