QUINN’S FORK SLIPPED from her grasp. Sausage catapulted across the table.
Josh snatched it midair and popped it into his mouth. “Thanks.”
“You’re disgusting!” said Kara.
Quinn broke free from the man’s gaze, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that he was still staring at them.
“What’s wrong?” asked Kara. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
“It’s nothing,” said Quinn. She didn’t want Kara to think she was acting paranoid. Again.
Quinn forced a weak smile. She was imagining things—just like she’d imagined the blood. Like she’d imagined Emma crying. She told herself that the man wasn’t even looking at their table. He was probably just staring off into space, deep in thought. People did that sort of thing.
Kara narrowed her eyes. “There’s something you’re not telling me.”
Quinn found her fork and began puncturing holes in her scrambled eggs. “It’s nothing. Honestly.” She placed a bite of egg into her mouth. It tasted like rubber.
While she chewed, she stole a glance at the far corner. The man sat straight in his chair, an empty plate in front of him.
“Best … breakfast … ever,” said Josh, his mouth so crammed with bacon he could hardly get the words out. He’d cleaned his plate and was gearing up for another round at the buffet.
“Hurry,” said Kara as he dashed off. “I wanna find Mom and Dad.”
Where had the Cawstons gone? Kara didn’t seem too disturbed by their absence and neither did Josh, which put Quinn somewhat at ease. She tried to eat a few more bites, but all the while she volleyed glances between her plate and the far corner. The man just sat there, his icy glare prickling her skin.
Josh returned with even more food than the first time. Kara and Quinn watched with a mixture of marvel and disgust as he shoveled truckloads into his mouth. Amazing he was as thin as a rail.
“Will you hurry?” said Kara.
Syrup dripped down his chin. “Quit rushing me. It’s not like we have anywhere to go.”
As the two argued, out of the corner of her eye Quinn registered movement. Her face shot in the man’s direction. He was standing. He took a step toward their table.
She was suddenly filled with a deep sense of dread. She sprang to her feet. “We gotta go.”
Kara stood in reflex. “What? Why?”
Quinn pulled Josh to his feet. “Come on. We need to leave.”
“But … I’m not done yet!” said Josh, digging in his heels. He reached for his last bite of bacon.
There was no time to explain. Quinn had to get out of the restaurant. To get away from that man. She’d try to explain once they were a safe distance from the stranger. “Please.”
Kara looked at Quinn and sighed. She nodded and grabbed Josh’s other arm. “You’ve had enough, big brother.” Together they hauled him protesting toward the exit.
Before she left the restaurant, Quinn glanced over her shoulder. The man was heading toward them. He wasn’t running, but he was tall and his strides were long. He’d catch up soon enough.
Quinn searched the lobby. It was quiet and there was no place to hide. They’d never make it to the far end and down the hallway in time.
Persephone was at the front desk. Quinn motioned with her head and they hurried toward her. Something told Quinn they’d be safe near Phony.
“What was that all about?” asked Josh.
“That man, he’s after us,” whispered Quinn.
“What man?” said Kara, searching the lobby.
“That man,” said Quinn, pointing to the restaurant doors. She watched, expecting the guy to come charging toward her any second. The only person who came out was the cotton-candy-haired woman.
Josh and Kara exchanged glances. Quinn was about to explain when Persephone interrupted.
“Can I help you?”
“Have you seen my parents?” said Kara.
Persephone stared at her, the same stubborn smile superglued to her face. Her skin was pale, almost translucent.
“Cawstons, right?” She pulled a message pad from under the counter and read. “Ah, yes. They had to leave,” she said. “Car trouble. Apparently your minivan had to be towed.”
“Towed?” said Josh. “Are you serious?”
“Afraid so. They said you should hang around here. Find something to do. They said they’d be back as soon as they could.”
“Well,” said Kara, “that explains it.”
“Great,” said Josh. “My tablet’s still in the car.”
All the while, Quinn kept checking the restaurant doors, but the man had not come out. She took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. He hadn’t been following them after all. She’d been imagining things again.
“I wonder why they both went?” said Kara. “I mean, why wouldn’t Mom stay with us?”
“When are they getting back?” Quinn asked Persephone. “Did they say?”
“More important, what are we supposed to do in the meantime?” said Josh.
As if it were possible, Persephone’s smile grew wider. “How about a swim? Relax. Enjoy yourselves.”
“A swim?” said Quinn, still casting nervous glances at the restaurant doors. “But we don’t have bathing suits.”
“No problem,” said Persephone. “There’s a shop on the second floor. They’ll have everything you need. Your parents said you could charge anything you want to the room.”
“Anything? Cool!” said Josh, heading toward the elevator.
Kara frowned. “Charge anything we want?” Her parents were free spirits, not free spenders. “That’s not like them.”
“Don’t bother with the elevator,” said Persephone.
Josh swung around. “Why not?”
“It’s terribly slow. There isn’t much point. The stairs are far quicker.”
“I want to call my parents,” Kara said to Persephone. “Can I use your phone?”
“Good idea,” said Quinn. “I need to call my mom as well.”
The woman tilted her head. Her shoulders sagged. “I’m afraid our phones are for internal use only.”
Kara deflated. “Right. I forgot.”
“How about a cell?” offered Quinn. “Can we use your cell phone?”
Persephone shook her head. “Sorry. Haven’t got one. Not much use around here. Like I told you last night, reception fades in and out in the desert. You almost never get any service.” She perked up again. “Enjoy the pool. Just be careful. It’s deeper than it appears.”
Quinn looked at Kara. A silent message passed between them. They were stranded at the Inn Between.