No Return

50

After forty minutes passed without Stewart returning to his room, the man in the car began to get annoyed. When it hit an hour, his annoyance became concern. Not for Stewart, but for the possibility that Stewart had given him the slip.

He waited an additional ten, then made the call he was dreading, and was told to look around the motel and see if he could find the missing cameraman.

He checked the rooms the rest of the crew were staying in, listening at doors and windows to see if he could hear Stewart inside. Most were quiet. The only exception was the sound of a TV in one.

He thought for a second that maybe Stewart had snuck off to have a little fun with the other woman in the crew who’d stayed for the weekend, the tall one. But when he checked her room, there was only silence.

Before getting back in the car, he checked Stewart’s room, just in case the guy had returned as stealthily as he left. Didn’t sound like it, though.

The son of a bitch was messing up the plan. Tonight was supposed to be the night.

“I have no idea where he went,” he said, checking back in. “As far as I can tell, he’s not anywhere on the grounds.… No, she’s still there.” He listened, then cocked his head, surprised. “Are you sure? … Okay, okay, if that’s what you want.… Yes, I’ll call as soon as it’s done.”

The man hung up, not completely sure how he felt. Changes were never something he was comfortable with. But what could he do?

He looked at his watch, marking the time, then leaned back, saving his energy for later.