Spencerville

don’t we just lay low overnight and think about it in the morning? These all-points bulletins tend to get a little stale after a while, and maybe by morning, the state police will have had a few conversations with the Spencerville police chief and maybe with the security guy at the airport. They may very well conclude that Mr. Baxter is not telling it like it is.”
    She nodded. “Maybe…”
    “And to tell you the truth, it’s not a good idea to be in the hands of the police at this hour of the night without a judge or lawyer available.”
    She tried to laugh and said, “You think like a criminal.”
    “I
was
a criminal in many countries, never my own. But the rules are the same.” He added, “I think time is on our side if we lay low. But I won’t do anything you’re not comfortable with.”
    “I haven’t heard those words in a while.” She thought a moment, then said, “Maybe we should stop for the night… and in the morning, even if I have to see him and to explain to the police, I’d rather do it then.”
    “With luck, you won’t have to see him tomorrow or ever again.”
    “Good.”
    “All right, so now we’re looking for a hot-sheet motel. Know any?”
    She smiled. “I know six or seven.”
    “One will do. Open my briefcase.” He gave her the combination.
    She opened it, and he said, “This is going to make you laugh. There’s a false bottom.” He explained how to open it and said, “I need the eyeglasses and the small brown envelope.”
    She retrieved both items without a word.
    He took the glasses and put them on, then said, “Open the envelope. No laughing.”
    She opened the envelope and took out a mustache the color of Keith’s light brown hair. He said, “Peel off the cellophane and stick it on me.”
    She did what he said, and he checked himself in the rearview mirror. “What do you think?”
    “I’m speechless.”
    “That’s a treat. Keep looking for a motel.” He took a comb out of his windbreaker and restyled his hair.
    She said, “How about that place? Up ahead on the right.”
    Keith saw the small motel sign, a portable lighted signboard, actually, that said
Westway Motel—$29
with an arrow that pointed to the right. He recalled that the airport highway had once been a meandering two-lane road, but had been widened and straightened many years ago, leaving some of the old motels hundreds of yards away from the side of the new road. Keith turned onto a narrow lane that took him to the parking court of the motel. He stopped out of view of the lobby. “Okay.
This
is like old times. Two minutes.”
    “You used to have the key in forty-five seconds.”
    He smiled and got out of the Blazer, noticed a Ford Escort in the parking lot, and went inside the small lobby.
    The desk clerk, a young man, looked up from a television behind the counter.
    Keith adopted a manner of sexual urgency and said. “Need a room.”
    The clerk put a registration form on the desk.
    Keith said, “How much for a few hours?”
    “Same.”
    “Hey, I just bought her a Sizzler steak, buddy. Can you do better?”
    “How long you staying?”
    “Maybe midnight. You get off at midnight? You can check.”
    “Yeah, I’m off at midnight, but I’m not rushing you.”
    “Tell you what—I might be longer. I’ll give you twenty-five for all night.”
    “Okay.”
    Keith filled out the registration form with some creativity, listing a Ford Escort as his car. He’d discovered that the clerk, who could possibly identify him despite the disguise, would be gone at midnight. So far, so good. He gave the young man twenty-five dollars in cash, took the key to room 7, and left.
    He got into the Blazer and pulled up to a parking spot several places away from room 7. There weren’t too many cars there on a Sunday night, and none of them could be seen from the highway. But he had no intention of leaving the Blazer there anyway.
    They took the luggage, and Keith also took all his personal possessions out of the car, including his audiotapes, the registration, and other odds and ends.
    Keith opened the door to the room, and they carried everything inside. Annie turned on the lamp and said, “It’s lovely.”
    Actually, it was very shoddy. Keith found the telephone book under the nightstand and flipped through the yellow pages.
    “What are you looking for?”
    “I need… here it is.” He closed the book and said, “I’ll be back in about fifteen or twenty minutes.”
    “Where are you