‘I’ll take the first bus out sweetie.’ Mama's voice cracked.
I sniffled and exhaled.
‘I can’t— poor Connor. Where are you sweetie?’ She asked her voice watery.
I looked ahead. Matthias parked outside a quiet motel block. There were only two other cars parked out in the motel parking lot.
‘I’m with Matthias…’
‘Matthias? Well— Please be safe. Be safe my love.’
We said our goodbyes and I hung up. Matthias gazed at me, sympathy written on his face. He wanted to console me, but he couldn’t do it the way he knew how, he didn’t have the words to sooth me either.
I hugged my shoulders as we walked in the cold midnight air. Matthias pulled out a key from his pants and jiggled it in the whole. I felt like a wet dog being brought inside after a storm.
My heavy eyes landed on the perfectly made bed, the flat screen TV mounted on the wall and the bags on the floor.
‘Are you staying here? Why?’
He pulled off his jacket and landed on the bed. He hunched over like the weight of a ton of bricks sat on his back.
‘I’ve been here a while,’ he said.
‘Your Mom didn’t kick you out, did she?’
‘I left. It’s easier to be here. Mother doesn’t even know I live here. She’d flip a few times.’
He looked at the blood on my overalls. I looked away. I’d never see Comrade again. How could I live in this town again? Everyone and everything reminded me of him. I couldn’t even go home and not smell him.
Matthias showed me to the shower. I couldn’t scrub the pain away, couldn’t clean the images in my mind. After what felt like an hour, the water ran cold and Matthias' fist hammered again the door.
‘Adele,’ he demanded.
I wrapped a towel around my red skin and stepped out. I’d been naked in front of Matthias before, but this time it felt wrong. He had a girlfriend for crying out loud and I had a boyfriend before hours ago. Axel hated me it was there for me to see. Maybe he needed time to look at the facts likely pointed to me.
‘I-I left you a shirt on the bed and shorts.’ He side stepped me and walked into the bathroom.
If I went to jail how would the raiders find the heirlooms? They likely killed Comrade because he refused to say. They were using Swine… it hit me. I wrapped my arms around my waist. This won’t stop.
Matthias walked out his face dripping, top off. I blinked back, he’d certainly muscled up.
I stood, ‘How did you find out?’
He knitted his brows together, ‘What?’
‘The… that I’m an heirloom keeper. I wasn’t then, but how did you know?’
He landed on the edge of the bed and patted the spot next to him.
‘My Father told me. He knew my intentions with you. He told me about the risks of two heirloom keepers joining their families.’
He grabbed my hand and I stiffened.
‘There’s always the fear of the raiders wiping us both out, ending the keepers all together. Then I found out they discovered we were here. I should have picked you up and sent you to your mother’s—’
‘No, you wanted to be all dramatic about it!’
‘No, I threw them off your scent. The whole town thought you were a their. The raiders wouldn’t believe you were a keepers, the worst they could do is assume you’re a disgruntled family member denied the chance to protect the heirlooms.’
‘Not all members can protect the heirlooms? My entire family knew.’ I sighed, Andrin didn’t, he couldn’t really.
‘Of course mine does too. But not everyone knows where the heirlooms are hidden, like Noah. He isn’t a keeper, but Rebecca is, though she chose not to know the locations of all the heirlooms.’
I nodded, I didn’t know where they were all hidden. The last person to tell me had been struck down. Maybe it was for the best if I was ever caught. I bit my lip. Swine knew everything, he could just send the murderers my way. I didn’t even know if there were any at home.
‘Holden was denied the right to be a keeper. His sister’s the keeper.’
‘You know about him too! Who else is there?’
He shrugged, ‘Another family, but I think they all died out. I don’t know what happened to their heirlooms, best keep is that way.’
I rubbed the back of my wet head. I faced Matthias, fully looking at him this time, without hatred or anger just needing to tell him the turmoil I was in.
‘Matt…’ I spoke to him as if he was still mine. Deep down he always would be. He took my hand and brought it to his lips. Why’d he have to go and do that?!
‘Swine knows… he knows everything. He threatened me a few days ago and again at the station. He wants me to marry him or I go to jail.’
‘Marry you? What does that have to do with anything?’
‘Yes, so when we’re married he keeps me close and has a share of the heirlooms fortune.’ I bit my nail.
‘Bastard— the raiders have him in their pocket. We can’t trust the police.’
‘They’ll lock me up Matt.’
‘No, they won’t.’
‘What are you going to do?’
‘You’re innocent Adele. My problem is I can’t go to my superiors about raiders and heirlooms. They killed your grandfather and Lexa. They left a trail if they’re soliciting cops.’
‘Who knows who else.’ I chopped half my nail off.
Matthias ran a hand down my back and rested at the small of my back. There was only one bed and I knew this man well enough to know he wasn’t sleeping on the floor.
‘I don’t think this is such a good idea,’ I murmured.
