No Return

70

Wes approached the Desert Rose Motel from the back, parking the Triumph against the building, out of sight, then walked around the side to a passageway that led into the courtyard.

He was relieved to see that the police were no longer stationed outside Tony’s room. Now there was only crime scene tape stretched across the door.

What he was looking for was a motel phone. He was hoping he might find an open room. But before he got very far, he spotted a phone mounted on the wall of a small shed near the swimming pool. It was a little more exposed than he liked, but it would do.

He walked over, picked it up, and dialed Alison’s room.

“Hello?”

“Are you alone?” he said.

“Wes? What’s going on? Have they found them?”

“No. Not that I know of. Is there anyone there with you?”

“No. Why?” she asked, a bit of caution seeping into her voice.

He hesitated, then said, “Look, I know you’re mad at me, but I just-”

“Who said I was mad at you?”

“I can hear it in your voice.”

“I can’t help it if you’re hearing things.”

“Alison, please. I just need your help.”

A brief silence. “Ask Danny.”

“Please.”

“This whole thing’s gotten me shaken up. I just don’t feel up to doing anything.”

He paused, then said, “I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine. I’m sure Danny will be free.”

“That’s not what I mean.”

Her voice was still cool. “What do you mean?”

“I haven’t exactly been up front with you. I should have … I mean, it shouldn’t have taken …”

When he didn’t go on, she said, “You should have what?”

“I’m sorry. I should have told you about Anna and me a long time ago.”

Silence, then, “Why didn’t you?”

“I didn’t want to hurt you. You and I have always been friends. And I didn’t want to ruin it with her. You know me, I overthink things sometimes.”

“Yeah, you do that, don’t you?” she said, then, “You don’t owe me anything.”

“Yes, I do.”

Neither of them said anything for several seconds.

“Thanks,” Alison finally said. After another moment she added, “What do you need?”

Wes would have smiled if he could. “Find Danny, then I need the two of you to meet me at that place we ate last week. John’s Pizza.”

“What’s going on?”

“I’ll tell you when I see you. I promise.”

A pause. “All right,” she said, the coolness in her voice gone but annoyance starting to take its place. “What about Dione and Monroe?”

Truthfully, he would rather Alison brought Dione than Danny, but he didn’t want to jeopardize Dione’s position with the network. Unlike the rest of them-all freelancers-she was staff. If what he had in mind didn’t work, it would hurt them less than it would hurt her. And as far as Monroe was concerned, she was useless and never a consideration.

“We need to keep this small for now,” he said. “Be there in fifteen minutes and make sure no one’s following you. That includes the police.”

He knew she wouldn’t be able to let that one go, so he hung up.