Page 43 of Graced
Rhyne went to the closet, throwing open the beveled doors to reveal a small chest of drawers sitting beneath the hanging garments.He threw a couple of pairs of jeans into the bag, added another pair of shoes, and topped them with a handful of t-shirts and some socks.She smiled to herself to note she didn’t see a single pair of briefs or boxers in the lot.
When he was done, he closed the bureau drawers and closet doors.“Okay.Let’s go.”
On their way back to the garage, she took another look around the house, this time with a more critical eye.The furniture was shabby.She’d bet they were renting the place already furnished.The walls were bare.There were no curtains on the windows, just the old-fashioned horizontal blinds.There wasn’t a single unique item that stood out as being something that might have represented their personalities, their pasts, friends, or families.No photos or souvenirs.The whole house and its contents could be described in one word—dismal.
Livable, but dismal.
Was this the way he was forced to live?The thought of such a bare bones existence almost broke her heart.
She watched Rhyne open the fridge and reach for the vegetable crisper.He muttered something as he slammed it shut before closing the door.
“What’s the matter?”she finally spoke.
“There’s only one bag left.If I take it, they’ll know I’ve been here.”
“One bag?”
That’s when she recalled something Norris had told her.Something about“they add a little water to them and that way they can suck out the last drops of blood still inside.That’s how they get their supply of blood.”
Rhyne broke into her train of thought.“We gotta go.Welsh is probably on his way back here.”
Holding her tongue, she left the house with him.She waited until they were out of the subdivision before commenting.“Think Welsh is expecting you to leave town?”
He shook his head.“I don’t know what he’s expecting.The only thing he’s sure of is that you’re with me.”He checked her with a side eye.“If at any time you want out of this and go it on your own, let me know.I don’t want you to feel like I’m holding you prisoner.”
She gave him a partial grin.“I don’t feel that way with you.Funny thing is, I saw you pound Welsh like a madman, and I wasn’t afraid of you.Of him, yes.He’s creeped me out ever since he came to the hospital and wanted to know more about me.”
Rhyne snorted.“And I don’t?”
“No.No way.Just the opposite.In fact, I…” She softly giggled.“I have to confess, I went back to that dollar store hoping I’d run into you again.Yes, I know it was childish of me.”
“Not in the least.”He pointed to something ahead of them.“I know it’s not fancy, but it’s all I can afford at the moment.”
Grace glanced up to see a triple A motor inn sign below a bright neon one identifying the place as the Restful Inn.Not too far ahead of it sat the interstate, and she realized how far they’d driven.
When Rhyne pulled up to the front office, she stopped him before he stepped out of the car.“Hold on a sec.”She checked around for something suitable.Seeing one of her blouses sticking out of the bag in the back seat, Grace reached past the middle console and grabbed it.She licked a corner of the blouse as she took his face by the chin.“I’m going to try to clean some of that blood off you.Otherwise, your appearance might cause the clerk to call the cops, thinking you’ve been injured or something and need help.”
He patiently allowed her to wipe away most of it.Fortunately, the wounds on his cheeks and above his eye were already scabbed over.When she was done, he gave her a quick word of thanks and went to get them a room.
While she waited, Grace looked in the side rearview mirror at the outline of the city sitting on the horizon behind them.An outline that steadily blurred through her rising tears as this harsh new reality came to rest on her conscience.
CHAPTER22
Room
She didn’t say anything when he got back into the car and drove them around to the back of the building.Rounding a high fence and two trash dumpsters, he parked in an empty slot next to a steel staircase.It was when they exited the car that she realized he’d backed in.Curious, she pointed it out.
“In case we need to make a quick getaway,” he told her.
Grace raised an eyebrow at him.“Have you had to make a quick getaway in the past?”
“A few times.”
“A few?As in more than two and less than a dozen?”She got a snort from him in answer.
“We’re upstairs in two-oh-nine.”He cast her a lopsided grin.“If anyone says anything, it’s because I told them you’re my sister.”
Grace snickered.“What do you want to bet they didn’t believe you?”
