"What do you mean? Are you worried she won't come back?" Neona asked.
"I don't know. I mean what if her mom really isn't sick? What if she just wanted to go back to West Memphis and didn't want to tell me?" Shane said quietly, the firelight shining in his eyes.
"Oh, honey, Star wouldn't do that. Shame on you for even suggesting something so crazy," Neona scoffed. "I have a feeling the only way that girl's going to move out of this house is when the two of you get a place of your own. Mark my words."
Shane laughed. "I'll do that. I learned a long time ago to trust your feelings."
Finally, around four-thirty, Star called. "Hey, Blue," he answered. He was relieved to hear from her. "You're there?"
"I'm right on the outskirts of town. I'm going to get a room for the night and make some phone calls. I just wanted to let you know I'm here," she said. "As soon as I know what's going on, I'll give you a call. Okay?"
"Okay," he said. "I'm glad you called. I've been worried half out of my mind."
"Relax! You'll get permanent frown lines in that handsome face of yours," she teased, hoping to relieve some tension. "Listen, I'm pulling into the motel right now. I'll call you soon."
He paused. He wanted to tell her he loved her, but feared that it might freak her out completely. Was it too soon? What were the guidelines for that sort of thing? He said, "Goodnight, talk to you soon."
Neona watched him expectantly. "Well?"
"She's there. She's getting a room for the night and is going to call me as soon as she knows what's going on," he said.
He sank into the recliner, breathing a little easier at having heard her voice, though he still couldn't shake the feeling of dread sitting like a bag of wet cement in the pit of his stomach. He switched on the TV and surfed through channels for a few minutes until Neona's phone rang. His quickly muted the TV and watched her as she answered the call.
Her eyes darted in his direction, and she said, "Here, I'll let you tell him yourself." Neona handed Shane the phone. "It's Michael."
"Michael, what did you find out?"
"Shane, I've made some calls, and there is no Astrid Lambert or Astrid Falconé registered at any of the hospitals in either West Memphis or Memphis. Have you heard from Star yet?" Michael asked.
"Yeah, she called a few minutes ago," Shane told him. "She was getting a room for the night."
"Did she happen to tell you where she's staying?" Michael said.
"No, she just said she was at some motel on the edge of town," Shane said, dragging his fingers through his hair. "I'll try calling her back to find out."
"Okay, good. In the meantime, I'll reach out to my buddy down there, and get to the bottom of this, I promise," Michael said before ending the call.
Shane took out his phone and dialed Star's number. The call went straight to voicemail. "Star, call me as soon as you get this," he said.
Chapter Forty-Three
It was late afternoon when Star pulled into the Perkins Motel on the north side of West Memphis. Other than filling the car with gas once, she hadn't stopped during the drive, and her legs felt like rubber by the time she got out of the car. The motel had seen better days, but she didn't plan to spend more than a night or two.
At first, she thought she'd get right to the point of her visit the moment she arrived in town, but decided to wait until the morning; she didn't want to be caught out after dark. Derek had left a brief message earlier, checking to see whether or not she planned to make the trek. She figured that information was on a need to know basis...and he definitely did not need to know.
After a long relaxing shower, Star pulled on one of Shane's t-shirts that she'd snatched from Neona's. She inhaled his familiar scent and closed her eyes. She smiled as she remembered how he'd held her down and tickled her until she nearly peed herself that morning.
The battery in her cell had died, and she realized that in her haste to leave earlier, she'd forgotten to pack her charger. Remembering the one in her car, she zipped barefoot out of the motel room and plugged it into the cigarette lighter for the night.
***
The next morning, Star dressed in a pair of jeans and a well-worn hoodie, going for comfort rather than glamour. She left her things in the room and walked down to the office to ask them to hold it for her for another night, just in case she wanted to stay. When she climbed in her car to leave, she unplugged the phone and saw that she had a couple of missed calls, one from Shane and one from Derek.
Her pulse pounded in her ears when she heard Shane's voice. He sounded strained, almost agitated but didn't elaborate why. He merely asked that she call him as soon as she could. When he didn't pick up, she left a message telling him she'd try back later.
