Truths Unveiled - By Kimberly Alan Page 0,27

closed, transporting her back to another time. Just like the night before. He felt new, yet so familiar.

“I’ll call you later, if it’s not too late,” he promised. Then holding her face between his hands, he kissed her again.

****

Unlocking her hotel door, Pam relived the past few hours. With everything else being equal, Tom Jarrod could tip the scales either way. On one hand, if she moved back here, and the past caught up with her, she’d lose. On the other, if she just left and didn’t return, she could be giving up the best thing that ever happened to her.

For the most part, Pam never gave much consideration to a social life. Sure, in recent years there hadn’t been much free time. But now she realized that had been her excuse. More accurately, she didn’t believe she deserved a serious relationship. Yet, in these past twenty-four hours, Tom changed that.

Getting undressed, Pam wondered, Can it work, God? Is Aunt Carolyn right? Is this why you sent me here? So I could learn to forgive myself, and for Tom and me to start over?

The exuberance Pam began experiencing last night while with Tom doubled its strength. Smiling and feeling like a giddy teenager, she found the mystery novel she’d started reading on the plane. A long hot soak in the tub sounded great. Heading toward the bathroom, she noticed the bathroom light, glowing under the semi-closed door. No big deal. Maybe the maid forgot to turn it off when she cleaned the room. Armed with the book and a nightshirt, she opened the door. Then froze in terror.

Taped to the large mirror above the sink, Pam saw what appeared to be the original newspaper article and photograph. There was no mistaking the headline. She recognized it before her brain registered the words: TWO TEENS DEAD IN FATAL CRASH! ONE DRIVER SURVIVED!

Underneath the article, someone had written in red, YOU KILLED THEM! LEAVE HERE NOW OR FACE THE CONSEQUENCES!

Unable to breathe, Pam sank to the cold tile floor. Sights and sounds, long buried, flashed before her eyes, swirling in circles like a fiery tornado. Hot tears, filled with anger and frustration, grief and unbearable pain, poured down her cheeks. She hugged her knees and rocked back and forth, wracked with sobs.

Soundlessly, she screamed out, “MEGAN!!!!”

Truths Unveiled

Truths Unveiled

Chapter Sixteen

With two hours of sleep under his belt, Tom knocked on Pam’s hotel room door. After a moment, he frowned. That’s odd. Why isn’t she answering? He thought about the prior night’s hectic events. The technician had been right. Somehow, a complicated virus entered the rescue station’s main computer system and corrupted a large part of their files. He didn’t get a chance to take a second breath and pick up the phone to call Pam until way after two. Deciding not to wake her, he’d delved back to work until four.

“She checked out, sir,”

Tom turned to find the chambermaid at the entrance to the room next door.

“Excuse me?”

“She checked out. There’s no one in there.”

Confused, Tom frowned, “When?” To himself, he asked, Why?

“Late last night,” she replied.

Too impatient to wait for the elevator, Tom tore down the five flights of stairs. Out of breath, he reached the front desk and found only one clerk on duty. Three people stood in front of him, waiting their turn. Biting back his temper, he scanned the room. Why did she do this? Everything was going so well! There must be some mistake!

Indecision weighed heavily on Tom’s shoulders. Should he wait here and see if she left him a message, or go directly after her? He’d left his house in a hurry this morning. Maybe she called and explained on his voice mail.

Once in his truck, Tom pounded his home number on the cell phone.

“You have one message,” the mechanical voice mail responded.

“Ugh!” He wasn’t sure if he should feel relieved or filled with dread.

Accessing the message, his pulse raced.

“Tom? It’s Pam. I’m sorry to leave things this way but I’ve decided to take the job in Chicago. Thank you for this weekend. I wish you all the best. Goodbye.”

She sounded flat, he noted. Like she’d turned into a zombie. Did something bad happen? When he left her last night, he felt certain the odds were in his favor. He pictured her face. Her smile. The way she touched him. What could it be? What made her change her mind? Did Susan contact her and fill her with lies? Or threats?

****

At two-twenty-five that afternoon, Tom boarded a