Free Lillian Duncan - Until Death Do Us Part by Lillian Duncan Page A

registration proves this is my car. Now let me in that room.”
    The young man pulled a phone out of his pocket. “I’m calling 911.” And with those words, he hit the button.
    Frank moved toward the manager with his arm swung back. Reggie rushed up between them. “Look, mister. He can’t let you in the room, but the police can come and check on them. That’s why he’s calling 911. If there’s a problem, the police can handle it.”
    “Who are you?”
    “I’m a lawyer. And I know that legally he can’t let you in, but he can call the police and have them do it.” She held her breath, hoping the man wouldn’t slug her or the manager. “He’s doing what you want him to do. No need for violence.”
    Frank glared at her but took a deep breath and nodded.
    She did the same. Her pulse slowed to the speed of a freight train instead of a jet.
    “Look, I’ve got a man here who thinks his wife might have hurt herself and the kids. I can’t let him in the room, but someone needs to come and check on them.” He hung up. “They’ll be here in a few minutes.”
    “Fine.” Frank turned and glared at the onlookers who started going back in their rooms.
    Reggie wavered. Maybe she should stay out here. If she did, she had some control over the situation. And maybe she could get one of the policemen alone and explain the situation. Or…if she could get the husband to wait in the office, maybe she could sneak Misty and the kids out.
    On the other hand, she didn’t want to make Frank suspicious.
    Her eyes searched out the manager’s. When he noticed her, she nodded her head toward the office and hoped he’d understand. “Maybe, he’d like to wait in the office until the police come. It could take a while, you know how the cops are.”
    Confusion showed on the young man’s face.
    He hadn’t picked up on her clue. She walked closer to him, her voice low as she spoke. “No reason to keep a show going, you know. Have him go sit in the office to wait for the police, and maybe the crowd will disperse.”
    “Oh.”
    He looked over at Frank, but before the manager could say anything, Frank glared at both of them and said, “I ain’t going anywhere. I’m staying right here until the cops come.”
    Her heart sank.
    “What’s it to you anyway? You seem awfully interested in what I’m doing.”
    “Whatever.” She held up a book. “Doesn’t matter to me. I came out to get a book. Just thought you might get tired of standing.”
    Her heart pounded as she turned and walked away, hoping she seemed completely uninterested in the man and his problems.

 
     
    CHAPTER 21
     
    With shaky hands and wobbly knees, Reggie opened her motel door and went inside without a backward glance at Frank. She felt rather than saw the man staring at her. She put a finger to her mouth to quiet Misty.
    Moments later, the knock on the door didn’t come as a surprise.
    Her pulse raced.
    She pointed to the bathroom door and waited while Misty closed it. Taking a deep breath, she forced her voice to sound calm. “Who is it?”
    “You know who it is, lady.”
    “What do you want?”
    “I want to know why you’re so worried about what’s going on out here.”
    “I’m not worried. Just wanted my book and for you to keep the noise down. I’m at the motel to rest not to listen to your problems.” Good comeback.
    “Yeah, sure. You know where my wife and kids are, dontcha? Let me in, I want to check your room.”
    “If I did, I wouldn’t tell you. The way you’re acting your kids are probably scared to death of you. Now go away and let me read in peace.”
    “You open that door or I’m going to break it down.”
    The man truly was a bully.
    “You have no right to threaten me.” She said in her best lawyer voice as she glanced behind her. The bathroom door was shut. She slid the chain lock on the door and opened it an inch. “But to get rid of you, I’ll let you have a peek. Don’t even think about trying to bust in the room