Part 36 (2/2)

”I don't,” Annja said. ”Simpson's the worst kind of government bureaucrat. He's little more than a psychopath.”

”Well, right now, he's a psychopath with the proper paperwork, so I can't arrest him. Much as I'd like to.”

Jenny crossed her arms and sat down on the bench outside David's office. ”So what was this thing you wanted to show me? You know, the only reason you dragged me out here in the first place before getting mixed up with all this government nonsense.”

David glanced at Annja. But she only shrugged. ”I'll let you two handle this. I'm getting some coffee.”

David sat down next to Jenny and started talking to her in hushed tones. Annja took a final glimpse at them and then turned to Ellen. ”Somehow I think this needs to play out without any involvement from me.”

Ellen c.o.c.ked her head and peered around Annja. ”Looks that way.”

”There anyplace around here to get some breakfast?”

Ellen nodded. ”End of the street. Milton's Hotel has a little cafe on the first floor. Tell Sheila I sent you and she'll do up a breakfast like you've never had before.”

Annja smiled. ”That sounds perfect. They have hot water in the rooms?”

”Like maybe a shower?”

”I was thinking a hot bath to get all this grunge off me.”

Ellen grinned. ”You may just find heaven there.”

Annja slid her coat back on. ”Thanks.”

Outside the police station, she looked around. A few people meandered down the street, but the population seemed scarce. Annja figured most people were working someplace else and only a few would wander into town on any given day.

In the dirt in front of the police station, she could see the deep cuts made by Simpson's truck. He was clearly angry, judging by how he'd dug up bits of gravel and sand prior to getting back on the asphalt.

What a jerk, she thought.

Annja walked down the street. A small curio shop looked dark until she pressed her face against the gla.s.s and saw a small lamp on inside. Maybe after breakfast and a bath she'd come back and see if the place had anything special. She'd lost count of how many times in the past these types of little stores had yielded something incredibly interesting in the midst of the bric-a-brac.

The hotel was at the end of the street in one of those old brick buildings that seemed to dot the majority of the Midwest. It looked a little out of place here in the Pacific Northwest, but the multistory facade was a welcome sight. It had an old hand-carved sign dangling out front, weathered from years of wind, sun and rain. But something about it felt homey and Annja pushed in the door eagerly.

A stout woman approached immediately. ”Annja?”

”Yes,” she said, startled.

The woman smiled. ”I'm Sheila. Ellen called and said you'd be coming down. Looking for a good meal and a bath, I think?”

Annja grinned. ”Could I have them both at the same time?”

Sheila laughed. ”Been out in the woods, have you? I know that feeling. Tell you what. Why not go up to your room and have a soak? As soon as Ellen called, I got one of the rooms ready for you, so the tub should just be about filled.”

”You're kidding.”

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