The Storyteller's Muse

Chapter 18, Pt. 2 
  
 

A brisk wind flipped the leaves over, predicting rain, as Sara steered the car down an old country road, going faster than the law allowed. They hadn't spoken for an hour, with Justin sitting next to her, his spiritual form wavering, but ever present. It was a comfortable silence for Sara with a gentle friend, ready to help but not interfering. Finally, as road signs for Smithton appeared, she spoke.
 
"Here we are. I'm not sure where to start." The car bumped along a rocky lane leading to the center of the tiny town, revealing a main street dotted with half a dozen stores, offering the essentials. She spied a grocer, a drug store, and a hardware before spotting a small hotel. The street was dusty and empty. Sara parked in front of the hotel.
 
"I'll check in there." She paused to study Justin. "Can you...will you...come with me?"
 
"My dear, I'm always with you...in spirit."
 
She shrugged her shoulders and got out of the car. The wood frame hotel was not much to see, badly in need of paint and a carpenter, a flophouse, not the sort of place she wanted to be seen. Sara flushed with embarrassment pulling open the squeaky door by its filthy battered knob. A bald man with a grizzled face looked up as she entered. His eyes were blue marbles staring in surprise.
 
"Can I help you?" The eyes grew smaller.
 
Sara let loose a nervous cough. "I don't know. I'm looking for some people. A man and a woman. They may have been here."
 
The fellow's face darkened. "Ma'am, there are a lot of men and women who pass by here."
 
"No, I mean they would be travelers, looking for a place to stay."
 
"Those kind of folks don't stay here. They stay at motels out on the interstate."
 
"I guess I'll try there then. Thanks." Justin's face signalled a smirk as she climbed back into the driver's seat.
 
"I could have told you it was useless, but I wanted you to find out on your own," he said.
 
"You know, sometimes you make it very hard to trust you, just by virtue of what you don't bother to say."
 
"My dear, you can always trust me."
 
"A likely story." She turned to offer him a smirk. His company on this journey heartened her. But if anybody saw her talking to thin air! A Holiday Inn came into view. 
 
Justin craned his head to look at the motel. "Honestly, everything looks alike in this world of yours, no charm, no individuality."
 
"You're right about that. Boring, isn't it?" Pulling into the parking lot, her heart shivered and began a soft pounding. "I've got some really bad vibes about this place," she murmured.
 
Feeling a warmth rush through her, she looked to see Justin's hand on her arm, transparent but sending electrical bolts through her. "We've got to move forward, but I'll be with you."
 
The warmth stuck with her as she approached the front desk. Why did she have such intense feeling about this motel? They must be here.
 
It was a big spread with a bar to the side, spewing out laughter and music into the lobby like brightly colored ribbons. The man at the desk was clean-shaven with neat hair, cut short. He was younger than Sara,  exuding youthful innocence with his bright blue eyes that followed her as she walked across the room.
 
"May I help you?" 
 
Sara felt foolish. This was a clean, retail chain-driven establishment--it couldn't be more ordinary with its spotless lobby couches and shiny windows. How could a tragedy concerning David and Margot take place here?
 
"I'm looking for a man and a woman who may have checked in here. She would have a British accent, and he is an older fellow."
 
"I'm sorry. We don't give out information about our guests."
 
Devastated, Sara felt ready to freak. She hadn't traveled all this way to be done in by silly regulations. About to protest, her eyes fell on David coming off the elevator.
 
Copyright 2007 JO Janoski