it’s good enough for him it should be good enough for her. Of course, Jimmy ain’t happy about her schoolin’, but he’s stil got two more months to serve at county.”
Peter didn’t know how to stop her incessant talking.
“Ya know, it wasn’t realy his fault. If Gus Hatley wouldn’t have been hittin’ on DarLynn at the tractor pul last year, Jimmy wouldn’t have borrowed his new truck and drove it into Mud Lake.
Now that sure was a mess; big misunderstanding al around.”
“Excuse me, ma’am,” Peter interrupted for fear the woman would never stop. “I think I’l go down to number six and say helo.”
“Of course. Look at me jabberin’ away while you’re eager to see your friend. Oh and she’s a pretty one too.” Peter moved towards the door. He couldn’t wait to see the look on Libby’s face when she saw him.
“Oh, she ain’t there.”
“She’s not?” He nearly croaked in disbelief.
“Nope. She and DarLynn left in Jimmy’s old Chevy early this morning; somethin’ about a prize in Colorado. I think she won the lottery, but I don’t know why she had to go way cross the country to turn in her ticket.”
What was she talking about now? “Is she going to Red Rocks by chance?”
“That’s right, now how’d you know that with her not having a phone?”
“Just a good guess.”
“Wel, I’ve got a secret about her that I bet you’l never guess.” She leaned forward again. Peter focused on a velvet painting of kittens on the wal, instead of her showy cleavage, but he needed to hear what she had to say.
“Her name isn’t realy Jil,” she whispered, then paused for effect.
“No way?” Peter said, matching her quiet tone.
“It’s Livvy.” She’s been hiding out, but now with the lottery thing, she has to use her real name again.”
He fought back a smile. “I never would have guessed that.” He needed to prevent her from starting another long diatribe. At this rate Roger would come looking for him. “Wel, I should be heading out.” He walked to the door.
“Wanna see her room?”
Peter slowly turned back to her, a huge smile on his face. “I’d like that very much.” He would see where she lived, see her stuff and smel her presence.
She snatched up a key and led him outside. “By the way, my name’s Beatrice, but my friends cal me Bea.” She stood a little too close for Peter’s comfort.
He held his breath to avoid inhaling her odious perfume. He gave a pained look at Roger and waved him over. The large man hesitated, but joined them.
“Bea, I’d like you to meet a very good friend of mine. This is Roger.”
“Why what a pleasure, two good lookin’ men in one day.
You must be the older brother.” She held out her hand for Roger to kiss. He nearly choked, but shook her hand with claw length painted finger nails.
“Bea is going to show us Jil’s room. Jil’s not here right now.
She’s on her way to Colorado,” Peter recited to Roger.
His friend nodded, understanding lit his eyes.
“She goin to turn in her lottery ticket,” Bea chimed in.
Roger turned a confused look on Peter.
“That’s right.” Peter grinned.
They folowed Bea past a handful of rooms and paused at room six where she inserted the key. Bea turned to them. “You won’t tattle on me wil you?” Her eyes focused on Roger. “I wouldn’t want to get in trouble with DarLynn. She’d never let me watch the place again and I love meeting new people.”
“Not a word,” Roger promised. “It’l be our little secret.” He placed one hand on the door frame and leaned close to Bea.
Peter’s pulse quickened as he pushed the door open and stepped into Libby’s room.
So this is where she’s been. He walked through the smal room. He ran his fingers over the faded bedspread. On the dresser sat a stack of books. School books. Calculus, World History, Psychology. Pride filed his heart. Libby stayed in school. He knew she was smart, but to live in this crummy motel, waitress and stil go to school amazed him.
Roger blocked the doorway while Bea performed her best moves. Also on the dresser lay a sweat shirt. He picked it up and her familiar scent hit him. He held the sweat shirt close and wondered if she’d miss it. He opened the top drawer and found her underwear along with some envelopes that appeared to be legal documents. He didn’t feel comfortable touching them, so he closed the drawer and sat on the bed.
His