“New York.”

“Shane something told me you would say New York. Well get going and always a pleasure to see you. The Mother will show you out………….”

“Earth to Shane….yooo hoo. Shane?”

“Sorry what?”

“We need to stop. We need to sleep.”

“You are right. Only for a few hours.”   

So we stop at the Slumber Lodge off the main highway. The snow has not been plowed but the Rover can handle it. It would look weird if we both go and check in, so I go in alone leaving Carmen in the Rover. The walk up to the motel gives me time to breathe something other than her. It gives me time to process how completely out of control this has become. It leaves me time to figure out the next set of moves by The Agency.

“Are you driving in this?” The twenty something man behind the counter asks.

“Yes. I need a room for two if you have it?”

“Sure thing, I am sure you are glad to get off the road. I thought the highway patrol had road blocks set up to deter driving in this?”

“It was an emergency and we wound up getting stranded anyway.”

“Well lucky for you I have one room left. It’s not much but its warm and we have hot water.”

“Thanks it will do.’

“So what’ll it be cash or credit?”

“Cash…..hang on I left it in the car.”

I run out and get the money from Carmen. She looks really tired. She just hands me the wad of cash I had in my inside pocket of my artic parka. I walk back in slowly almost loosing my balance in the snow. My nose bleeds again and I stand outside the motel wiping it off on Williams’s sleeve. Why does this keep on happening? I pay the guy. He hands me the key and lets me know that the diner will be open in a few hours if we need some food.  I nod my thanks and sign the book as Marie Antoinette. He does not even look at the name I left.