"Hobbes, that was her. I don't understand. Why did she pretend she didn't know us?" Darien was visibly upset.
Hobbes patted his partner's shoulder. "Maybe she thinks we're workin' for the Fat Man."
"Maggie knows I would never work for him," he protested.
"It's been three years, Fawkes. That's a long time for things to change." He watched Darien for a moment. "Now that we know she's here, let's get a place to stay. We'll keep an eye on her. Even if she runs, she's not going to be able to disappear that quickly." They pulled into the parking lot of a motel down the street from the bar. Hobbes peered out of the window. "This looks good. What'd you think?"
Darien shrugged. "Good as anything. You get the room." He opened the car door and walked out to the sidewalk. He could just make out the bar down and across the street. One of the men that threw him out was standing by the door, watching traffic. Hobbes called to him from the van and he turned.
"Come on. We're in 217."
Darien followed the van around the side of the building. He grabbed his duffle bag and let Hobbes lead him up the stairs to their room.
"Hey, Hobbes?"
"Yeah, Fawkes?" Hobbes unlocked the door and stepped into the cool, dark room.
Darien followed his partner inside. "When we tracked her in Perdition, she was staying in a motel, right?"
"Yeah, little long term fleabag place. Kinda like this." Hobbes tossed his bag on the bed. "You're thinking we should check out the motels in town."
Darien nodded. "She said her name was Laurel . That was Maggie's mom's name."
"I'll call Alex. Find out what her maiden name was." Hobbes pulled out his cell phone.
"You've been on the run ever since?" Steve leaned back in his chair.
Maggie nodded. "I spent six months in Diablo, California , six more in Perdition. After that I moved to Reno and then here."
"Jesus."
"I was never sure if they were following me or if I ever lost them. So I had to keep moving." She took a drink of her water. "This is the longest I've ever been in one place. And now I've got to move on again."
"Why? Because two bozos from your old job come into town?" Steve leaned forward. "Honey, you've got friends here that will protect you."
"I'm not sure that it's them I need protection against." Maggie stood up. "Can I go home? I'd like to have some time alone."
"You're not going to run, are you?" Steve looked suspicious.
Maggie shook her head. "Not yet."
"Well, let me know so at least I can say good bye." He grinned.
She smiled back. "Deal. I'll see you tomorrow."
"It's Rigby. Laurel Rigby," Hobbes said, hanging up his phone. He grabbed the phone book from under the night stand. "I'll start calling around."
"I'll go check at the office." Darien sprinted out of the room. He entered the office with his badge out. "Federal Agent. I need to know if you have a guest here by the name of Laurel Rigby."
The man looked at him and then at his badge. "Sure we do. Nice girl. Been here about a year."
"What room is she in?" He demanded.
"Now, I don't know that I should tell you that." He suddenly looked suspicious. "Don't you need a warrant or something?"
Darien shook his head. "Nope. Now what room is she is?"
"224."
"Thank you." He nodded at the man and ran back up to their room. "Hobbes, she's here!"
Hobbes looked up from the phonebook. "What's that?"
"She's here. In room 224." Darien looked back at the door. "I have to go."
"I'll come with you." Hobbes set the phonebook away and stood up.
Darien waved him back down. "I need to go by myself."
"Okay. If you need me, call."
Darien nodded and left. Maggie's room was around the corner of the building. He knocked on the door, standing to the side of the peephole, but there was no answer. Reaching into his back pocket, he pulled out his wallet and dug the small lock pick he kept inside. A few minutes later, he was inside. He locked the door behind him and looked around. The room was tidy. It almost looked like it was empty, but Darien's thief instincts noticed some jewelry sitting near the lamp, a few books on the nightstand and some dishes in the sink in the kitchenette. He sat down in the easy chair and waited.