Ransom (Sue Thomas FBEye)

Ransom - Chapter Three

Jack took his credit card out of his wallet and offered it to the woman before she asked him anything.

"Monsieur Udson." She read the name on the card to which he nodded. It was close enough. "Adresse?" She pointed at a form.

He understood that part and filled in the blanks, adding Sue's name beside his own.

"Merci, monsieur."

They waited until she finished processing the payment. The lobby was cosy, and opened onto the dining room. They could smell the aroma of fresh bread baking.

"It makes me hungry," Sue murmured, reading his mind.

"I have a feeling breakfast will be delicious." He touched her arm when the woman cleared her throat.

"Par ici, s'il vous plaît," she said, inviting them to follow her.

They went up a narrow staircase. Pictures of the countryside were hanging on the walls. She took them to the last room on the second floor.

"J'espère que vous aimerez," she said, opening the door for them.

The room was painted light pink with a dwarf version of a double bed in the middle covered with a handmade quilt, and two antic dressers, one with a mirror. Jack and Sue exchanged a confused look. They couldn't see a second door leading to a second bedroom.

"Excuse me, madam, but..." He gestured toward the bed while encompassing himself and Sue.

The woman's eyes fell on the towels at the foot of the bed.

"Deuxième porte sur votre gauche." She indicated the second door on the left in the hallway. "Bonne nuit," she wished, leaving them two keys before heading downstairs.

"I'll go check the other room," he told Sue.

She watched him open the second door and paused, his expression unreadable. Puzzled, she approached him.

"Is something wrong, Jack?" she asked quietly in case the other rooms were occupied.

"I guess you could say that." He took a step back so she could have a look.

"The washroom?" she whispered incredulously.

"It would appear so," he said, wondering if it was an honest mistake or if Myles was somehow responsible. Maybe they got the last room, he reasoned, hoping Myles was above such shenanigans. "Sue?" He placed his hands on her shoulders. "I will go talk to the matron and try to settle the misunderstanding."

He expected her to be upset, instead she chuckled, her eyes shining mischievously.

"And how are you planning on doing that?" she asked, meeting his gaze.

"I...I don't know," he admitted, letting her go to run his fingers into his hair. "I could sleep in the car," he offered.

"Jack, I'm sure you're as tired as I am," she rationalized. "I can share as long as I get first break at the washroom. Deal?" She signed the last word before she faltered.

'Deal,' he signed back. "I will go get our luggage."

"I will take a shower." She returned to the room to get her towel, as he took the opposite direction.

The matron was nowhere in sight when he passed the lobby, giving him no opportunities to correct the situation. He set their bags by the dresser and came to stand by the window. The night was upon them. Fear of rejection and anticipation of closeness mixed within him. His musings stopped when he heard footsteps.