Chapter Three

 

 

Dirk didn’t exactly relish the idea of scaring women but in his line of work, he’d found that surprising them was ultimately easier than trying to approach when they were paranoid and could see him coming. He wasn’t a fan of having to run after them. Just by watching from the parking lot, he knew this lady was certainly jumpy. And by the fact she kept looking out the window, she thought she was being followed. Only he hadn’t seen any signs of that himself.

He sat silently and still at the head of her bed until he heard the shower turn off. When she saw him, she would probably freak and try to run. He saw the curtain move and knew he didn’t have much time to get to her door before she did it again. As he stood listening against the painted wood, he heard the shower then a door close. He knew he wouldn’t have enough time to run to the office and convince the night clerk to give him a key. He tried a credit card but she had the chain latched so he went to the window. She’d been so worried to keep a watch out that she didn’t check to see if the window was locked.

He’d slid the glass open and crawled into the room, making himself comfortable on the bed.

“Don’t panic. I’m not going to hurt you.”

“Sure, that’s what they all say. I’m not stupid, you came here to kill me for what I did.”

She started to look around the room, presumably hoping for something to use as a weapon.

“No, I didn’t.”

“Prove it.”

Proving it meant he had to tell her everything he knew about what she’d done and who hired her as well. Maybe he could get away with as little as possible for now. He wanted to get her out of the motel as quickly as possible. It was obvious she wasn’t scared enough to go with him without an explanation first.

“Your dad hired me.”

She started to say something more but he had anticipated that so he continued with a little information to make her more comfortable.

“And yes, I do know who he is.” Dirk whispered that part just in case, these kinds of places were always wire-tapped. He held up his phone toward her, showing her a picture of her dad.

“You can trust me. I was hired to protect you and I’d like to do that but we need to leave this motel if you don’t mind. You’re a sitting duck here.”

“I am not a sitting duck.”

The look on her face told him she didn’t believe it.  He crawled from the motel bed and stood by the door.

“How about we get out of here. I know you saw my car out in the lot. Did you see anything else suspicious?”

“No, how long have you been watching me?”

“Just a couple hours. I got the call early this afternoon and after I read over your file I did a little searching and came up with this place. I don’t know who’s after you just yet but if I found you, don’t you think they will too?”

“Do you think they’ll find out who my dad is?”

“Not right away. I don’t want to say any more until we’re out of here in case someone is listening.”

Her features became panicked.

“Hey, I’m not trying to scare you. It’s just not safe here. I’m going back to my car, I’d like for you to follow me. Just keep your head down.”

She slipped on her shoes and picked up her bag, throwing it over her shoulder, she approached him.

“Just know this, I’m not going with you for the protection, because I can take care of myself.”

“Duly noted.”

***

Why should I trust this guy?

She followed him down the walkway and out to his car, against her better judgment. It was completely dark out now so if there were someone else out watching them they wouldn’t know until it was too late. He unlocked and opened the door, motioning for her to climb in. She hesitated.

“I thought we got over this. Can you get in the car please?”

“How do I know you won’t kidnap me if I get in the car?”

“Would you feel better if I gave you my gun?”

He reached for the pistol he had tucked inside the back of his jeans, fiddled with a button on the side and handed it over to her.

“What did you just do?”

“I made sure the safety was on. I’d rather not have you shoot me, or draw any unwanted attention to us. As I’m sure you already know, this isn’t the best part of town. If we could get in the car, I would be glad to answer any questions you have. Plus, I have a few of my own for you.”

She guessed bad guys didn’t usually hand over their guns willingly so that was one point for him. Unfortunately, she didn’t know anything about any kind of weapon so he could very well be lying to her and she wouldn’t be any the wiser. She got in the car anyway because he was right, she didn’t want to be standing outside any longer than necessary.

“Where are you taking me?”

“Somewhere safe.”

“That’s it? Somewhere safe? You can’t tell me where?”

