Dissolve (10 page)

He set him on the bed and then pulled up the covers. Then he checked for a pulse one more time before turning back to us.

“His pulse is getting stronger. He will be okay in time. I will take first shift if you ladies want to take a piece of floor and get some rest.”

I was about to agree, knowing I didn’t want to share a bed with a perfect stranger when something caught my eye. My blood turned to ice as I walked over and picked up the motel card off of the nightstand. It was addressed to Nessa, Cora and Noah. I opened it with haste to read the inside.

Just in time, it looks like you’re lucky day. See you soon.

-S

Paralyzed with fear, I let the card flutter to the ground and turned. My stricken face was all Nessa needed to realize what had happened. She ran over and picked up the card, a solemn look on her suddenly washed out face.

“
Just in time, it looks like you’re lucky day. See you soon
,” Nessa read aloud even though she had heard the words tumbling through my head.

Noah instantly snapped to attention as he absorbed the note. It was clearly a threat of some kind. This person was telling us he was coming and we were like sitting ducks.

Chapter 9:

“The creep was here again? We can’t stay here. That is twice we have been vulnerable,” Noah said, his hackles clearly risen as well.

“This whole thing is bizarre and gets crazier by the minute. I am not sure where we are safe. Maybe the road is the safest place. This person clearly has the beat on us here in Panama City. I think it is time for a change in scenery,” Nessa said.

“I agree, and I doubt coma boy will even notice. I mean seriously, the guy was buried alive for heaven’s sake,” I added.

“Alright, it is decided. You and Noah get Shane into the car and I will grab our stuff,” Nessa said.

Noah and I didn’t argue and wasted no time getting Shane up and out the door. We carefully thrust him into the back seat and Noah climbed in beside him.

“No, Nessa is exhausted. Noah, would you mind driving first shift? I will stay up with you if you want.”

“Oh, of course, I didn’t even think about it. Where are we going exactly?”

Just then Nessa came out and tossed the bags into the trunk. She slammed the hatch down and approached the driver’s seat. “Noah, can you return the key?”

He nodded, but something like suspicion crossed over his features yet again. Sooner or later we were going to have to tell him what started all this. He is clearly on our side and we could really use someone to help us out. Reading my mind, Nessa spoke up and commented on my thoughts.

“Later, let’s see what Shane has to say first. I am still not sure we could trust them with that bomb, regardless of what you think.”

“You are right as usual,” I muttered as Nessa climbed into the back with Shane.

“If he tries to kill me back here, make sure Noah pulls over and beats the tar out of him okay?”

“I promise, besides you are going to get some sleep. I doubt he would kill a sleeping angel,” I told her with a slight quirk of my lips.

She gave me a slow smile and the old Nessa was present even if just for a fleeting moment. I had dragged her into something that was clearly so much bigger than us. Still, she stood by me and never questioned my involvement. I have to love her for that.

Noah returned and hopped into the driver’s seat. He adjusted the seat and the mirror before adjusting the steering wheel. Then he turned the keys with a loud thrum. I was surprised when he turned to me and gave me a playful wink before he headed onto the road.

For a while, we didn’t say anything as Nessa settled into an uncomfortable sleep. I looked at Noah in the moonlight; I meant truly looked at him. His brown eyes were tired and his face had a two day shadow. He actually looked a little sexy in a rugged way. I quickly pulled away from those unwanted thoughts, though.

Finally I was the one to break the silence. “Where are we headed?”

“South, I want to see my brother one last time even if I have to change my looks to do it. I just have to know he is safe. So to answer your question, Sarasota for a bit, and then we will decide from there.”

“I understand, wanting to see your brother. This whole thing started for us after I lost my fiancé. I can’t imagine the not knowing.”

“How did it happen, if you don’t mind me asking,” Noah prodded.

A tear slipped from my eye and soon, I was unable to stop them from rolling down in a stream. I was not sure how to answer him. Nessa said to wait, but I just felt it was the right time to tell him, so I finally broached the subject.

“He was murdered. It was the first time I dissolved. The shock was too much and I dissolved and reformed at Nessa’s. I was scared and we ran. She is truly my best and most loyal friend. I don’t think I could go through this without her. Trouble is, I got her involved and now she is forever wrapped up in this.”

“I am so sorry. I didn’t know. That is tragic. I can’t imagine going through such a traumatic experience. You two are truly strong individuals. Scared or not, you took me in when you didn’t have to. Now we have acquired this Shane guy and you two remain strong after all of this.”

I was taken aback by his kindness and was now glad I told him. It felt like such a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. I swiped at my tears and gave him a thankful smile.

“In light of that, it is more important to me than ever to find my brother and make sure he is alright.”

I turned to look out the window and a comfortable calm settled once more. I looked at the stars in the dark blue sky and strained to see the waves of the tide receding on the beach. The drive was beautiful and so blissful watching our surroundings. I thought about all the events that brought us to this point and sighed.

We were about an hour in when I heard the sound of sirens. I looked back to see the red and blue lights flashing in the rear view. Damn, just what we needed. Still paranoid, I tried to look like I was drifting in and out of sleep as I begged Noah to get rid of him as quick as possible.

We steered the car over to the curb and waited. The police officer finally stepped out of his squad car and headed toward us with his flashlight in hand. My heart was beating a million miles a minute as he approached. Noah rolled down the window to greet the officer.

“Good evening officer,” Noah said politely.

“License and registration please,” he said crisply.

Noah handed him his id and his own insurance card, hoping it will suffice since we technically didn’t have registration for the car. Then the officer returned to his car. It seemed like forever before he exited his squad car again and returned to the driver’s side where Noah was sitting.

