Page 116 of Too Old for This

This was a lot easier when all I had to worry about was a body.

CHAPTER 63

I don’t need something else to think about. My focus should be on Burke. He might have yet another trick up his sleeve, right next to his liver-spotted arm.

Now, there’s Danielle. She stays on my mind deep into the night. I imagine what would happen if she did realize who I was. And she told someone.

But would she really tell Bonnie that she saw me? Does Bonnie know this is where her daughter is every night? Even worse, would she tell the police? If tonight plays out the way I expect, the police will be asking a lot of questions tomorrow. And if she recognized me, I would stand out in her mind.

Originally, I wanted Cropped Hair to remember Norma. But now I hope she doesn’t remember me at all, let alone realize who she was talking to.

I start thinking about another witness, eventually picking up the phone and calling the office. It rings ten times. No one answers.

Not a surprise. The woman who checked me in barely glanced up from her phone. At the time, I considered it a good thing. She would never be able to identify me as Lottie instead of the real Norma.

Now her lack of attention is annoying. I hang up and call again. And again. On the fifth attempt, a man answers. He sounds old and gruff and very, very annoyed.

“What?”

“Hello. This is Norma Dixon in room 219.”

Silence.

“And?” he finally says.

“Where are the washing machines?”

“The what?”

“I need to wash some clothes. Where are your washers and dryers located?”

“We don’t have any.”

Click.

I call back. This time he picks up on the third ring.

“What?”

“This is Norma Dixon in room 219. You must have washers and dryers. How else would you get the sheets and towels clean?”

“Jesus Christ, woman. We use a service.”

Click.

I call again. Three times ought to do it. He picks up on the first ring.

“There’s no fucking washing machine in the building!”

“Hello. This is Norma Dixon in room 219.”

“No shit.”

“Can you tell me where the nearest laundromat is?”

Click.

I hang up for the last time, feeling confident he will remember Norma Dixon.