“Okay, fine. We’re going to my place.”

“You take people to your home to protect them? Are you sure I’ll be safe there?”

“No, I do not take anyone to my home but you’ll be safe there, it’s as good a place as any. Off the beaten path and lots of security with plenty of places to escape.”

“I’m not so sure about this plan.”

“Well you’re welcome to stay at the motel, I can take you back. By now though, you’ve probably already been caught on the security cameras there.”

“Is that a bad thing?”

“Could be. If they got a clear picture of your face, they can run a match and find out who you are in seconds.”

“I don’t want them to find that out.”

“I’m sure you don’t and I can guarantee your dad would rather them not know either because while you didn’t use his name, they would be able to tell when you changed your name and from what. Our whole lives are on the web.”

“What’s your name? I’m sure you already know mine, along with everything else there is to know I suppose.”

“My name is Dirk Rockwell.”

“Are you married Dirk?”

“This isn’t about me.”

“I’m aware of that but I can’t not talk. I’m guessing you’re one of those guys, the quiet brawny type that uses muscles instead of words?”

“I use plenty of words, thanks, but the muscle when I need to. Right now, you don’t need to know anything about me.”

But I will find out Mr. Dirk Rockwell. You know all about me and all’s fair in love and war so I might just have to do some digging of my own.

“Oh, do you think we can stop at my car and then by the Carlson to grab my things and check out?”

“Did you use a credit card to reserve your room there?”

“I did why?”

“They are probably waiting for you so I’m afraid we can’t go back there. Where is your car?

“Just up another block. I drove around a while when I thought someone was following me and when I found a lot, I pulled in and left it there but only grabbed my backpack.”

“I’ll drive by and we’ll see if it’s still there.”

“Do you think it won’t be?”

“There’s always a chance.”

When they got to the lot, Avery was glad to see her car again still in one piece. When he stopped across the lot from it, she got out. He followed and was next to her in a few seconds.

“Wow you move fast.”

“You ain’t seen nothing yet. Now next time, can you let me look around first before you just hop out into public?”

“Oh yeah, sorry, I didn’t even think about it. Do you want to look around now?”

He didn’t answer and started shining his spotlight around the wheel wells, underneath the chassis and then asked her to look in the windows for anything that wasn’t where she left it.

“How could anyone get inside there?”

“It’s called breaking and entering. They would use a tool to jimmy the lock. If you didn’t know what signs to look for, you’d never know they’d done it.”

“Lovely. That black square thing on the back seat, that’s not mine.”             

“We need to go, now. Do you have a remote lock keychain?”

As she dug the keys out of her backpack, he grabbed her arm and moved them away from her car toward his.

“Hey, quit pulling, where are we going? I still need my things.”

“Sorry, not going to happen.” He unlocked his car and opened the door for her to get in.

“I’m not going anywhere.” Avery crossed her arms over her chest and stiffened her stance.

“Suit yourself, but if you unlock or open that car, it’ll blow and I don’t want you or me anywhere near when it does. Please get in the car, we need to leave. I’m guessing we only have a few minutes until people start showing up.”

“Are you being serious right now?”

Dirk was standing on the driver’s side ready to climb in.

“Very serious, now please, get in the damn car.”

When they were a safe distance away and out of visible sight, he stopped and looked back.

“Who are in those cars pulling into the lot.”

Dirk pulled a camera from under the seat and aimed his zoom lens toward the vehicles they’d seen pull up to hers. He clicked the shutter several times then slid it back under the seat where it’d come from. She knew cameras and that was no mom and pop digital, that was a high-dollar set up.             

“I’m guessing you don’t want to know. I’m sorry about your car.”

When she started to ask what he was talking about, he raised the remote out the window and clicked. Only seconds later, a loud explosion and her car was a ball of flames billowing into the air. He didn’t wait to see what was left, he just sped away.

“You blew up my car.”