She didn't fare any better at reaching a live person when she tried to call her mom. When Astrid didn't answer, Star decided to drive over to the house and see for herself what was going on. As she coasted to a stop in the driveway beside her mom's car, she could have sworn the front curtains moved, as though someone was watching out the window.
Star sighed and turned off the ignition. She walked up the steps and rang the doorbell. When no one answered, she knocked and then tried the handle. Finding it unlocked, Star stepped inside and called out, "Mom? Hello? Anyone home?"
"Back here," called her mother, followed by a couple of feeble coughs.
Um, yeah like that wasn't totally fake. She walked down the hall toward Astrid's bedroom, and the door was open a crack, so she stuck her head inside. "Mom?"
"Oh, Estelle, hon, I'm sorry, I didn't hear you knock. I've just been awful sick," Astrid said.
"I thought you were in the hospital, Mom," Star said, folding her arms in front of her chest. "In fact, Derek made it sound like we should be asking Father Connelly to give last rites."
"Derek's just been so lost without you. He means well, I know he does," Astrid said. "I'm afraid he might have exaggerated a teensy bit, hoping you'd come home, give him a chance to talk to you. Set things right between the two of you."
"Yeah, Mom. Not going to happen," Star said. She threw her hands in the air and groaned. "I can't believe you guys lied to me."
"Now, baby doll, we didn't mean no harm," Astrid protested.
Star tugged her fingers through her hair and sighed. "God! How could I have been so gullible?"
Astrid gave her daughter a thin-lipped smile. "It's good to see you, honey. Now that you're here, won't you at least talk to him?" Astrid asked.
Star spun on her heels and narrowed her eyes. "When are you going to get it through your head, Mom? Derek and I are never getting back together. In fact, I wouldn't wish that man on my worst enemy."
"You could do so much worse than Derek," Astrid said. She threw back the covers and padded across the floor where Star stood glaring at her. "He has a good job; he brings a paycheck home every week. He'd take care of you in your old age. You're not getting any younger, you know. The older you get, the slimmer the pickins."
Star's jaw unhinged. "I don't believe you. Seriously, do you even hear yourself? I should stay with him, because being with a raging alcoholic is so much better than being alone? Do you realize how pathetic you sound?" Star was furious, and she was yelling by the time she'd said her piece. "I'm leaving now, Mom. Do me a favor? When you really are on your death bed? Don't call me."
"Now, sugar, that's just hateful!" Astrid whined, following Star as she stalked toward the front door.
Star held up her hand and said, "Save it, Mom. You know what? If you think that no good sonofabitch is so great, maybe the two of you should hook up. I mean, after all, he is a hard worker, and he could provide for you. You're not getting any younger, you know."
With that, Star stormed out of the house, slamming the door in her mom's face.
Astrid was taken aback by Star's behavior and jerked open the door to follow her out to her car. "I raised you better than to be so ungrateful!" she sniffed.
"I don't even know what to say to you right now." Star la
ughed bitterly and leaned against her car.
"What was I supposed to do? You took off, didn't bother to tell me where you were going. I had to find out from my own sister that you lied about Iowa. Do you know how embarrassing that was for me?"
Star closed her eyes and shook her head. "When the hell are you going to realize that it's not all about you? Did you ever stop to think that maybe I didn't tell you where I was going because I didn't want to be found?" Star turned to leave. "Go back inside, Mom, you'll catch your death out here in that nightgown."
Astrid hugged herself, and for once, she was left speechless. She watched her daughter back out of the driveway and speed off down the street.
Star dialed Shane, and he answered on the first ring. "Blue, thank God. I've been going out of my fucking mind with worry."
"I'm okay, and so is my mom, apparently," Star said. "Other than being totally insane, anyway."
"You've talked to her then?" Shane asked.
"I just left her house, and yeah, she's not sick. Not physically, anyway. It was just some bullshit story that her and Derek cooked up to get me to West Memphis so they could try and talk me into moving back," she said.
"I'm sorry you had to go through that alone," he said softly. When are you going to be home?"
