Amanda froze as she looked up at the neon sign that proudly announced the King Edward Apartment Hotel. She remembered the hot shame of being evicted the last time they'd entered this cockroach resort. She and Lee had been investigating a murderer who had targeted agents, including Lee. "You have got to be kidding me." Amanda gasped. "The clerk will recognise us for sure! If not for the massive bribe I gave him, then surely we're the only ones he's ever evicted!"

"Not the same guy." Lee assured her. "Now it's one of my family."

"Well, I suppose it's better than a swamp." Amanda said, determined to be positive. She was dead tired, but even so she could see that Lee was nearer to the breaking point than she was. If it was one of Lee's family then at least they could get a few hours of shut-eye. Hopefully, they wouldn't become infested with bedbugs or some other vermin.

Lee led her into what was euphemistically called a lobby and walked up to the counter where the clerk nodded to him and handed him a key without a tag. "Room 417. I put some food and supplies up there for you."

"Thanks Mike." Lee said softly. He and Amanda trudged up the stairs, flight after flight, because the elevator was broken. Amanda supposed that even if there was a visit from agents, the fact that the tag for the room they'd been given was there would make them think that the room was unoccupied. They wouldn't bother going up so far if they didn't have to.

"No, no lights." Lee cautioned as they stepped into their room. Amanda's hand dropped from the light switch.

"Probably makes the place look better this way." She quipped. With the light of the streetlight below, they could make out where the furniture was. Going to the small refrigerator, he opened it carefully. The dim lightbulb revealed a few sandwiches and some bottles of juice.

"Do you want tuna salad or peanut butter?" Lee asked.

"Peanut butter please." She accepted the modest meal with gratitude. She hadn't realised how hungry she was. Apparently, being hunted was hard work. Once they finished, they each took a turn in the bathroom. Mike had even supplied two toothbrushes and a tube of toothpaste. While Lee was brushing his teeth, Amanda considered the bed. It was a difficult call whether the top of the bedspread or the sheets were in a more hygienic state. She was so tired she wasn't sure she cared. Coming out of the bathroom, Lee pulled her into his arms for a kiss. Though they'd been dating for a few months, it was different now that they'd finally admitted their feelings for each other.

"I do love you, Amanda King."

"I love you too, Lee. Though do you think that maybe, some day, we might get to enjoy a night together somewhere pleasant and without worrying that we might be killed if someone sees us?"

"Bo-rrrrr-ing." He joked. "Come on. We're both dead on our feet anyways. We need to be out of here by dawn so we better get some sleep."