Page 32 of The Couple’s Secret (Detective Josie Quinn #23)

Twenty-Eight

The Majesty Motel was not even a tiny bit majestic, but it was a lot less seedy than Josie expected.

It was a two-story building with rooms on both floors.

Their exterior doors were clearly numbered.

The place hadn’t been painted in a long while given its cream and sea-foam-green color scheme and yet, it was meticulously kept.

There wasn’t a single piece of litter along its walkways.

Even the asphalt of the parking lot was smooth.

No potholes, no cracks. Maybe the owner rented the place by the hour, but it was well cared for.

Then again, a lot could change in seven years.

Like the staff. They’d spoken with the nineteen-year-old kid tasked with managing the place during the week.

He was new but he’d contacted the owner who had spoken with them via speakerphone.

No one who was currently employed had worked there seven years ago.

In addition to that, their records only went back four years.

Back in the SUV, Josie curled her fingers around the steering wheel and scanned the area.

Four other cars in the lot. Next door to the motel was a laundromat which was extremely busy.

On its other side was a bar which, at two in the afternoon, was shuttered.

Across the street was a worn strip mall that looked like it was one good thunderstorm away from collapsing.

There were plenty of cameras, but no one kept footage from seven years ago.

“You think Dalton was bullshitting us?” Gretchen asked.

Before driving to the Majesty Motel, they’d stopped at their hotel.

They had found the reports Fanning had secured from Cora’s cell phone carrier with her location history going back several months.

Her phone had pinged near the motel but no specific location had been pinpointed.

After digging through her credit card statements, Fanning had found a transaction from a grocery store nearby.

“I’m not sure,” said Josie.

“I took a quick scan of the witness reports,” Gretchen said. “There was nothing to support that she was having an affair with anyone. Maybe she was just going to the grocery store.”

“Maybe.” Josie flexed her hands over the steering wheel.

“Maybe she went to the grocery store before or after coming here. There is one thing that makes me think Dalton was telling the truth. What he said about her laughing at him. He was clearly confused. That’s not a detail someone like him would think to make up. ”

“Agree,” Gretchen replied. “Although when he first approached the car, he said she was crying. It’s possible she was just letting off some steam in private. Away from her family and friends. A lot of women cry in the car. Or the shower.”

“Misty cries in the shower. So does Trinity.”

Gretchen ran her fingers through her short hair. “It’s very efficient, isn’t it?”

“Seems that way.”

“You don’t cry though. In the time we’ve known each other, I’ve only seen you cry twice just to let off steam and not because someone was dying. Once when we were up a tree and once in my bathroom. Maybe I should be honored that I was there for both of those instances.”

“I’ll make you a punch card,” Josie said. “Witness five Big Cries and I’ll buy you a tall stack of pecan pancakes.”

“You’ll buy me those anyway.”

“I’m not keen on incurring Paula’s wrath,” Josie said but she was smiling. “You’re not a crier either.”

They were the same in so many ways even though Gretchen was ten years older. The steel in their souls had been forged in trauma. Processing it often felt like a full-time job that neither of them was equipped to handle, even with the help of their therapists.

“I’m getting better at it.” Gretchen shrugged. “You know, we could both be more committed criers if we sat with our feelings or whatever the hell we’re supposed to be doing.”

“Fuck. That.”

Chuckling, Gretchen looked around the parking lot.

“Maybe Dalton was smart enough to make up the laughing detail. Maybe he’s lying so he can distract us from the fact that he’s a violent stalker piece of shit who can’t let go of his ex-wife even seven years after her death.

He’s still a suspect as far as I’m concerned. ”

“I’m with you on that.”

He certainly wasn’t credible. The statements he’d given Fanning over the years were riddled with inconsistencies.

Josie’s phone chirped. A text message from Noah. Wren’s making dinner tonight. Said she finally got Misty’s homemade pasta recipe right. We’re going to try it.

Her heart soared and then sank in the same moment.

The three of them had dinner together whenever their schedules allowed but Wren barely spoke.

She’d never been an active participant before, despite how much she enjoyed cooking with Misty.

This had to be progress. Regardless, even if Josie and Gretchen left Brighton Springs now and broke some land-speed records, she’d never make it back in time to join them. Disappointment hit her hard.

But maybe they were also having dinner with Misty and Harris. Possibly Erica. Wren was always more animated and open with them around. Josie typed back.

Who else will be there?

No one. Just us. Wish me luck.

She sent him a bunch of fingers crossed emojis before tossing her phone into the center console and swearing under her breath.

Gretchen raised a brow, a silent invitation to discuss what was bothering her, but Josie just sighed and said, “We’ll need to talk with Hollis.”

“I’m sure he’s already back in Denton. Tomorrow we’ll track him down.”