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Forty

“ WHERE YOU HEADED?” the trucker asked after they’d climbed into his rig.

No towing companies were open until morning, so they’d have to stay the night somewhere nearby and pray Kevin and Steve didn’t find them.

“We need to find a hotel,” Grey said.

“I’m headed for Tonalea, which is less than a half hour down the road,” he said. “They’ve got a couple motels there, or there’s sleep bunks at the truck stop and hot showers.”

Grey looked at Riley, and she nodded. “The truck stop would be great.” Way less chance of Kevin looking there than at motels.

The man dropped them at the T&T Trucker Stop. They thanked him, and they got one room. Grey opened the door to reveal one bunk and a small side table.

“You really should get a bunk,” Ri said. “I know you. You’ll have me sleep while you sit on the hard floor.”

“No way I’m leaving you alone, even next door.”

“Fine, but then we’re sharing the bunk.”

“I’m fine on the floor.”

“You’re being ridiculous. We’re both just going to sleep.”

“I’ve got an idea. I’ll be right back.”

He returned fifteen minutes later with a rolled mattress in hand.

“I’m not even going to ask,” she said from the bed.

He unrolled the mattress he’d gotten from the room he’d paid for next door and settled it on the ground, spreading out the blanket he’d garnered too.

Riley shifted onto her side, propping her weight on her elbow. “I’m glad you’re getting some rest.”

“You too. I never sleep in this late, but I’m setting my alarm for eight just in case. I want to call the local tow company as soon as they open and be ready to go.”

****

“How’s your hand and leg?” Jared asked, bringing Kelly a soda and selection of snacks from the vending machine.

“Fine. I’m fine. We need to keep moving.”

“Eat, drink, and rest a little longer, then we’ll get on the road.” He sat on the edge of the bed.

She nibbled her lip. “I really think—”

“We’ve been over this,” he cut her off, popping his soda open. “We can’t go to the cops.”

She sat forward. “I think he murdered Kathryn Buford.”

“But we don’t know that for sure.”

“I bet if I do a search on the high school ring we found, with the parameters we know, we can track down another missing woman. There may be more bodies buried in the desert that just haven’t been found yet. Besides, Kathryn’s family deserves to see her murderer behind bars.”

“If we call the cops, they might discover what we did and take away the money before we can make things right. And we’ll go to jail.”

“Lance is the one behind this. He owes Claire’s family the money. They’re still paying off her medical and funeral bills. They deserve it.”

“Right, and if we call the cops, the Greaveses might lose everything we’ve worked to give them. It took five years just to find him, plus the last year of putting everything in motion. Besides, Lance’s got to have his high-rolling investors on his back with the money we took from the safe. Maybe they’ll kill him, and the problem will be solved. Now, have something to eat and rest. We’ll head out tomorrow evening.”

She frowned. “Why wait until evening?”

“Better to go under cover of night. Besides, it’ll give you longer to rest.”

“What about Brent? Aren’t we sitting ducks here?”

“The risk of being seen is much higher in the daylight. We wait and hope he doesn’t find us.”