Page 35 of Fear of Flames
He wasn’t.
She spotted the sign for the restrooms off to the left. Doing her best to avoid other people, her pulse increased with each step. By the time she entered the ladies’ restroom, her palms were damp with perspiration.
In the mirror under the bathroom’s bright illumination, Michelle saw a greenish color around her lips. Bruises were also getting more colorful on her wrists. As she was washing her hands an older woman entered, pausing at the sight of Michelle’s sunglasses and bruised lips.
“Are you okay?”
Michelle played it off, relying on her creativity. “Horrible headache. Probably should blame it on the cheap wine last night.” She didn’t wait for a response as she hurried out of the restroom with freshly washed hands still dripping. Unwilling to take the time to dry them, she wiped them on her yoga pants.
As she hurried through the store, a stand filled with burner phones caught Michelle’s attention. The one Fletch gave her only had the capacity to call and text. She saw other prepaid smartphones, advertising full internet access via cellular data or Wi-Fi. If she purchased one, she might be able find out what happened at her house. What type of incendiary device had Fletch set? Was the house destroyed? Maybe she could learn if there was an APB out on her.
This brought more questions. How would she pay for it? Her credit cards were destroyed in her father’s house. She had a little bit of cash that she’d had on hand, but it wouldn’t last forever.
Michelle startled at the sound of Fletch clearing his throat as he walked past her.
Exhaling, she walked away without a new phone and made her way out to the car.
When Fletch returned, he handed her one of the smart phones and a cup of coffee. “Cream and sugar,” he said. “I remember you saying the way you like your coffee.”
“Thanks.” She took the coffee and the phone.
“I’ll set the phone up once we’re in the hotel. Don’t do anything with it yet. As soon as I patch this tire and add some air, we’ll be on the road.”
Michelle nodded and sighed as he closed the door. It was comforting that he remembered her coffee preference. But really, how could she be comfortable with a man she’d just met, one who claimed to burn her home and who was taking her to the unknown?
After repairing the tire and filling it with air, Fletch sat behind the steering wheel. “We should make it to our hotel before nine. It’s about another two hours.”
“Thanks for the coffee. I can repay you.” She shrugged. “I brought the cash I had on hand.”
The tips of his lips curled upward. “Don’t worry about that.”
Heading west, the sun was bright enough for Michelle to continue wearing the sunglasses. Traffic picked up as commuters rushed to their jobs and large trucks continued their drives. Lack of sleep, combined with the waning adrenaline, found Michelle having difficulty keeping her eyes open. She was nodding off as Fletch tuned into a true-crime podcast. It was Crime Daily Podcast, hosted by two women, Kenzi and Ali. It was one of many podcasts she’d listened to off and on for research.
Michelle was almost asleep when she heard something that sparked her interest—her name.
“…Michelle Holdcraft, the author.”
Chapter
Seventeen
Sunday night before the fire
* * *
Dennis Holdcraft acknowledged his guest as he brushed the snow from his heavy coat.
Arrow nodded. “I got your message. Is this about the boy?”
It wasn’t, but Dennis had information. “All the evidence is pointing to a professional. They nabbed him quicker than his mother could report him missing. I was so fucking close with the Jensen girl.”
“Bratva?” Arrow asked.
Dennis shook his head. “I’m working on another theory. Remember Crossroads Network?”
Arrow nodded.
“This feels the same. It feels deep. I think the network is transporting kids up to Nova Scotia via yacht. There’s a lot of money involved. The question is who’s controlling the local law enforcement, not just in Foxborough, but all over New England?”
