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ON THE MOTEL BLACKTOP with the incense fumes spiraling up in smoky wisps, Winston saw the Chan family with new eyes. He took a deep breath. Start with the first death and go from there. Use logic to find the killer—or killers.
Who would want the old man dead? He knew that at least half the family didn’t even refer to Ming as their father. Maybe if he could get inside their rooms somehow and investigate there, he’d find more clues.
The rooms were so close, but how could he gain access to them? A little pressure in his bladder provided him with an idea.
“I need to use the restroom,” he told Orchid. “Really bad.” He even did a little jig for added effect.
Orchid looked askance at him, like he was about to go right in front of her. “Come on then,” she said.
He jogged with her over to room eight. As she started unlocking the door, Winston realized that Tal and Bright waited right behind them. The other Chans, however, headed next door, to room number nine. Curses! They had two units. No way would he be able to look through both without arousing suspicion.
Winston entered the motel room and caught a noseful of muscle rub. He saw belongings scattered everywhere. For a moment, Winston wondered if someone had already searched the place.
Orchid shook her head in disgust. “Boys.”
Ack. They needed some serious maid service to come by. Winston tried to take a mental picture of the entire room because he knew he couldn’t physically sift through all those dirty clothes and tattered suitcases.
“Bathroom’s over there,” Orchid said as she tried to tidy up. By this time, Tal and Bright had also entered the room, and they both made a beeline for the queen-sized bed.
“Shoes off,” Orchid said. “Use the flip-flops we packed.”
Then she turned her attention to Winston with a puzzled look on her face. He’d better go use the facilities before she started questioning him on the spot.
The bathroom felt cramped. It barely had enough space to house the sink, toilet, and a very slim shower stall. Would there even be anything to find in here? His eyes skimmed past toothbrushes, shavers, and floss until he saw a beige toiletry bag.
The zipper pull had a tag on it reading, “Property of Ming and Orchid Chan.” He rifled through its contents, past a mishmash of items. Cosmetics seemed to take up the top half: lipsticks, blushes, and things he couldn’t identify. One even looked like a miniature torture device. Made of metal, it had two looped handles with a vicious clamp at the end.
Winston heard Orchid call through the door. “You okay in there?”
“Just about done.” He flushed the toilet.
Turning the faucet on full blast to cover the noise of his searching, he hunted double-time. Finally, at the very bottom of the bag, he found a half-filled pillbox. Ming’s name was written on it in Sharpie. The box had the days of the week stamped on it. He opened the medication compartments and snapped a quick pic with his phone. Then he placed everything back and turned off the water.
When he opened the bathroom door, Orchid stood before him. “Was it something you ate?”
“No, I feel fine.” He took a quick look around and noticed the room seemed more organized. Also, a suitcase lay open in the middle of the floor. “Are you guys packing up?”
Winston spied Tal on a bed doing shoulder rolls. Next to him, Bright lay sprawled out, snoring away. The other bed, though, seemed tucked nice and neat.
Orchid stepped into the bathroom, and her muffled voice said, “I’m going next door. Staying with the girls and swapping out Lyle.”
Now, Winston could make up a good reason to check out the other room. “Mrs. Chan, I can carry your stuff over. Looks quite heavy.”
“Thanks. Let me get my toiletry kit—wait, who’s been through my stuff?”
She came out scowling, holding the beige bag in her hand.