Dwight followed her into the elevator and waited. He didn’t understand why she had to come and get him. She should have just told him her room number. When the elevator stopped, he was confused when the doors didn’t open. Jean put her room key into a slot on the floor button board and the doors opened. “What?”

“Yeah! Right? This is so cool.”

He followed her out of the elevator into a hall that was decorated over and above the floors below. “Where…”

“Eighteenth floor, Dwight. The high roller floor.”

She put the card in the door and let him into her room. But it wasn’t really a room. It was a… he didn’t even know. A suite? Better than any suite he’d ever been in. The view through the windows across from the door was eye-popping. He turned slowly on carpet so soft he wanted to immediately take off his shoes. As he turned, there was a chrome and glass dining table with matching chairs, two on a side. A kitchen on the far wall surpassed his own, in chrome and granite, all of the appliances were in brushed steel. The living room was dominated by a humongous flat-screen tv and a leather sofa square in front of it with matching arm chairs to either side. “Wow.”

“You should see the bathroom. Right out of the Arabian Tales.”

Dwight was disappointed that she wanted to go right back out. He could have camped here forever. Instead, they headed out to get her some clothes to wear tomorrow. Fair enough. No one wanted to wear the same clothes several days in a row. So he followed her out and down to the garage where they got into her car and headed off to the nearest Walmart.

He had to admit her Prius handled well. He’d never really even thought about buying an environmentally friendly car, but it was very comfortable and after he got used to the fact the engine shut off at the traffic lights, thought it may be a possibility when it was time for his next car.

The shopping was the usual drag but one thing he liked about his ex, she didn’t dilly-dally in the store. She went directly to the women’s clothing section, bought what she needed and then went to the pharmacy section to get small bottles of shampoo, toothpaste and a toothbrush, and a hairbrush. He had to admit, he far preferred her simple routine. That was one thing Dawn did differently. She needed at least forty-five minutes to get ready to go anywhere. Again, he wondered what he’d been thinking when he left Jean.

Lunch was fun. They talked about Jim and the grandkids, their time in the Air Force and what Arizona was like. Back in the car, he was a little sad that the day with her was coming to an end. Then she called his attention to their right as he was getting ready to pull out of the parking garage.

Fletcher? What was he doing out here? Everything behind the casinos was run down and sketchy. Jean’s suggestion to follow him took Dwight by surprise. That seemed like a terrible idea and he said so.

A car behind him forced his hand. He pulled out and to the right and tried to argue Jean out of the foolishness of following Fletcher. It was too late. Jean was like a hound on the scent. He followed Fletcher, trailing him as far back as he could. His heart was pounding. Jean had been attacked and her room ransacked. He did his best to keep an eye on everything he could. He didn’t want to get killed any more than the next guy.

After they saw Fletcher go into a building he agreed to cruise by so Jean could get a look. She never did answer if she did this kind of thing in Greyson. He turned around after they drove by the building and parked far enough away from the building to be safe but still within sight distance. His adrenaline was flowing, making his hands a little shaky. As far as he was concerned, sitting here was a huge mistake but Jean was intent. He’d never seen her like this. It was like she was giving off sparks. Dwight wondered that her hair wasn’t standing straight out she was so wired. 

Next Chapter: Chapter Seventeen