Page 88 of Hell Hath No Fury

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The drive to Akron took over three hours instead of two. The stress and lack of good sleep over the last few days caught up, forcing Emma to make a stop for coffee and then another stop to use the restroom.

By the time she pulled into the cracked and pock-marked parking lot of the Shangri-La Motor Inn, it was after eleven at night. Despite the exotic name, the half dozen burned-out bulbs in the motel’s sign confirmed its true one-star status. Nevertheless, almost a dozen cars sat parked outside various rooms.

Emma parked next to a dark sedan sitting in front of the office. As she stepped out, the other car’s passenger door opened. Emma froze, prepared to leap back into the Prius.

Until Erie City Police Detective Sergeant Cassie Malone exited the sedan.

Emma choked a laugh. “Cassie? What are you doing here?” But Emma immediately answered her own question. “Matthias called you.”

“More than once.” Cassie crossed in front of the car as the driver’s window powered down, revealing her grinning daughter. Staff Sergeant Denene Malone was on compassionate leave from her Army position following her father’s shooting a week and a half ago.

“Dad wouldn’t let Mom drive, so I brought her,” Denene said.

Cassie had been shot, too, in the same scuffle where Emma had received her concussion. “We’re all the walking wounded,” Cassie said.

Emma planted her hands on her hips. “I’m surprised Matthias asked you to come here.”

“He didn’t. He asked me to send one of the other detectives, but with Matthias and me out of commission, they’re shorthanded, so you’re stuck with me.”

Emma smiled. “Again.”

“We did so well together last time.”

“You came close to dying.”

“Close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades.” Cassie aimed a thumb at the office. “Let’s go find your sister.”

Denene waved. “I’ll be here if you need to call in the military.”

Emma and Cassie reached the door at the same time. Cassie motioned for Emma to go first. “I’m only here to look scary and provide backup.”

Emma eyed her. Nearly six feet tall and nearing retirement age, Cassie had the stoic cop expression down pat. Matthias often referred to her as half mother hen, half Amazon warrior. Tonight, Emma thought, she was acting as both.

Emma pushed through the glass door and hesitated at the sight of a bullet hole at eye level. Suddenly, having a cop and an Army officer nearby seemed like an especially good idea.

Inside, a man with a long, thin, gray ponytail hanging from the horseshoe ring of hair on his otherwise bald head leaned over a magazine. Emma caught a glimpse of naked female flesh on the page before he slapped it closed and stashed it below the counter. “Do you want the daily or hourly rate?” he asked.

Cassie choked back a laugh.

“Neither.” Emma opened her phone to a photo of Nell and held it up to him. “What room is she in?”

He squinted at the photo. “Never saw her before.”

“Don’t lie to me. She’s registered here as Emma Anderson.”

The man, whose name badge labeled him as John, pulled the magazine back out and laid it open on the counter.

Cassie stepped forward and snatched the porno rag from him. “Does your mama know you read this garbage?”

“Never knew my mother,” he said with a sneer.

Cassie held it up with both hands, clearly ready to rip it in half.

“Hey,” John protested. “I paid good money for that.”

“Tell the lady what she wants to know, and maybe I’ll give it back.”