Become Death by James P. Sumner

Author:James P. Sumner [Sumner, James P.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2022-09-05T16:00:00+00:00

17

21:15 EST

Frank pulls into the parking lot of a motel on Route 22, on the far side of a small town called Blairsville. The bright lights and blood-soaked streets of Pittsburgh are over forty miles behind us, back west.

We hurry out of the car, and I follow him into one of the rooms without a word. We didn’t speak much on the way here. I let Frank focus on his driving. I don’t think he’s the type of guy who opens up about how he’s feeling. But I know him well enough to know all this can’t be easy for him. He isn’t built for this life the way I am.

He closes the door quietly, then peeks between the closed blinds, eyeing the lot outside with a natural suspicion. That likely contributes to why he’s so good at what he does.

These motels all look the same to me. I’ve spent too many years living in them. Generic, plain walls, stained with time. Threadbare carpet. A dresser. A TV. Two single beds with a nightstand between them. A bathroom tacked on at the back, large enough to be functional but small enough that it always looks like an afterthought.

I shrug my coat off and lay it on the bed furthest from the door. I then sit on the edge and take out my guns, resting them next to me.

Frank finally turns to face me, seemingly satisfied we weren’t followed. He stands defiantly by the door, arms folded across his chest and his hands trapped in the pits.

Possibly to stop them shaking.

“What the hell was going on back there?” he says, demanding but patient.

I shake my head. “Me first. Where’s Ruby? Why isn’t she with you?”

He glances away solemnly. “I’m sorry, Adrian. After you left, she said she couldn’t do this anymore and that she was leaving too. I asked her where she was going. She just said anywhere that doesn’t involve your latest shit-show.”

I glare at him. He holds up his hands and takes a small step back.

“Hey, man, don’t shoot the messenger,” he says. “Those were her exact words.”

I look away, staring at the floor. I get why she left, but that doesn’t make it any easier. It just makes me angry. Angry she felt she had to leave and angry because I was the one who made her feel that way to begin with.

“You shouldn’t have let her go,” I mutter after a few moments.

Frank manages a faint smile. “What was I supposed to do, Adrian? It wasn’t my place to tell her what she could and couldn’t do. Besides, we both know she would have kicked my ass if I’d tried.”

I nod begrudgingly. “Yeah. Fair point. Sorry. This is on me. Nothing you could’ve done.”

He moves to sit on the other bed. He leans forward, resting his elbows on the top of his knees, and clasps his hands together.

“So, you saw Janine?” he asks. “Is she okay?”

I smile faintly, without humor. “She was okay enough to knock me on my ass after I saved her.

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