My story checkers were taking secret bets how long before I said I would start going straight through until I finished. Not sure who won but starting today I will post Monday to Friday.

Chapter 16

Mary Morrison came out of the breakfast room at the motel. She had a large coffee in each hand and her shoulder bag was, well, looking a bit heavy. Striding back to her room, she balanced both coffees in one hand, and slid the key card into the slot. The green light flashed and she opened the door, all the while stepping over a sheet of paper. She put down both of the coffees on the vanity in the bathroom. Next, she bent over and picked up the note reminding her that check-out time was 11 am.

Paper in hand, she headed back outside the room, preparing to beseech the front desk of her plea. She passed Room 115 and noted that there was a sheet of paper under that door also. There was just enough showing that she could grab it. The message was the same.

She stopped. Larry must have changed his reservation if he had to be out today. Well, she could work with this. She could clear out of her room and sit in the rental and watch for her son to come and clear out his room. She wondered where his car was. Checking every hour or so all evening, no car had parked outside the door. Getting up to use the bathroom in the middle of the night, she had also looked. No car. Where was he?

Going back to her room, she gathered all the shampoos and little boxes from the bathroom. She took the facial tissue box, the toilet tissue from the roller and also the new roll tucked under the sink. She took the fluffy bath sheet from the shelf, replacing it with an older white bath sheet she had slipped in her bag from her home. She took the batteries from the tv remote.

Taking a quick look around for anything she might have missed, she grabbed her carry-on and walking out let it close behind her. She walked to the front desk, advising them of her departure and headed out the door. Taking her bag to the car, she settled down behind the wheel and drove away.

Driving around the block, she drove back and parked to the side facing the front door, far enough away so as not to attract attention, but close enough to see anybody coming and going.

She opened up her massive handbag, pulled out a chocolate dipped donut, and began to eat.

Next she lifted the first cup of coffee from the drink holder on the dash and took a sip.

Mary Morrison prided herself on being smart but didn't seem to notice a black SUV parked a short distance away.

~~~o0o~~~

Stephanie stopped by the door to the infirmary and Maurice was standing outside. She bantered with him for a minute, checking that the family was fine. He pulled out his wallet and showed her the picture in the flap. The kids were certainly growing like weeds and she promised to stop by soon and say hi.

Maurice knocked on the door and Stephanie stepped in. Caesar was standing by the door and Bobby was sitting on his stool. He was talking to Larry who was now dressed and sitting on the side of the examination table.

Bobby smiled at Stephanie and stood up. He walked over to her and gave her a small hug then walked over to stand by Caesar.

Stephanie headed to the little stool and sat down.

Larry looked at her and a tiny smile slipped out.

"I just can't believe how much you look like your mom, Stephanie. She was so beautiful when she was young and to see you, well, it gives me goosebumps."

Stephanie sat taller. "First of all, I am my own person and you would do better to remember that. She may have given birth to me, but she did not raise me. To me, she is just a missing person who I am trying to find."

Larry almost smiled. "By any chance did you almost roll your eyes and stick out your tongue? Michelle would have."

Bobby just about bent over laughing and Caesar grinned. Yeah, she probably wanted to.

Stephanie shook her papers at him and spoke. "Focus, Larry. I need more answers."

She looked down. "Did, "and she stopped. "I just can't call her Mom, Michelle practise any religion that you know of?"

Larry thought about it. "Her parents were Baptist and I think she used to go to church faithfully when she was younger."

Stephanie looked down at her notes. "Did she need glasses to see, or have anything medical that would have required a visit to a specialist every year or so?"

Larry shook his head no. "She was so healthy, but she hated any form of exercise. I remember telling her that eventually her hormones were going to betray her because she could eat all the time and she never gained any weight.

He paused and smiled. "Her absolute favorite was cake, any kind of cake. She could be having a terrible day but give her a piece of cake, and she was a happy camper."

Stephanie grimaced. Like mother, like daughter? She soldiered on.

"Did she have any close friends who might have kept in contact with her?"

Larry thought about it for a minute. "Well, she had a pretty tight group of girlfriends but when she started dating Chuck, he was the jealous type and I think he tried to keep them from seeing her. I know that they saw her in the hospital after she gave birth, but he stayed in the room and I don't think they stayed long."

Stephanie took down the names of the girls and they moved on.

"How long did her parents live in Key West? Did Michelle go to school there or did they move from somewhere else as she grew older?"

Larry responded.

"We lived close to where her mom and dad lived, and she went to the same schools as we did. She was even in some of the same classes as Chuck. I have no idea why they started to date since they were like polar opposites."

Stephanie looked down at her notes.

"You said she had a sister. Did she inherit the house when her parents passed on?"

Larry shook his head. "She had married and was living in another city. I heard that her parents talked to her but she didn't want to live in Key West because of the bad memory so it sold when they passed away. If I remember hearing correctly, most of the money was bequeathed to the church."

Stephanie nodded her head. Now came the even tougher part.

"Ranger told me that your mother is in town supposedly looking for you." Do you want us to let her know you are safe but not give any details?"

Larry's demeanor changed and Bobby was waiting for his reaction.

"I have to vacate my motel room by this 11 today. Mother booked the room with her credit card so knows where I was staying. I bet she's probably sitting outside waiting for me."

He paused, then smiled a tiny smile.

"She booked it for a few more days, but the guy at the desk was really nice and he cancelled the last few days and gave me the cash. I think he was used to seeing desperate people staying at his place and recognized someone who had money issues. I used the last two days' worth of that reservation to buy food."

Stephanie looked back at Bobby and he was now standing alert by the door. Should she pursue more information, or should she stop?

Bobby was watching and slowly nodded.

Stephanie spoke. "Larry, we haven't told anyone you are here and if you wanted to hit us in a nasty way, it could appear like we are holding you against your will. I need to ask you what you want us to do. Yes, you did handle the packages, but there was no threat there and I'm not willing to fault you for that. The fact that you had those restraints in your room could be construed as intent to kidnap. But, and I say but, if you are being forced to do something because of emotional or financial blackmail, well, that changes everything."

Larry looked at her.

"I avoid my mother when I can and not make waves when I can't. Being in her crosshairs never goes well."

He added.

"I don't want to see her but I have literally no options here. I have no money, no place to live and no family to go back to."

He looked so forlorn that Stephanie felt the compulsion to stand up and give him a hug. Bobby was shaking his head as if he knew what she was thinking but she stayed seated on the rolling stool.

Stephanie stood up, and Bobby straightened. Instead of going closer, she stepped toward the door.

"I'll pass on what we spoke of to Ranger. I'm sure we will be in touch soon."

Stephanie stepped to the door and put her hand on Bobby's arm, then walked out.

Bobby looked at Caesar and he nodded his head to Larry, waiting as he walked out the door and with both Maurice and Caesar escorting him, they headed back to the room downstairs.

