“Michelle Mix?” he said when he was close enough to Michelle but far enough away from others to hear. “My name is Derek Cole, and I’ve been hired by Ken O’Connell to verify your location. I want to let you know that I’m going to tell Mr. O’Connell that you checked out of this resort before I arrived.”

Michelle’s deep eyes just stared back at Derek’s. She said nothing, but nothing needed to be said.

“I’ve checked in under the name Robert Mendelsohn and have reservations for another night. I know your husband is ill and weak, but I am willing to help you two move into my room. I’ll take care of checking you out.”

“Why are you doing this?” she said as tears reluctantly filled her eyes.

“You don’t deserve what my client wants to put you through. Honestly, I don’t know what your husband deserves, but whatever it is that he does deserve, I think he is already experiencing it.”

“Will Ken believe you?”

“He will. I can be a very good and convincing liar.”

“My husband is hungry. Can we move after he eats?” she asked, revealing how vulnerable she felt her position was. She recognized that all Derek need do is to contact Ken O’Connell, let him know that he’d found them and within hours, the little time Stanley had left in this world would be spent in a living hell of embarrassment, police questioning, possibly being arrested, and who knows what else. Michelle knew what Derek was offering was her only chance to spend the rest of her husband’s days with him in relative peace.

“Of course,” Derek answered. “And I would like to fill you in on what has happened over the last couple of days.”

“No offense, Derek, but I don’t really want to know. I know that Alexander Black escaped from wherever Straus held him captive, and I know that he’s killed several people.”

“I’m not sure who did the killing, actually.”

“I hope I’m not being rude, considering all that you are offering to do for my husband and me, but, please, I don’t want to know.”

“Fair enough,” Derek said. “Bring up your breakfast, enjoy it with your husband. Then, move your things to room 421,” he said as he handed over the credit-card style room key. “If you need help moving your things, tell me now because I am leaving as soon as you head up to your room.”

“No,” Michelle said, shaking her head. “I’ll be fine. But how long is your room reserved for?”

“One more night but I’ll see now if I can extend it a few more days. How long do you think you need?” As he asked, Derek wondered if the more appropriate question would have been “how much longer do you think your husband has left?”

“I’m not sure,” Michelle said. “A few more days should be fine. I don’t know. I do know that we can’t stay here forever.”

“If you give me your cell number, I will text you updates.”

“Fine,” she said. “But know that I only check my messages early in the morning and only for a minute. Two at the most.”

“Understood.”

Derek wrote down Michelle’s cell number on the back of his hand and assured her that Ken O’Connell would be told that she and Stanley had checked out early in the morning and that he was unable to track them.

“Thank you,” Michelle said, her eyes offering all the gratitude that Derek needed. “I can give you cash for the room if you’d like.”

“No thanks. Give me two minutes to see how long I can extend my room reservation,” he said as he turned away towards the front desk. “And, Michelle?”

“Yes?”

“I know that neither you or your husband are proud of the role you played with Alexander Black, but I also feel that you don’t deserve Ken O’Connell’s revenge or Alexander’s. Take care of your husband, and remember to take care of yourself as well.”

Before Michelle could respond, Derek had moved away.

She stood and watched him speaking to the man at the front desk. A minute later, Derek turned, held up four fingers and mouthed, “Four nights. God bless.”

The clerk then waved to Michelle who waved back. Derek mouthed the words, “You’re all checked out.”

“Thank you,” Michelle silently said to Derek, then turned towards the elevator. “Thank you, Derek Cole.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

“If I knew where they were going, I would have followed them. They must have left very early in the morning. I was up at five, and they were already gone.”

The lies were effortless for Derek. It was not because he was familiar with being untruthful, but this ability to be overly creative with the truth came from his own experience. Though he knew nothing about Michelle and Stanley Mix, he saw a familiar pain in her eyes. Pain that needed to be helped.

“Did you get a look at Stanley?” Ken asked during his and Derek’s call.

“I did. He doesn’t look well at all. I don’t think he has much time left,” Derek answered.

“They may have checked into a nearby hospital. Spend the day checking out any hospitals in the area and don’t neglect to call on some Canadian ones as well. I believe you are just a boat ride away from Canada.”

“Yes sir,” Derek said as he pulled his car into drive and headed south, away from Canada. “Any important discoveries since yesterday?

“My resources are telling me that Lucietta may have been murdered in his office yesterday afternoon. Nothing confirmed yet. Police are keeping things quiet now. Too many connected murders. They probably don’t want the public to know what the hell is going on.”

“If Lucietta is gone, that leaves Straus and Mix as the only remaining doctors on Alexander’s list.”

“As well as my family. Do not forget that we are on that list, Cole.”

It was the way Ken said it that stirred something in Derek. Almost a request guised as an order.

“Don’t forget that we are on that list”

“I haven’t forgotten. And honestly, I don’t think my services are best used chasing down dying doctors. I should either track down Black or be by you and your son’s side.”