Page 76 of Cash

“Miss Robinette, do you have any idea how fast you were going?”

“No, sir.”

“We’re not real particular about speeding on these roads, unless the driver”—he looked at my bike—“is driving recklessly. You were doing almost a hundred. That is reckless in a car, even worse on a bike.”

“I’m sorry, Sheriff,” I apologized as I scratched at my leg. That was all I said. What else was there? I was speeding back to the motel so I could cut my skin open and let the monsters out? That would have me locked up in the looney bin.

“Where are you headed in such a hurry?”

I learned a long time ago that a little truth goes a long way. “Back to the motel. I was upset and not paying attention. It won’t happen again, I promise.”

My size had an impact on people. If the fake happy smile didn’t work, the sad mopey frown did. No one could resist a tiny little woman filled with emotion.

Except maybe this sheriff.

“That’s no excuse, Miss Robinette.”

“Yes, sir.”

He pulled the ticket off the pad and the sound of paper tearing got the monster’s attention. The shame of letting Val down was one thing. But another ticket on my license would have Slyce wanting to take a piece of my ass when I got home.

“I can’t give you a warning with how reckless you were. You can stop by the station tomorrow and pay the fine, or you can send it in not guilty and take your chances.”

“Yes, sir.”

Slyce was always on me about my speed. But it wasn’t my fault. It was the monsters in my head.

You are pathetic.

Didn’t I know it. But I wasn’t making excuses. I couldn’t handle the screaming. I had to let it out and there was only one way to do that.

“Slow it down. This town can’t handle another death right now.”

He walked back to his car, and I wondered what he meant about another death. Was he talking about Rachel? How many deaths had there been?

I drove off slowly, knowing he was watching me. I would have to endure the screaming, which meant when I got back, they would require more than a small cut.

That was the problem with the monsters—they were impatient. If I could feed them when they stirred, it wasn’t so bad. But when they got like this. When the emotions they held back got to be too much for them, they wanted more.

Sometimes more than I had to give.

When I finally pulled up in front of the motel, there was a row of bikes along the side of the building, hidden from the road. It was an area you couldn’t see unless you pulled into the parking lot.

I climbed off my bike as a man walked out of the front office. He wore a cut, but it wasn’t like Cash’s. This one didn’t have the front end of a silver bike with wings on the back.

No, this one had a very familiar patch. A hooded figure with the head of a dog holding a scythe.

Death Dogs.

FUCK!

The monsters would have to wait. I just told Aspen she was safe.

With my head down, I fiddled with my bike as he walked past me. I could feel his beady eyes on me, but I didn’t look up. The patch on the front of his cut eluded me. I knew he wasn’t thepresident, or even an officer. And I knew he wasn’t her husband either.

It didn’t matter, though. They didn’t belong here and if they were here, she was in danger. I had to call Val, and then Sypher.

I waited until the man disappeared, then hurried to my room. Twisting the lock, I stared at it, wondering if it would be strong enough to withstand a heavy boot. I didn’t think it would, but there wasn’t much I could do about it. My fingers trembled as I tried to hit the buttons. When she answered, my voice shook.