~~~o0o~~~

Leo and Franco sat in the SUV watching the motel. Actually they were now watching the rental car with Mary Morrison inside. She was fidgeting and moving around and they were guessing the reason.

"I bet she drank too much coffee and needs to go," stated Leo.

"Let's see if she goes in and begs to use the facilities, and while there tries to get more food," joked Franco.

"Won't she be surprised to learn that we've already cleaned out the room? I bet she tries to get in when the maid comes to clean the room."

They watched and chuckled as Mary got out of the car and headed for the front office. They noted her practically run back to the car, jump in and squeal away. Following at a reasonable distance, they watched as she pulled into a gas station and dashed inside.

They watched as she climbed back in and headed back to the motel, just in time to see the cleaning lady opening the door to room 121.

Mary watched as the lady closed the door and headed down the line, walking past doors until 115, where she unlocked the door and proceeded to go in with an armload of materials.

She climbed out of the car, and walked to the room, peeking in.

The room was completely empty of personal effects and as she stood there, the cleaning lady spoke to her.

Mary stamped back to her car and slumped in the seat. The men could see her pressing buttons on the phone again and again, then slamming the car into drive, she peeled away.

The two were on the phone to control for directions. Should they keep following the car or head back to RangeMan?

~~~o0o~~~

Les knocked on Rangers' door and walked in. He wanted to discuss an idea and didn't want Beautiful to hear what he had to propose just yet. She had a soft heart and would have tried to plead the case.

He stood by the desk as Ranger put down his phone.

"I have an idea and wanted to bounce it off you."

Ranger waved his hand for him to continue.

"We can't keep Larry forever, but what say we give him a phone and he can call his wife and talk to his kids. It sure sounds like he hasn't talked to them for a while."

Ranger leaned back and with his elbows on his desk chair, he steepled his fingers together.

"Okay, so we let him call them. And then what? Help him get there if he wants, set him up with a bit of walking-around money to get established, and maybe a job?"

Les nodded, excited that Ranger was already on the same page. "Yeah, that's what I was thinking!"

Ranger leaned forward. "Stephanie already came in and said the same thing. She feels sorry for him and wants him to have a better life."

Les smiled a little. The men while doing their jobs had all seemed to take a liking to the man downstairs. He was not giving anybody any trouble, he mentioned how thankful he was every time someone did something nice to or for him. He always sent a verbal compliment to Ella for her meals. He was like a drowning man being rescued.

Ranger shook his head. It was a good thing that his Babe hadn't heard the conversation. She'd probably personally drive him to the airport for a flight to Wyoming, all the while slipping him a wad of money.

He just knew she would.

"How about this. We bring him to one of our conference rooms, still keeping someone inside and let him phone his wife, and kids. Let him bounce the idea of getting there and setting up somewhere he can get a job and live a life."

Les nodded. "Well, then we all can see if he has a support network and not another situation."

Ranger picked up his pen.