"Still nothing?" Anne asked. They'd been on the road for almost an hour and hadn't seen another vehicle coming or going.
Griffin twisted to look over the back of the seat. The road behind them was eerily empty. "I don't see anything." He turned back, facing the front of the car.
"Weird." Anne was anxious. Someone should have noticed their absence by now. An alarm should have been sounded. Each of them was valuable in their own way.
"Doesn't anybody else think it's strange that you three were allowed to just walk out of a high security, government facility...jump in a car and leave?"
"Hey, I, for one executed an elaborate escape plan!" Rufus puffed his chest out. He was indignate that all his planning was being ignored. Lucy gently patted his arm.
"Georgie, how did you know that tonight was the night you should make your escape?"
"One of the orderlies told me that this would be a good time to join my friends." He piped up happily. "She had a backpack ready for me and everything."
Anne slammed both feet down hard on the brake pedal! The back wheels whipped sideways, the front end shimmied as the car rocked to a halt on the gravel shoulder. Rufus cursed when his head snapped forward hitting the back of the front seat. He Instinctively threw his arm out to shield Lucy. Griffin and Georgie both yelped when they flew forward, then were jerked back by the seat belt.
Anne pried her hands off the wheel. Her eyes narrowed as she turned slowly toward Georgie and demanded. "And that didn't send any alarm bells ringing through your thick skull?"
"Beat it! You're not the boss of us." Georgie crossed his arms beligerently.
"Hey, calm down, guys." Rufus interrupted their glaring match. "Everybody is hungey and tired. Let's find somewhere to stop for the night and we'll discuss our situation."
"I'll talk to you, but not her!" Georgie sulked.
"Fine with me! Save me listening to your stupid voice." Anne pulled the car back onto the road.
"There's a motel up ahead, about 20 miles." Griffon piped up hoping to diffuse the tension in the car. Anne had placed Griffen in charge of their stops along their route. "It has a diner that's open all night."
"Perfect." Rufus nodded. Griffen beamed at his approval.
Twenty minutes later they pulled into the empty parking lot of a run down motel. A pink and green sign blazed the neon words..HAPPY STAY. "I doubt it." Anne mumbled under her breath as she climbed out of the car. "You guys wait here."
There was an old-fashion bell above the door. "Howdy, young lady." The clerk spun around while muting the TV. Anne found it strange that he was so chipper in the middle of the night in an empty motel on a deserted highway. Plus, over his shoulder the oversized TV screen was frozen on the image of a blood splattered crime scene. Creepy.
"Uh, hi. I'd like two rooms, please. Connecting if you have them."
"Forty per room."
She hated to use her new ID, so she quickly pushed the cash across the counter hoping the clerk would skip asking for any personal information.
"I'm going to have to see some identification." He counted the cash.
"No problem." Anne kept her new passport in her pocket and laid the old, fake Florida driver's license, picture side up, on the counter.
"Great." He barely glanced at the license, sliding two keys with huge wooden blocks attached to them toward her. "Rooms 3 and 4. Ice machine is broken. Checkout is noon."
Anne scooped up the keys and her license. "Thanks. Is the restaurant open?"
"Sure is. Best grits in the state."
Anne tried to hide her disgust. "Okay, then, have a good night."
"You too." He'd already turned back to the huge TV screen and unmuted the true crime show.
The rooms were identical...shabby, brown furniture, sticky carpets, moldy out-dated bathrooms and a funky smell. The group hauled their backpacks inside.
They all agreed that any discussion would go smoother after they had something to eat. Anne took their orders and headed off to the restaurant. Without being asked, Griffin tagged along to help carry the food.
As they crossed the parking lot, Anne checked that all the doors on the SUV were locked.
"What do you think, Blinky?"
"I think they have a pre-cog keeping track of us. Maybe more than one. They knew we were coming and they obviously had a reason for letting the others escape."
Anne nodded her agreement. "Too many coincidences."
They made their way to the restaurant, then sat silently at a window booth while their order was being prepared. Anne stared out the window into the parking lot. Griffin was accustomed to her falling deeply into her thoughts. He felt the outline of the taser in his pocket. He considered it his job to stay alert, protecting her.
"Okay, so, now what?" Rufus had downed two burgers and a large diet Coke. His mood had definitely improved.
Anne waited until everyone was paying attention. Lucy and Griffen wiped their hands clean. Only Georgie kept eating. Anne shrugged. Nothing anybody did was going to make Georgie a team player.
"Did any of you have an injury, maybe stitches? Or dental work?"
Rufus frowned. "Not me. Lucy?"
Lucy shook her head. "Why? What are you thinking?"
"A tracker." Griffin said.
"I don't know what the big deal is." Georgie muttered around a mouthful of food.
"Or a transmitter." Anne added ignoring him. "Some way of following us. They have a reason for letting us think we are making a clean getaway. Somebody is keeping us on a long leash."
Scared, Lucy squeezed Twiskers a little too hard. He meowed loudly.
"Hey, we'll figure it out and fix everything, right guys?" Rufus put a protective arm around Lucy.
"Sure." Anne was distracted. Suddenly she reached for Lucy's backpack. She ran he fingers over the straps and up and down the seams. She poked and pulled anywhere there was stitching. Then she started pulling everything out of the pockets.
"Good idea." Rufus picked up his own backpack. Griffin scooped up Georgie's pack and copied their movements.
"Careful." Georgie yelped.
"Why? Afraid we'll crush your chocolate bars?" Anne had had enough of his whining.
"That's not what he's afraid of." Griffen shot Georgie a look of disgust. "This is what he's hiding." Griffen jerked a walkie talkie out of Georgie's backpack.
Anne cursed.
Rufus jumped up, fists clenched. "Traitor! You could get us all killed!"
Lucy grabbed Rufus' shirt. "Let him explain." Her voice was soft, but firm.