Different paths (6)

 
The last rays of sunshine disappeared behind the horizon as Sian pulled the Ford into a Motel parking lot
She took a handgun from the glovebox and stuffed it into the back of her jeans
 
They had covered a hundred and seventy five miles since noon and were in need of rest
The two entered into the dated motel lobby
Check-in was easy, they paid the girl behind reception in cash and were given keys to a ground floor apartment  
The room itself was surprisingly spacious
It had a kitchenette  
A large double bed and a small courtyard out back  
Air con was an expensive extra they hadn’t paid for and the day’s heat was hanging around annoyingly
They dumped their stuff and then left apartment seventy seven, venturing out into the evening  
 
Across the street was a a small collection of eateries and convenience shops  
Louis headed for the Liquor store  
Meanwhile Sian studied a menu on the entrance door of Jim’s Diner  
There were people here and there milling about
Louis returned with some booze in a brown bag and the two went in
 
Inside the diner they ordered a couple of beers, then settled into a booth, waiting to be served
Sian finally chose a burger, Louis settled for chilli
The waitress brought over the beers along with complimentary nachos and took their main food order  
 
Conversation drifted between recent events and what to do next
Escaping the clutches of her handlers had left Sian emotionally drained  
Louis could see it in her eyes
They had run away from something you didn’t just run away from, not without consequences  
The worry of those consequences hung heavy between them  
 
The food arrived and they ate deliberately, but hungrily  
Outside, street lights flickered on  
The light continued to fade
Forty minutes later Louis and Sian wandered back to their apartment  
All was quiet, as they settled down for the night  
Louis opened the Bourbon he’d purchased and poured them both a long drink
They sat there letting the alcohol do its thing
 
Sian feel to sleep quite quickly  
Her mind replaying the last couple of days
Her dreaming twisted that reality somewhat
She awoke a couple times
Eventually getting up for water and aspirin  
She smoked a cigarette out on the courtyard  
Her thoughts swirling much like the smoke she exhaled  
 
Louis was snoring, it was four am.
Now was her chance to cut and run
He had helped her, now she could continue on her own… perhaps now was the time for a different path?
She played with this idea for a few moments, remembering suddenly the tape she had stoken…
It was insurance she told herself

She was fond of him, but knew she had used his obsession with her to get to this point  
 
If she went now it would hurt him bad
If they stayed together surely she would only be delaying the inevitable ?
 
Louis stirred much later  
The Bourbon had certainly knocked him out
It was now nine thirty am
The morning sun was just visible behind the black out drapes
Sian was not in the room
He guessed she must be out getting some breakfast or something  
He showered then dressed
 
Once freshened up, he went into the kitchenette  
There on the work surface lay a folded note
Louis snatched at it fearing the worst  
Seconds later he burst out of the front door onto the parking lot
He sank to his knees, tears welling
Sian was gone
She’d taken everything  
The money, the car their dreams  
 
The wind caught the dust  
Stinging his face as much as his tears  
 
Louis stared into the distance for a long time  
 
Moments later…
 
The car that was outside the bar, the day before turned into a gas station just a hundred yards away…
From there the driver spotted  
Louis on his knees  
 
….. the girl was gone.