Free Rachel's Rebellion (Moss Bayou) by GiGi Duvall

looked at the hotel’s entrance and then cast another
glance at Heather. The only response she got was a shrug of Heather’s shoulders
as she found a parking space. She watched her in disbelief. Heather really
wasn’t going to say anything. This must be the secret that has Luke’s big boy
drawers in a knot. Shutting off the engine, Heather grabbed her purse and a
backpack from the backseat. Casting a glance at her, Heather took a deep
breath.
    “Follow me,”
she said as she reached for the door handle.
    Rachel had a
lot to say to that, but instead reached for her own door handle and exited the
car. Heather thumbed her remote, locking the car and motioned her to follow.
With Heather leading the way, they made their way to the door of the room
Heather had parked in front of. The door with numbers reading one seventeen on
a small gold colored plate was where Heather knocked. She didn’t have to wait
long.
    “Heather.”
Tyler Devlin gave a small smile as he pulled her into the room. Ty looked like
he’d seen better days. Rachel saw the smile was placed over a tear-stained
face. It took him a moment to realize Heather wasn’t alone. “Heather?”
    “I can’t do
this alone, Ty. I need help. I need Rachel.” Heather gave her a quick look.
“She can keep a secret.”
    Ty looked at
Rachel and she tried to give him a look of reassurance. The truth was, she
didn’t know what she was walking into. She wasn’t sure if reassurance was
something she could offer.
    “How is
she?”
    Ty looked at
Heather once more. “Not good. Anymore.”
    Heather pushed
passed Ty and Rachel walked in as well. The room was quiet and dark. Only a
slice of light from the slightly ajar bathroom door cast a bit of a glow into
the room. She waited for her eyes to adjust. Then her attention focused on the
bed. There was someone lying very still on the bed. Ty began to sob. It was a
heart wrenching sound coming from someone who always laughed and enjoyed life.
She looked at Ty but her eyes but her eyes quickly returned to the bed.
    “I tried.”
Ty took a big breath. “I really tried. It was too late.” He wiped the back of
his hand across his face. “I was too late.”
    Rachel
scanned the darkened room. “Too late?” Her heart hammered. “Who’s on the bed?”
    Ty dropped
himself onto the long dresser against one wall and continued to sob. Big, body
shaking sobs. She wanted to go over to the figure on the bed, but Heather was
already there, grabbing an arm. Rachel realized Heather was looking for a
pulse.
    “Heather?”
    Heather
shook her head as she moved her hand from the slender wrist she held and went
toward the person’s neck. Rachel still couldn’t see who it was. Whoever she
was, she lay on her side with the blankets pulled high as pillows blocked her
view. She watched Heather while Ty’s sobs filled the quiet darkness.
    “She’s
gone.” Heather replaced the blanket she had moved enough to work. “We tried,
Ty.”
    “Who?”
Rachel demanded. She wanted to know who and why. Now.
    Heather cast
a glance at Ty, who didn’t bother to quiet the wrenching sobs and then looked
at her. “It’s Laurel.”
    Rachel was
stunned. “Laurel Cross is in New York.”
    “That’s what
she told her family.” Ty stood as he whispered the words. “Laurel was hooked.
She was trying to get clean. I tried…I really tried.”
    “The addiction
was stronger than she was, Ty.” Heather went to him and wrapped an arm around
him.
    “Sometime
between when I left around five and thirty minutes ago she found a fix
somewhere.” Ty shook his head. “I was only gone a little while. She had been
making progress.” He wiped tears from his face. “I wanted to get her something
to eat. She wanted shampoo…”
    “We have to
call the police,” Rachel finally said.
    “Yes, we
do,” Heather agreed as she wrapped Ty in a hug.
    “I’ll do
it,” Rachel volunteered. “You take care of Ty.”
    Rachel went
for her purse as Heather motioned Ty toward