The pale grey sky didn't promise a glorious sunrise but it provided enough light for Patrick to see that the camp was now more of a town. Population: 237 Humans - 5 Sasquatch, according to the Welcome to Hockley sign. The name conjured up a faint smile and Patrick wondered if old man Hockley was still alive. He'd have to be in his 80's now, surely claiming to be at least 106. The remaining caravans hadn't moved in years, they seemed rooted to the ground – some surrounded by weeds and rusting junk, some by flower beds. A Bigfoot diner and motel were centrally located on the main street, and a Sasquatch Souvenir Shop stood across the street.
"Nothing to be afraid of," said their dwarf captor. "They'll be bedding down now that the sun's coming up. Get out of the truck."
Patrick climbed out of the trailer's double doors, then helped Stephanie down. She was not a morning person, he noted. Despite the rough wooden floor and industrial lubricant smell pervading the trailer, both of them had nodded off to sleep during the 4 hour ride. Jane contributed that to the dim lighting, the meal they had just eaten and the rocking motion of the moving vehicle.
Stephanie brushed her hair out of her eyes with her left hand. She wished she had her computer. She wished she had a toothbrush. There were no cars parked at the hotel and the souvenir shop's door was padlocked, its shelves empty. This was her fault. Maybe she could convince them that she could help undo the damage.
"Across the street," the dwarf directed them. "I called ahead. We've got a room ready." The captor and captives crossed the street and entered the motel though a side door to which the dwarf had a key. He opened an interior door to a windowless storage room, and then unlocked the handcuffs with another of his many keys. "You, in," he ordered Stephanie. "You and I are going to have a talk," he said to Jane. "Ruth will be opening the diner by now."
"Hey," said Stephanie. "What about me?"
"I'll have something sent over," the dwarf told her as he closed the door and locked it. She listened to the men's footsteps as they walked away.
* * * *
As soon as they were out of hearing range, the little man waved the handcuffs at Jane and said, "I'm surprised you didn't have these off already. Have you lost your touch?"
"I didn't want her to know," Jane said simply, rubbing his wrist.
"It's good to see you again, Curly. You should have called; we could have arranged a party." The two of them walked down the sidewalk toward the diner.
"This visit was unexpected."
The little man laughed. "What were you arrested for? Same old thing?"
"Nope," said Jane. "Something entirely new."
"You were always re-inventing yourself, weren't you?"
Jane stopped walking. "Why am I here, Landon?"
"I'll tell you over breakfast," Landon said. He opened the door to the diner and motioned for Jane to enter.