Star could almost imagine the feel of his strong arms wrapped around her. "I'm going to swing by Crow's Landing, say hi to Sandy and Taylor, and get a quick burger before I head out. I should be home by six. Seven at the latest," she promised.
"Stay safe, Beautiful," Shane told her.
"Don't worry, I will. See you soon!" she said.
Chapter Forty-Four
Astrid trudged back inside, torn between having her feelings hurt and being downright pissed at Estelle for the nasty remarks she'd made. As soon as she was in the house, she grabbed her phone and called Derek. She figured he was at work but she'd leave him a message, and she was surprised when he answered.
"Oh. I thought you'd be working," she said.
"I called in. I wanted to be around in case Estelle came home. Have you heard from her at all?" he asked.
"She's in town. She just left here," Astrid told him. She stared down at her nightgown and picked at a loose piece of fuzz. "I don't think she wants to talk to you, Derek."
"What the fuck, Astrid? She was there, and you didn't fucking call me?" he roared. He was already reaching for his coat and keys, hell-bent on finding Estelle before she left town again.
"Well, now, what was I supposed to do? Just pick up the phone while she was in the middle of yelling nasty things at me, and invite you over for coffee?" Astrid shouted.
"Astrid, I can't let her leave without talking to her," he said. He started his truck and pulled away from the curb in front of his house. "Did she say if she was leaving right away?"
"She didn't say. I'd be surprised if she didn't stop to see her friend from the bar before she goes, though," Astrid said quietly.
"I'm going to drive around. See if I can find her," Derek said. "She couldn't have gotten very far yet."
"Maybe you should just let her go," Astrid urged, second-guessing her decision that Estelle and Derek should get back together.
"No can do, Astrid. I've said it before, if I can't have Estelle, no one will," he said determinedly.
"She's driving a different car, a little white thing. Ford, I think," she said. "Maybe that'll help you find her."
Derek had an uncanny sixth sense when it came to Estelle. He knew she wouldn't come back to town and not see her buddy, Taylor. So, that's the first place Derek looked. Crow's Landing opened at ten during the weekdays for the lunch crowd, and they served the best greasy burgers around.
There were already a few cars parked behind the building when he drove by. He narrowed his eyes and quickly scanned the lot. He'd almost driven past it when he spotted a small white Ford Focus sitting next to Taylor's beat-up Buick.
Derek went down the street, made a U-turn and parked a couple of blocks away, where he wouldn't be as conspicuous. He turned off the engine, and slouched in the seat to keep an eye on the parking lot from where he sat. He wasn't welcome in the bar after the incident with Roxy, even though no one could prove he'd had anything to do with her unfortunate mishap. He couldn't go inside the bar and confront Estelle. There were too many people around for them to talk, and too many witnesses for him to teach her a lesson if she refused to see things his way.
With his arms draped over the steering wheel, he leaned forward so he had an unobstructed view. There was only one way out of the parking lot, and he knew he wouldn't miss her when she left. He rested his chin on his arms and kept watch.
***
Star walked into the dimly-lit barroom, feeling all eyes turn and stare as she did. The early lunch crowd was light, and her eyes scanned behind the bar, searching for Taylor or her former boss, Sandy.
They saw each other at the same moment, and his face lit up. He tossed the bar rag onto the counter, and in two giant strides, had her gathered up in a larger-than-life hug. "Stelly, is it really you?" He beamed down at her.
"Yep, the one and only!" she said as he swung her off her feet. She felt her cheeks warm and told him, "Now, put me down, people are starting to stare."
Sandy appeared by her side as soon as Taylor sat her down. "Estelle, tell me you've come to ask for your old job back," he said. "We sure have missed you around this place. The guys don't seem to like looking at Taylor's ass as much as they did yours."
Star tipped her head back and laughed heartily. "I'm just here long enough to get one of your famous cheeseburgers and some fries, Sandy," she told the man.
"I'll get right on that, sweet-pea," he said. He strode toward the kitchen, leaving Star and Taylor to catch up.
