Page 194 of Forever Dead

She had spent days wanting the investigation to move faster. Now there were parts of it she wished she would never have to describe again.

Arnold slowed at the turn.

“For tonight, I’m getting you home.”

Arnold kept his attention on the road.

“I’d like one month where the most dangerous thing I deal with is somebody stealing a lawn mower.”

“You’d get bored.”

“I could learn to love boredom.”

The Wilson Motel appeared ahead. Gerald remained in his chair outside reception, the skeleton’s witch hat now tilted almost completely over one side of his skull. Several pumpkins had been added around him, and somebody had placed an empty candy wrapper between his plastic fingers.

Arnold stopped outside Selena’s room.

“You need anything?”

“Sleep.”

“That I can’t help with.”

“I’ll manage.”

He waited until Selena was out before pulling away. The night had cooled. She moved slowly toward her room, the cane tapping against the concrete.

Her phone vibrated.

Diane.

Dad heard you were hurt. Are you out of hospital?

Selena stopped beside her door and typed with her right thumb. Yes. Back at the motel. I’m all right.

She read the last sentence, then deleted it.

Bruised and exhausted. They’ve let me leave.

Diane’s reply arrived while Selena was finding her key.

I’ll tell him. Call in the morning so he can hear you.

Selena thought of Eleanor beside the bike shed, telling her something about her sister that she had spent years finding reasons to forget.

She typed another message before she could reconsider.

I will. I’d like to speak to you too.

For a while there was no answer.

Then the screen lit.

All right. Get some sleep, Sis.

Selena put the phone away. It was a small agreement, but this time she had asked.

The reception door opened. Eric stepped outside with a bowl of popcorn under one arm. His teenage daughter followed, carrying two bottles of soda and a stack of DVDs.