No Return

29

“They took what?”

Wes had waited until after breakfast Sunday morning to call Dione with the news.

“We got lucky,” he said.

“Tell me how we possibly got lucky.”

“We don’t have to reshoot.”

Dione said nothing for a moment. “Don’t jerk me around, Wes. Are you serious?”

“Serious,” he said. “We lost the backup. But I hadn’t removed the original footage from the cards in the cameras yet. We will need a new backup drive, but we won’t have to shoot anything again. The only thing we’re missing is the footage on the card the Navy took. And we should be getting that back sometime this week.” Well, he did have one thing from that card, the loop of the pilot that he’d saved to the thumb drive in his pocket. But he wasn’t going to tell her that. “Of course, without the laptop I can’t start editing.”

“I can live with that,” she said, brightening.

“Tell me that again when I give you the bill for a new computer.”

“Sorry,” she said. “I’m being a jackass. Are you all right?”

“I’m fine. Just pissed.”

“Understandable. Did the motel give you a new room?”

“Yeah,” he said. “They’re comping my stay. Anna’s room, too.”

“Why Anna’s?”

He winced. He’d forgotten Dione had already been gone when that happened. “Someone broke into her room Friday night. Didn’t take anything, but it was enough for the motel to move her into the room next to mine.”

“Jesus, Wes. What the hell’s going on up there?”

Wes didn’t know what to say.

“Was it the same people who broke into yours?” she asked.

“The police don’t know yet.”

“Anything else you want to tell me?”

Well, there was the chase. But he decided to save that bit of news until she got back. “No. That’s it for now.”

“I would hope so,” she said, then paused. “Okay, here’s what we’re going to do. Check if there’s anyplace there where you can get a new drive. If you can’t find one, text me and I’ll get one before I head back up.”

“Okay.”

“And, Wes, no more excitement, all right?”

“I’ll do what I can.”

Once he hung up, he went over to Anna’s room.

“How’d she take it?” Anna asked.

“Not well at first, but better after I told her we hadn’t really lost anything. She wants me to try and find a new drive. Want to come along?”

“I think I might just stay here and take a nap.”

Neither of them had slept well. “Sure. We can grab lunch before Lars comes by.”

“Sounds good,” she said.

“Have you heard from Alison?”

“I called her while you were talking to Dione. She says Tony must have really hit the jackpot, because he’s not back yet.”

“He’s not?”

“Said she tried calling his cell, but it went straight to voicemail.”

“I’m sure he’s okay.”

“Yeah. Me, too.”

But the silence that followed belied their confidence.

“If he comes back while I’m gone, call me,” Wes said.

“I will.”

He pulled the Escape keys out of his pocket and set them on the dresser. “In case you need to go somewhere.”

“What are you going to take?”

“The Triumph,” he said.

“Uh, excuse me. But do I need to remind you what the nice detective said last night?”

Detective Andrews. Driving without a proper license. Damn. He’d forgotten about that.

“You take the SUV,” Anna said, picking up the keys and handing them back. “I won’t need to go anywhere.” The corner of her mouth began to turn upward. “But if I do, I can just ask Danny’s friend for a lift.”

Wes laughed and opened the door. He then turned to Anna and gave her a kiss right there in the doorway where anyone in the parking lot could have seen.

She arched an eyebrow.

“What?” he asked, a portrait of innocence.

This time she initiated the kiss.