Star followed Taylor to the bar and took an empty stool to wait for her food. He picked the bar rag back up and began wiping down the bar. "You want something to drink, Stelly?" he asked.
"Just a diet soda," she said.
He poured her the soda and stared down at his hands. "Roxy stole my phone and got your number, Stelly. I felt awful about that."
"I know, Taylor. It's okay." She reassured him with a soft smile. "I'm going to need your new number, though. You did get a new number, right?"
He nodded. "Yeah. I couldn't even really be mad at Roxy for taking it, considering how bad she got beat up that night."
It was Star's turn to avoid eye contact. She stared down at the chipped paint on her fingernails. "My ex is a dangerous man. She's lucky he didn't kill her. I guess we were both lucky in that respect, huh?"
"Roxy never admitted he was the one who beat her," Taylor sighed. "Everyone knows, though. Sandy's so mad about it he can't even see straight. If Derek knows what's good for him, he won't show his face in here again."
Star nodded. Sandy put a plate heaping with fries and a burger so big it took both of her hands to hold it. She shifted her gaze to Sandy and said, "Thanks, Sandy." Her attention moved between the two men. "I keep hoping that karma takes care of him, so no one else has to. He's definitely not worth going to prison over."
Sandy's eyebrows drew together, and he leaned closer to Star. "That's only if someone gets caught, darlin'," he said evenly. He reached over and squeezed her hand. "Sure is good to see you, Estelle. Don't be a stranger, now, you hear me?"
"Okay, Sandy," she said, giving him a weak smile. Something told her this was probably the last time she'd be sitting at the bar in Crow's Landing for a while -- if ever.
When she finished eating, she laid a twenty dollar bill on the bar and sat the empty plate on top of it so she would be able to get out the door without Taylor insisting she put the money back in her pocket.
As she got up to leave, Taylor called out, "Wait up, Stelly, I'll walk you out."
She waited for him by the back door and together they walked to her car. "Damn, girl, you got yourself a new ride?"
Star bit her lower lip and nodded. "Yeah, the Honda died on me."
Taylor
hugged her tightly and rested his chin on top of her head. "It was sure good to see you, Stelly. I miss my working buddy."
She stood on her tip-toes and kissed his cheek. "Miss you, too." She opened the car door and got in. "What's your phone number?" she asked him, picking up her cell to type it in.
A few minutes later, she watched Taylor waving goodbye in her rearview mirror as she pulled out of the parking lot. She had one more stop to make, the motel to get her things, and then she would be on the interstate headed north.
Her thoughts were too preoccupied with getting home to Shane, and putting West Memphis behind her forever, to notice the pickup following her from Crow's Landing to the motel.
Chapter Forty-Five
The day was overcast with the kind of cold that reaches inside you and wraps its icy fingers around your bones. Star couldn't shake the chill she had been carrying with her since she'd left Crow's Landing. A deep sense of dread crept over her. She wasn't sure if it was the lack of sun or something else, but whatever it was, it made her more anxious to gather her belongings and get the hell out of there.
She hurriedly parked and climbed from the car, leaving the driver's door standing wide open with the keys in the ignition chiming annoyingly. She unlocked the motel room door and stepped inside. She didn't bother to pull it closed behind her...she was only going to be a minute.
Star threw everything into her overnight bag and walked into the bathroom to make sure she had everything. She figured it would be a good idea to pee before she got back on the road since she knew she wouldn't want to stop any more than necessary.
After checking behind the shower curtain for any of her personal belongings, she swore she heard something, just a slight noise, something indiscernible, from the other room. She held her breath and stood frozen in place while she strained to listen. When she heard nothing further, she shook her head and chalked it up to being paranoid. Then, she recognized the unmistakable snick of the deadbolt as it clicked into place.
Panic washed over and the blood drained from her face. Her brain scrambled, and she tried to think as her heart raced out of control when the fight, or flight adrenaline pumped rapidly through her veins. Something moved, a shadow out of the corner of her eye, and her attention drifted up to the mirror over the sink.
The Heart Knows What the Heart Wants Page 17