Holiday On The Run

Running through the night gave him a strange sense of peace. As he ran he tried to formulate their next steps. Get some rest, obviously, but after that, they needed to figure out where to start their investigation.

He considered confronting his uncle but didn’t want to do that without some kind of proof. Something other than Melissa’s word. Not because he didn’t believe her, but because he did.

No, the proof they needed was something indisputable. Something that couldn’t be discredited as a lie from an unreliable source. Eyewitness testimony was good, but twelve years had passed since the original crime had been committed. They needed to prove that Melissa witnessed a murder.

Which meant they needed the identity of the man who’d died that night.

Nate knew his way around computers and technology, although he didn’t have anything with him. First thing in the morning, they needed to find a laptop so he could get decent access to the internet. Having his personal laptop would be even better so that he could use his work search engines.

Satisfied that he had some semblance of a plan, he increased his pace until he could see the lights of the motel. As he came closer, he slowed his pace in an effort to cool down.

He quietly let himself inside the room, hoping not to disturb Hailey or Melissa.

But the moment he crossed the threshold, Melissa raised her head and glanced over at him.

“Sorry to wake you,” he whispered, closing the door softly behind him.

“You didn’t,” she assured him. “I couldn’t sleep.”

“Get some rest,” he advised. “We have work to do in the morning.”

It wasn’t easy to see in the darkness, but he thought she nodded. “Good night, Nate.”

“Good night.” He made his way to the bathroom so he could take a shower. Nothing he could do to salvage his uniform, which was damp with sweat. By the time he emerged twenty minutes later, he could hear Melissa’s deep, even breaths.

She was asleep at last. He crawled into the empty bed and did his best to shut down his brain.

It seemed like barely an hour later when he woke up to Hailey’s plaintive whining. “Mommy, I’m hungry.”

“Shh, we have to be quiet and wait until Mr. Nate wakes up, okay? Look, I found a kids’ movie for you.”

Nate pried his eyelids open, trying to read the time on his watch. Five minutes past six in the morning. He swallowed a groan. It wasn’t the first time he’d been forced to work on less than four hours of sleep.

Man, he was getting too old for this.

“I’m awake,” he managed, propping himself up on one elbow. “Give me a few minutes and I’ll run back and get the car.”

“The motel offers a free continental breakfast,” Melissa informed him. “I’ll take Hailey over there while you rest for a few more hours.”

He pushed himself upright and scrubbed his hands over his face, wishing for a razor. “You were up as late as I was,” he said. “Just give me a few minutes to get ready and we’ll all go to breakfast together.”

“Okay,” she agreed.

He headed into the bathroom to wash up and use the facilities. Just as he opened the bathroom door, he heard Melissa talking.

He frowned, realizing she must be on the motel phone, since she’d tossed hers out the window.

He strode into the room to find her sitting on the end of the bed, holding the receiver to her ear. “When did he die?” she asked.

He realized that she must be talking with the hospital. He crossed over and sat down beside her.

“Okay, thanks for letting me know,” she said. She disconnected from the call and glanced up at him, her eyes filling with tears.

“I just wanted to check on my dad’s condition. He passed away about an hour ago,” she said in a low voice.

“I’m so sorry for your loss,” he said, wrapping his arm around her slim shoulders.

She nodded and buried her face in her hands, her shoulders shaking with suppressed sobs.

He gathered her into his arms, feeling helpless to do anything but hold her in an attempt to offer comfort. Nate knew that even though Melissa and her father hadn’t seen each other in person for the past twelve years, they’d remained close. After all, she’d mentioned that her father’s dying wish was to see his granddaughter.

“He was a good man,” she whispered.

“I know,” he agreed.

Melissa surprised him by wrapping her arms around his waist and pressing her face into the hollow of his shoulder. Thankfully Hailey seemed to be preoccupied with her television show, despite her earlier complaints about being hungry.

Nate ran his hand down Melissa’s back, trying to think of something to say. “Is there anything I can do to help? What about funeral arrangements?”