| |
WINSTON DRUMMED HIS fingers against his chin in the parking lot. Should he go straight home? But even if he did, he knew the double deaths would bother him, making sleep impossible. He wanted to follow up on his only lead.
Pulling out his cell phone, he checked the time and texted Kristy.
Winston: You still awake, Kristy?
Kristy: Yes, you back home?
Winston: Not yet. Think I could swing by your place? Want to show you something.
Kristy: Okay . . . But no peeking at the dress.
Winston: Won’t. Cross my heart.
Kristy: FYI, Marcy’s here.
Winston groaned and almost changed his mind. Did he really need more big-sis time tonight? Although she was holding onto his car . . . And what if there were a murderer (or two) on the loose?
Time would be of the essence.
Be there soon, he texted.
He added a heart emoji, grinning at the phone like an idiot. She couldn’t see his head-over-heels face, but maybe she’d feel his love over the pixels.
Winston called for an Uber. Ten minutes away. He started heading to the front of the Motel 9 so the driver might spot him better. While walking, he heard a car start up from behind him.
However, instead of passing him, the car seemed to follow Winston. Who was this jerk of a driver? Maybe it was a crazed teenager. Instead of cruising the streets, the youth nowadays tried to play chicken with hard-working citizens.
The car behind him wasn’t focused on lurking behind like a silent threat. Winston heard the vehicle rev.
He sprinted toward any kind of protection. Maybe that line of bushes on the side would work.
Minutes later, he felt the heat of an engine near his back. He dove for cover in the row of plants.
The front quarter panel of the car still managed to nudge him. How many points was a hit-and-run worth in this insane game?
From the corner of his eye, he saw another vehicle pause near Motel 9’s entrance. Winston scrambled out of the bush. He jumped up and down, waving his arms to attract the newcomer’s attention. Any kind of help would be welcome.
The crazy driver of the van, a mere shadow in the seat with the vehicle’s headlights off, stopped pursuing him. Soon, the car dashed toward the exit and sped out of sight.
The second vehicle eased toward Winston. Checking his app, Winston realized the license plate matched that of his scheduled ride. His Uber driver had shown up and saved him.
Winston glanced to where the road rager had gone. “Could you wait here a minute while I check something out?” he asked the driver.
“No way, man. Do you know this neighborhood? Bet I’m the only driver willing to even come this way.”
Sighing, Winston got into the Uber. His hands trembled. “Did you get a good look at the other driver?”
His Uber savior shook his head. “Too dark. Couldn’t even tell if it was a man or a woman.”
“I wonder if I should report what happened.” But Winston didn’t really want to get a teen into trouble with the law.
“Well, if you do change your mind, I did notice one thing. The vehicle’s color. That was one dirty-looking gray van.”
“Are you sure?” Winston asked.
“Yeah.” The driver clucked his tongue. “But what people do for kicks around here.”
Winston couldn’t stop shaking. A van? Could it have been the Chans’ vehicle? Something he’d driven only hours before?
It made sense. He had been snooping. And he must have made one of the Chans very angry to get such a nasty warning.
What had he gotten himself into? He’d nearly died right before his wedding. What if they went after Kristy next? He’d have to make sure he was one step ahead of the killer.