Simple Man

- NINE -

   Iyana hadn't told Kyra about Rowan August yet. She had planned on it but Kyra was asleep when she went next door to their loft to check on her after her conversation with Craig--Or was pretending to be asleep. Knowing Kyra she was probably still up reading a comic book under her blanket with the flashlight on. Iyana was going to have to check on her in a bit because if Kyra didn't get some kind of sleep she was going to be a nightmare to wake up in the morning.

   Their apartment wasn't as nice as anything at the hotel but it was a roof over ones head. Just a tiny studio apartment where the only private area was the closet sized bathroom. It was connected to the hotel's second floor and to the convenient store down below. It belonged to Craig and he leased it out to her and Kyra at a discount when Iyana started working for him.

   Unbeknownst to Craig, WITSEC picked up the rest of the tab so their living was free. Iyana had used her paychecks from the hotel to personalize their space a bit. With Kyra's help she furnished their apartment with items they found at weekend yard sales and the church's thrift store on the corner. Food was also covered by witness protection but trips to The Rox or Galaxy Roller Rink were not and Iyana knew she nor Kyra could be cooped up in their tight apartment every night, anyone would go insane.

   The streetlights outside illuminated curtains of rain, the lightning firing up the sky pretty regularly. It was like a small hurricane hit Juniper. It was well past six in the evening and still Rowan August was a no-show. Iyana dared to hope that maybe he had changed his mind. Maybe. Could they be that lucky? She jumped slightly as the phone rang and almost just as instant huffed in annoyance. But it would seem the person on the other end of the line was about to answer that very question.

"Hello, this is Meghan with The Magnolia Inn, The Sweetest Stay in all of Juniper. How may I help you?"

"Ahhh, yes, it took forever to find this number in the phone book. I'm sorry, I didn't catch your name darlin', I can barely hear you over this music." It was a male's deep southern baritone, clearly intoxicated because he was slurring his words pretty good.

"Meghan. It's Meghan. Can I ask who's calling?" Iyana asked, even though she had a rather good idea who it was.

"Gosh you sound pretty... Oh gosh, I'm sorry I shouldn't have said that." He amended with a half laugh half hiccup, "As you can hear I'm sure I've had a little too much to drink Miss Meghan. Oh yes, my name... my name... what is... it's Rowan August. I was suppose to check-in two hours ago but I lost track of time. I was wondering if you all knew a taxi service that could pick me up? I can't seem to find anything but one and they're closed."

"Yes, he stops picking up around 7pm. I'm afraid you've missed Burl by fifteen minutes if my watch is correct." Iyana sighed, really wanting to hang up.

"Ah shoot, I guess I put myself in kind of a bind. I don't usually do this sort of thing you see Miss Meghan. I don't think I should ride my motorcycle back into town. Even though I'm sure the roads are dead that would be irresponsible of me. I guess I could walk back and pick my motorcycle up for Ozzy's in the morning."

"Mr. August. You know it's pouring cats and dogs outside, right?" Iyana pointed out, as if it wasn't obvious.

"Oh wow and so it is... I guess I'm gonna get a little wet then." Rowan chuckled sheepishly. His laugh was deep and warm, the intrusive thought sickened Iyana as she shook head before answering.

"No, Mr. August—" Iyana started, "don't you think you can wait it out some?"

"Nah, that's not letting up anytime soon. I'll be fine... the cold water will sober me up some, too."

"That's makes literally no sense, what if you catch a cold?" Iyana asked, hoping to talk him out of this nonsense.

"Don't you know that's an old wives tale Miss Meghan?" Rowan laughed, "It's sitting in wet clothes that will get you sick and I don't plan on sitting in my wet clothes when I get to the hotel."

Iyana rolled her eyes, regretting what she was about to offer but knowing if she didn't Mr. Berman would have a fit, "What if I come pick you up? I have a car and I can pick you up and bring you back faster than you could walking on foot."

"That's very generous of you Miss Meghan but I'll be alright. It's my fault I'm in this situation so I won't have you going out in this mess to come get me. I promise I won't melt."

"Mr. August—" Iyana began.

"No, I'm heading out now and please when I arrive call me Rowan. No need to be so formal with me."

"I'd prefer to keep this professional Mr. August." Iyana stated.

"So serious. We're going to have to fix that. See you shortly!"

"Mr. August? —Mr. August? Jesus Christ! What a bull-headed man!" Iyana said snatching up her car keys and running upstairs.

She made it to the loft and sure enough the light from underneath Kyra's blanket gave her away. Iyana flipped the switch and the room lit up.

"Oh no, busted." Kyra said.

"Busted is right, now since you are still awake get up and get dressed. I need you to man the desk?"

"Man the desk? What? Why?" Kyra asked as she turned off her flashlight and set down her copy of Superman versus The Silver Banshee.

"I need to pick up a new guest who is stuck at Ozzy's. He's trying to walk back and it is pouring, Mr. Berman will blow a gasket if I let him walk all the way back here."

"Isn't child labor illegal or something?" Kyra commented.

"Girl please, it hardly qualifies as labor. You're going just be a warm body sitting at a desk. We have two guests in the whole building, this new guest I have to go get will make three. There is no food available this time of night unless they want to go to the diner two blocks down. If they need towels they will call and you can go up to the linen closet and get them some towels. I doubt they'll call. Mrs. Finch is seventy-seven, I'd bet money around 5pm she was out like a light and the Parkers are newlyweds so they won't want to be disturbed for anything. Bring your comic, I don't care. But you need to hurry." Iyana explained.

"Okay, okay. Who's the new guest though?" Kyra asked as she pulled a hoodie over her head.

"We'll... talk about that later." Iyana replied, practically pulling the child out the door. Kyra barely had time to snatch her comic off the bed.

Iyana made sure Kyra's chair was adjusted and she showed her where the keys to the linen closet were, "That's really all you'll need to know since you won't be checking anyone in. Do you know how to answer the phone?"

"Hello, this is Olivia with The Magnolia Inn. The only stay in Juniper, other than that you're out of luck. How may I help you?"

"Seriously!?" Iyana wanted smack her upside the head or the mouth, she couldn't decide.

"Just kidding! Go! Go! I got this!" Kyra assured Iyana, which weirdly enough didn't assure her in the slightest.

Iyana groaned but turned to grab an umbrella before heading out into the storm. She had a headache in her skull, a headache at the front desk and a headache trying to stubbornly trek through the muck in the middle of a torrential downpour. She threw herself in the El Camino before turning the engine and throwing the stick in reverse, going up the gears as she peeled off toward Franklin Bridge.