Four Lights Motel

Chapter 3

    I had two more interviews that day, and after Moira I prayed to everything that was Holy and powerful to make the other interviews far more successful. And shorter.

    I had time to kill until my next interview, which would take place further into town with Father Daniel Prior. I was looking forward to his interview, he seemed a very open minded man who apparently saw great deal of the second victim. Perhaps the conversation would go in a more pleasant direction.

    I pulled out my phone, the screen lit up with two missed calls. Dean had called back finally, but I wasn't too eager to speak to him. Not until I had something solid. I did want to talk to my brother, however. Mason was a much more relaxed personality. A party boy some would say, but his work ethic never failed to amaze me. There were times when I envied his almost supernatural ability to balance work and social life in a flawless manor. He worked in advertising, his boss loved him, he spent every weekend with his live-in girlfriend Mallory, our parents saw more of him than they did me, and somehow he managed to bar hop twice a week with no complaints from any corner.

    Then there was me, with a job on the line and no girlfriend to speak of.

The phone didn't have a chance to ring once before he picked up.

    "Big bro! What's the deal, man?" he said, sounding like a drugged teenager. I cracked a smile. You couldn't remain stone faced too long with Mason.

    "Hey Mase," I chuckled. "You picked up quick. I thought you had a presentation today?"

    "Oh that was done like, two hours ago." Of course, it was. "I got through it pretty quick. Dave loved it." Of course, he did. "You'd be seeing the new billboards in about a month." Of course, I am.   

    "That's great," I smiled through gritted teeth. "I'm really happy for you."

    "Thanks, Garrett," I could hear the grin. "I'm taking out Mal tonight to celebrate. How's your story going? Any juicy details yet?"

    I sighed. "Well, a few interesting ones that have potential. Like the last kid that went missing, the old owner at this diner says he went nuts, believed someone was after him."

    "Drugs?"

    "That's what she thinks. Didn't bother to call the cops or the hospital even though the guy begged her to."   

    "That's messed up. Did they find him?"

    "Yeah. Two kids found his mangled body. The paper said he had nothing on him. No wallet, no ID. They had to look into the dental records."

    "Damn. Did you tell Douchebag Dean?" Mason did not know Dean by any other name. They met once, Mason hated him and the name had been practically carved in stone.

    "Nothing solid yet. Apparently, the last person to see the guy was this girl who runs the motel I'm staying at, and the victim Jake Harvill was staying there as well. I'm going to ask her a few questions when I get back."

    "Is she hot?" I heard the snigger on the other line. I rolled my eyes, but couldn't help but smile myself.

    "I guess by your standards, yes," I said. "Yes she's very pretty. Intense blue eyes."

    "Ah. We've noticed the eyes. That means you need to ask her out. Pronto. ASAP. Anything that encourages immediate dating."

    I laughed. "Yeah, I'll get right on that. Anyways, my next appointment is up. I'll call you later."

    "Keep me updated!"

With that I hung up the phone. I chatted a little too long, and was already five minutes late. I hoped Father Prior was a forgiving man.