Queen's Park

CHAPTER 19

“We’ll be in and out in no time. The old man at the front desk will never know we’ve been there.” Les kept both hands on the wheel.

“I don’t like it,” Marvin said.

“We’ll park over by Denny’s and walk around the back way, if that makes you feel better.” Les could smell the fear on his brother. A mixture of sweat, stale clothing and something else. Something he couldn’t put his finger on. And he hated that feeling because Marv had an uncanny ability to be…

“Right. Turn right!”

Les hit the brakes and hauled the Ford over to the right. “Shit!” They came within millimeters of swapping paint with the concrete barrier.

“Cops! There are cops in the lot!” Marv pointed.

Les took a breath. Three blue and white police cruisers were parked side by side near Denny’s. “Of course there are cops there! Cops need to eat too!”

Marv was a puddle in the front seat. “Oh man. Oh man.” He looked up. “One of em’s a ghost car.”

“What?”

“What’s the ghost car doin’ there? The traffic cops hang around for coffee. What’s the ghost car doin’?”

Behind Denny’s, in the parking lot next to their motel, a car sat in front of a no parking sign under the red neon of VACANCY. The car was grey and its black walled tires completed the nondescript look.

“Cops at our motel. Just down from our door. And look.” Marv’s voice was a whisper behind a hand.

Les eased past. A guy in a brown tweed sports jacket was talking to the manager. The guy in the jacket was about as wide across the shoulders as one of those rodeo calf ropers.

Les looked ahead. He checked their speed. “Sit up. Put your belt on.” There was the snap of a metal tongue slipping into its lock. “We’re gonna need another car.”

“A Mercedes?” Marv said.