‘It’s nothing we haven’t done before.’ He said, his tone playful, but I didn’t feel the same way.
‘That doesn’t make it right.’
‘Adele… I love you and I’ll never stop. I didn’t mean it when I said it was cool if you wanted to be with the detective. I pushed you away, but I never intended for us to end.’
My jaw hung open I reached for the pillow behind me. ‘That’s so stupid Matthias.’
The pillow smashed into his head, he fell backwards.
‘Damn, what’s in these things?’ I looked at the cream pillow. Why’d I get the feeling it was meant to be white?
His arms wrapped around my waist, pinning me on the bed, his weight crushing me.
‘Stop it Matthias I’m not playing,’ I said.
His face dropped down to my cheek. He breathed against my cheek I braced for his lips to caress my skin, instead he rolled over and bid me good night. He kept his hands to himself and faced the other way, leaving me staring at the ceiling, alone with my thoughts.
***
I woke up and jolted out of bed. Matthias just walked out of the bathroom with a towel around his waist. I looked at my clothes then him. My mind offered up no explanation as to why we were together. I flopped back on the pillow. That’s right… he was gone.
‘We have a long day ahead of us Adele.’ Matthias pushed back my hair.
After I showered I dressed back in Matthias' clothes. He bagged my bloody clothes. A knock came at the door and I jumped. Matthias peaked out the window before swinging the door open. Rebel stormed in and tackled me.
‘Addie… I was so scared.’ She sobbed. I held onto her needing to fall apart even for mere seconds.
Holden lingered by the door. Well now I knew these two were acquainted.
‘I’m so sorry, I can’t imagine…’ She brushed tears away from her puffy face.
‘Do you have a lawyer?’ Holden asked.
I wasn’t sure the man who’d saved me from Swine would want to represent me again.
‘I took care of it.’ Matthias said.
Holden nodded, ‘It’s not safe here Adele. There has to be a way to get you out of here.’
‘I can’t run Holden,’ I sniffled. That would compound my guilt and the raiders would only chase me.
‘I think you should stay out of this Holden, you don’t understand—’
‘I understand fine Matthias.’
Rebel glanced between Matthias and Holden. Oblivious of the gravitas of their conversation.
‘Adora's on the run they won’t stop.’
‘What won’t?’ Rebel asked.
We started at each other awkwardly, not knowing how to save ourselves. Rebel expectantly watched us.
‘I’ll handle this Holden,’ Matthias’ word was final.
I saw it in his posture Holden wanted to be apart of the legacy we shared. Knowing but only allowed to watch from a distance.
‘I asked Rebel to bring you a change of clothes.’ Matthias ran a hand through his hair.
Rebel picked up the grey bag she’d carried and set it on the bed between us. Her face wrinkled in suspicion.
‘Yeah… I chose some of my most neutral clothes.’
Rebel wore more pants and leggings than I did in a year. I liked my overalls, but liked skirts and summer dresses a lot more.
‘Thanks… sorry I can’t help out with your car for a while.’ I told Holden.
He smiled, leaning against the door. ‘Doesn’t matter. Let’s get you out of this mess first.’
Matthias shot him daggers. Nice to know Holden believed me and wasn’t leaving me alone.
Once Holden and Rebel left Matthias and I had a little problem. The major was calling. He knew Matthias had me and wanted him to hand me over to the police. Of course he refused and lied he had no idea where I was. I wasn’t sure how good that was. It bought us time.
‘Tell me everything that happened yesterday. Anything be specific on the time the smallest detail might put a dent in their case.’
I relayed everything I did yesterday. Trying my hardest to remember the timeline and anything suspicious. I told Matthias about the man I thought was following me. Wasn’t much help because I didn’t get a good look at him.
‘What are they saying?’ I asked, afraid if the answer.
His hands tightened around the stirring wheel.
‘Neighbors reported hearing a gunshot and a woman in overalls walking in and out.’
‘That wasn’t me!’ I said through clenched teeth.
Matthias hand landed on my thigh. Rebel's red summer dress was a bit too short for me.
‘I know it wasn’t. At this point the timeline will be the one that saves you. I’m only concerned about your alibi.’
‘I did speak to Rebel while I was in the car another car blocked the road.’
‘Get a good look at the car that blocked the road?’
‘Not really.’
‘Oh, why do you do this to me Adele?’ He ran a hand down his face.
‘I think we should split up Matt,’ I said.
He raised his brow, ‘This isn’t Scooby Doo. There are real bastards after you.’
‘I know, but we don’t want the major or his minions to catch us together. It’s better if they catch me alone, you won’t get in trouble.’
‘Don’t worry me, I know what I’m doing.’
‘It won’t be good for both of our families if we’re both locked up.’
‘That won’t happen.’ He pressed.
I shook my head. I needed to be alone. I needed the disaster to sink in and to figure out how I’d get myself out of it. Before I had to bury my grandfather.