No Return

18

The on-duty manager of the motel was A pudgy, balding man named Harold Barber. He had already come by and expressed his apologies. He offered to move Anna to a new room-offer accepted, with the request that it be near Wes’s. He also said he would comp her stay-offer also accepted on behalf of Dione, who, in addition to Monroe, had gone back to L.A. until Sunday night.

The police had sent more people than necessary for what amounted to a little act of vandalism. But it was still early on Friday night, so there probably wasn’t much else going on.

After a detective named Stevens asked Wes and Anna several questions and then ascertained that nothing was missing, he allowed them to take Anna’s things to her new room. They dropped most of the stuff off, then grabbed what Anna needed for the next morning and left.

“If I remember correctly, you said something earlier about room service,” she said.

“No night on the town?”

She shook her head.

“How about a movie instead? We can check pay-per-view.”

“Perfect.”

He opened the door to his room and let her pass inside.

“You pick the movie, and I’ll order the food,” he said.

“Chinese?”

“Will do.”

Once they were both inside, he started to close the door, but stopped and looked out toward the parking lot.

“What’s wrong?” Anna asked.

Wes scanned the lot, then shook his head. It must have just been his nerves.

“Nothing,” he said, then shut the door.