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Chapter 3
A fter driving three hours we finally arrived in Sussex. The driver pulled up in front of the only hotel the tiny town had to offer; conveniently attached to the Black Flag pub. I looked up at the mini looking castle as Raul helped me out of the car. He hurriedly ushered me inside right to the front desk.
After signing me in, he palmed the door key and looked at me. “Come on, you can freshen up. I’ll get them to send up a tray of food.” He looked at the man standing there watching our exchange and with a flick of his hand, the man left.
I shook my head as I held out my hand, waiting for him to drop it in my palm. When he didn’t, I put it on my stomach. “I’m good, I think those peanuts were rotten back at that bar.”
“That wasn’t a suggestion, you will eat. You’re going to need the strength.”
I felt like stamping my foot, but instead said, “The only thing I need strength for is to fall in a bed.” I turned and headed to the stone staircase but was stopped by Raul putting a hand on my shoulder.
I look at him and raise a brow. “Can I help you?”
“I’m coming with you.” Placing his hand at the small of my back, he guided me up the steps.
“I figured as much; you do have the key.” A thought occurred to me and so I said, “Are you staying here as well?”
“Something like that,” he muttered, as he pointed to the right at the top of the stairs. “It’s this way.”
I followed him the short distance to room 113 and waited while he unlocked the door. Pushing it wide, he entered the bathroom, looking at every square inch of it. When he was satisfied, he ducked out and came into the main area.
Folding my arms across my chest, I leaned a hip against the tv stand and watched as he went to the nightstand and picked up the lamp. Turning it upside down, he ripped the bottom of it open and peered inside.
I snorted. “What exactly are you looking for?”
“Bugs,” he muttered, frowning.
I had to bite my lip to control my laughter. “Do you mean like listening devices?”
“No, I mean bugs.” He pulled back the pillows, followed by the blankets. “The creepy crawly kind.”
“I see.” I crossed the room to the window and pulled back the drapes. “Like what?”
“Black Widow,” he muttered, looking under the bed.
I spun around to face him. “Ahh, correct me if I’m wrong, but there aren’t any black widows’ in England.”
“No, you’re right. They can unintentionally be brought into the country, but...”
He gave me the heebie jeebies just talking about it. Hunkering down beside him, I looked under it too. “There’s nothing here.”
“Good, it’s all clear.” He abruptly stood and held his hand out to me. A knock at the door had us both looking that way.
“Food’s here,” he announced, leaving me on the floor, he went to open the door.
He pulled a cart into the room and carried the tray over to the table as I scrambled to stand. I plopped down onto the bed and watched as he uncovered the tray. He looked at the platter and selected a cherry tomato off it. Holding it up to the light, he slowly rotated it between his thumb and forefinger before popping it into his mouth. Next, he snatched up a grape and was in the process of doing the same thing.
By this time my face was screwed up, wondering just how far this man was off his rocker. I had enough of his oddness.
“What the hell are you doing?” I asked.
He had the audacity to look confused. “What do you mean? I’m eating.”
“You didn’t inspect every piece of candy on the plane like that, in fact, you ate them all in one swallow. What is going on?”