The officer shined the light at Noah and then finally replied. “Good evening, do you know why I pulled you over?”

“No sir,” Noah said, squinting at the light.

“You have a busted tail light. I suggest you get that fixed as soon as possible.”

“Oh, we didn’t know. We will get that fixed right away.”

The officer wrote in his pad and I knew that he was issuing a ticket. “Here you go, be more careful next time.”

I was relieved and could finally breathe again as the officer slid his pad back into his pocket and headed back to his squad car.

As soon as he was out of sight, I turned to Noah. “Oh god, that was so close. Let’s pull over at the next gas station and see if we can get a new bulb at least.”

“They probably won’t have what we need. We are going to have to stop until it is daylight. We can find an auto parts store then and get it fixed. It sounds like another motel for us.”

Now Nessa had stirred and picked up the thread. “I agree with Noah. Maybe we will get Shane awake and talking before we take off again to wherever you two have decided we are going.”

“Sarasota to make sure Noah’s brother is alright. And don’t worry; he is going to disguise himself just to see if his brother is okay,” I said.

“Fine, it is whatever at this point. Let’s just find a place to stay and get the hell off the road. That was way too close for comfort,” Nessa said tucking her honey blonde locks behind her ears.

Shane was still unconscious and wasn’t showing any signs of regaining consciousness anytime soon. We pulled back on the road and kept our eyes peeled for the nearest motel in sight.

There was an old fifties style motel just a few miles up the road and we wasted no time pulling over and parking the mustang. Now knowing the situation, Noah volunteered to get us a room. I was grateful and truthfully, we probably wouldn’t even have had enough money to get by if it hadn’t been for him.

The vacancy light flickered in an out as we sat there patiently until Noah returned. “All set, we are in room one-fourteen.”

Noah returned to the driver’s seat and moved the car to the spot in front of our room. He handed me the key and I opened the door. Noah and Nessa brought a very limp Shane into the room and lay him on one of two full beds in the small dank room. Nessa and I quickly went for the bags out in the car.

“So I see you told Noah what happened.”

“Yes, and he didn’t freak out. In fact, he quite understood our tragic situation,” I said.

“I am sorry; I guess I misjudged the situation. This is all happening so fast and I am having trouble digesting it. You did the right thing and I am glad we are all in this together. It is nice having someone else to help us out,” Nessa admitted.

“Noah is a good guy. He got wrapped up in this just as we did. I trust him and I think it is noble he wants to make sure his brother is okay. We will be in Sarasota tomorrow and then we will decide what to do next.”

“Maybe Shane will be up by then and we can get some answers,” Nessa replied before grabbing the last of the bags and shutting the trunk.

We headed back to the hotel room but I still couldn’t shake my feelings about how out of control this situation was spinning. Everything was trending out of control and so many things that I never knew were possible apparently were. I was still on edge about this Shane guy and wished he would wake up.

We opened the door to find Shane tucked into bed and Noah sitting on the edge of the other one. Nessa tossed the bags onto the chair in the corner and slipped her shoes off.

“I will take first watch if you want. I slept in the car so I should be good for a few hours,” Nessa volunteered.

I looked at Noah and spoke up. “Sounds good, but I want that bed. Noah, you can sleep with mystery guy.”

“Actually until he wakes, I would rather grab a piece of floor for now,” Noah replied with a crooked grin.

I nodded and hopped onto the bed. I was so tired; I didn’t bother to change clothes and crawled under the cheap bedding and closed my eyes. The minute my head hit the pillow, I was out.

I woke to the sounds of loud snoring and realized it was Noah. I let out a groan and pulled the covers back up over my head and rolled over. I lie like that for a while but still couldn’t get any more fruitful sleep.

I sighed and sat up to see what Nessa was up to. I found her nestled up in the chair, asleep. It was a good thing I didn’t dissolve because there was no one watching out. I decided to let her sleep and looked over the rest of the room.

Noah was asleep with just a pillow between the bed and the bathroom, snoring loudly. Shane was still unconscious in the other bed, but it appears he had at least rolled over, which was a good sign.

Now that I was awake, I lay there in the full size bed against the wall waiting for daylight. My mind was boggled and thousands of thoughts were tumbling around. Why was Tom murdered? Who murdered him? Why do I have this bizarre power to dissolve? Why did I have to get Nessa wrapped up in all this?

I was so busy in thought that I almost didn’t notice when Shane sat up and rubbed his eyes in confusion. My heart skipped a beat and I tried not to alarm him when I got up and gave Noah a light nudge. Then I swiftly moved to Nessa and tapped her.

“Shane Dawson, is that your name?” I asked him in a soothing tone.

His brows knit and he just nodded. He was looking around the room, trying to take in his surroundings. Then he pinned his gaze on me. His blue eyes were crystalline and pierced my own blue eyes and he said, “Who are you?”

“I am Cora, and this is Nessa and Noah,” I said as they both sat up, still groggy from sleep and gave him a polite wave.

“Where am I? Why am I covered in dirt? Who the hell are you people? Was I kidnapped?”

“You are in a motel in Florida. You don’t remember what happened?” Noah asked.

“No, now who are you?” he insisted.

“We are a group of friends that rescued you, don’t worry we didn’t kidnap you,” Nessa said.

“Are you sure you don’t remember what happened to you?” I asked him gently.

“No, not really, I was vacationing at my family’s beach house and I heard a knock at the door. It was a man with dark hair and he said he had some news for me, so I had him in for coffee.”

Now he had all of our attention. We clearly understood that he was talking about the creepy man.