They are now in Naiver community. They had passed on the Aldridge's road without any inconvenience. It is now late in the night but, the road is still busy. Miles honks his horn irritably every time the bright light of a passing car illuminates his face.
Zayn's voice booms over the car's speaker.
''The Motel is on the next left and, there is Pentagon Mall on the right. When you enter the reception area, use the name Andrew, it is one room with two beds.''
''Why didn't we just use a safe house and save money?'' It's a question he was dying to ask.
''Everywhere is full, I checked, it's unusual and- uh Dad is staring at me weird, so I am just going to go, stay safe bro,'' and with that, he hangs up.
''Well, that's weird. Wonder what Hodder is hiding?'' he waits on Jayla to answer and she snores in response.
''Just great, she drools.''
After a few minutes of driving, Miles pulls into the parking lot of the Motel.
He looks through his window, the parking lot is deserted only three other cars sit idly in the lot, he surveys the area and not a single soul is outside.
He jerks Jayla awake.
''W-wha-why? Where are we?'' she asks groggily and opens an eye. She spots the glowing red M O T E L sign on the top of the building.
''Oh, we arrived.''
Miles steps out of his car, Jayla wobbles sleepily behind him.
The sound of his car being locked echoes through the empty parking lot.
*
Jayla is the first to enter the room. Immediately she starts to pull off her shoes. Miles closes the door behind him and starts to inspect the adjacent rooms.
''I feel so dirty, but no changing,'' she collapses onto the first bed.
The fresh scent of clean laundry hits her nose; she curls up further into the softness.
At the squeaky sound of the front door opening, Jayla pops her eyes open. Miles stands at the threshold fixing his hair.
''Where going? Mike...Mickey... Miles.''
''Zach sent us something, must be food or clothes. I'm to collect it at the mall next door. I'll be back in a few minutes.''
''The last time you said few minutes, it was like half an hour,'' she replies tiredly, as she turns her back to him and silently starts to doze off.
Miles shut the door close.
*
The trip to the mall is short. There are now fewer cars on the road. The road is wet and muddy water gushes in the drains on the roadside. For the second time for the day, he tries to warm himself by blowing into his hands.
His phone vibrates in his pocket. He takes it out and checks the message.
Pentagon's Mall, First floor, Food court, twenty-third bench to the left, 6 minutes, Zach.
It doesn't take him much time to find the food court. The court is almost vacant, with a small group of people who looks like travelers and a few teenagers at one table, and a small family eating silently. He mentally counts the chairs until he finds the thirty third one. It is empty and, so are the other benches around it.
Deciding not to look suspicious, Miles walks straight to the restaurant nearest to the bench. Inside there are only two customers, a fat man hungrily stuffing his face with a burger and a lady ordering at the cashier. He decides to blend in so he joins the line and orders. After he places his order, he goes to the glass door to look at the bench. There is a small duffel bag sitting on the table.
''Sir, your order is ready,'' the cashier calls out to him.
By the time he reaches the exit of the Mall, the rain has started to pour again. He curses under his breath. The rain is pouring so hard, from his perspective the motel sign is a blur.
He did not realize when the man dressed in full black walked up behind him and swiftly slip a note in his bag.
''We are in a rainy season, yeah?'' the man now stands beside him, twirling an umbrella in his hands waiting on Miles to answer.
Miles glances at the man, he looks familiar to him, but he could not remember where. He finally looks at the man and stares at his suspicious outfit; the stranger pulls his hat lower to hide his eyes.
''Rainy season, eh?'' The stranger continues.
''Look, I don't have any coins on me-,''
The man forces a smile, '' I was not asking you for money.''
''I thought you are one of those clown things that do tricks for people's money, your outfit gave me the wrong impression.''
''oh, I am not a clown. I am a businessman.''
''Same thing,'' Miles mutters under his breath, he narrows his eyes at the man's twitching finger.
After a long silence, the stranger breaks the ice.
''Something is troubling you lad? A female perhaps?''
''Sir, can you fu- move off, you are attracting mosquitoes.''
''Oh, sorry, my bad '' he chuckles and steps aside, ''here,'' he offers Miles his umbrella.
Miles ignores him and having enough of the stranger. He decides to walk his journey in the rain. After Miles jogs off into the rain, the stranger grips the umbrella in anger sighs, and releases it slowly.
''Oh, Miles, that attitude is not you,'' he says softly to himself as he watches Miles' figure become hazy across the street. His phone rings. Without checking the ID he answers.
''Talk?''
''Boss we at the...River,'' the person on the other line chuckles at the inside joke.
''Did you find it?''
'' No, not even a sign that he has it, the house was a pain to deal with-''
''I'll be there in minutes,'' he hangs up the phone, and his disappointed expression morphs into a somewhat sinister smile.
*
Miles click the door open and almost drops the bag as he sees Jayla staring right at him, wrapped from head to toe in a thick blanket with only her face visible.
"Hi.''
He makes an annoying sound from the back of his throat as he walks in.
''Hey! You are getting water everywhere,'' she scolds him.
''I thought you were sleeping,'' he places the bags on the nearby table and goes into the bathroom for a towel.
''I was sleeping... but I got hungry,'' she lies.
"Please tell me there is something I can eat in that package.''
''I don't know, I didn't check,'' he shakes out his damp hair and sits on the edge of his bed, kicking off his crocs to the side. He shakes out his hair in a towel then pulls off his wet shirt.
Jayla glances at him then quickly looks away, the tip of her ears red.
'' I sleep without shirts, you don't mind, right?''
She was about to reply went he crawls into his bed and turns on his phone.
Jayla caught a peek at the large well-detailed tattoos that cover most of the left side of his defined chest. There is a black dagger and three hearts. The dagger seems to cut through the hearts, causing a dark red liquid to pour down.
A small bright pink heart is under the two larger hearts. The small heart is covered with miniature roses and flowers, with red-stained petals. Under the dagger is a ribbon with words written on. Words she did not catch. Curiosity burns hot through her veins but, she knows better than to ask Miles about his past.
''You had a nightmare on the case, didn't you?''