Chapter 19

            Lenny held his breath not moving. His grandfather was looking very close to where they were tucked away under the pine. Just as he thought his lungs were going to explode he turned and headed to his car. Wiping sweat from his brow Lenny turned to Flora and said “To close.”

            “You’re telling me.” Flora exclaimed. “My heart was beating so hard I thought my ribs were going to shatter.”

            Giving her a quirky smile he said “I’m sorry I will be more careful in the future, but let’s get out of here before he comes back.”

            The couple darted from the cover of the pines and quickly moved up the driveway, and found themselves back in front of the inn. They hurried to the sidewalk and power walked as they put distance between themselves and the inn. With a few blocks of separation they slowed to a normal walk and breathed easier.

            “I can’t explain it but I am starting to get a very eerie feeling.” Lenny told Flora.

            “He is probably just taking a little vacation away from the house and your imagination is getting the best of you.”

            Lenny looked at Flora with a new found admiration, which is something a mother of more mature woman would say, not someone equal his age. He did remember that girls supposedly matured faster though and her words were proof.

            “It could be, but a few pieces don’t fit. First he isn’t using his real name to register at hotels, and then there is the car that looks just like his but isn’t. If he were here just to get away for a few days why would he leave his car?”

            “Valid points, guess we need to look closer at this.” Flora said

            Twilight was quickly moving in and they still had no place to sleep for the night. Lenny wanted to stay as close to the inn to make it easier to keep tabs on his grandfather, and Flora didn’t disagree. They both started scanning signs along the route they walked. Flora was determined to find something a tad nicer than were they slept last night and didn’t care much about the expense if Lenny didn’t like it well too bad.

            Flora spotted a sign that advertised rooms at a reasonable rate, the price was not listed. The couple walked in to inquire trying hard to look older than they actually were. The room was fifty dollars a night and they had vacancies. Lenny paid cash for the room listened to directions to it and they left the office quickly.

            Outside again Lenny pulled out the money and quickly counted what they had left. It wasn’t as much as he’d like, no telling how long they would be here playing detectives. He’d figure something out in the morning; his biggest concern right now was to track his grandfather. He would start again and visit every place the old man went to.

            Opening the door to the room for Flora it offered two full size beds, like any cheap room the colors of the room clashed and lighting was minimal. At least the blankets housed no stains and looked clean enough to sleep with. Two white cheap robes hung on the bathroom door, with matching slippers. The sink held plastic cups, an ice bucket and complimentary shampoo and soap.

            They took turns in the shower and both slipped into the robes. Lenny slowly gazed over Flora in hers before laying out the plan of how he intended to visit every place his grandfather went too. Scheming in his head he developed a plan for the easiest way to track his grandfather. After a couple minutes of silence he told Flora the plan.

            “First thing in the morning I’m going to get cheap disposable cell phones, so you can rely to me. I’m going to need you to stay here so we can monitor his cell location without the computer battery dying. Basically you will give me updates via the phone of his whereabouts and I will check out the places.”

            Flora smiled and said “Seems like a good plan.” Clicking off her bedside light she turned to Lenny and told him goodnight. He clicked his off and wished her a goodnight.