The Stranger Who Left My Name Beneath the Doormat

The## Chapter 5: The Room He Left Behind

The motel manager looked at me as though he motel manager looked at me as though he had been expecting someone younger.

He was a heavy had been expecting someone younger.

He was a heavyset man in his sixties, wearingset man in his sixties, wearing a checked shirt with a pen clipped to the pocket. Behind him, a neon sign buzz a checked shirt with a pen clipped to the pocket. Behind him, a neon sign buzzed over the reception desk, anded over the reception desk, and the smell of burnt coffee drifted from a machine that looked older than I was.

"You're Nessa Hayes?"" he asked.

" the smell of burnt coffee drifted from a machine that looked older than I was.

"You're Nessa Hayes?"" he asked.

"Yes.""

He glanced at Tessa.

"And you're?""

"Her friend.""

"Is that going toYes.""

He glanced at Tessa.

"And you're?""

"Her friend.""

"Is that going to be a problem?""

Tessa folded her arms.

"Depends. Are you planning to make be a problem?""

Tessa folded her arms.

"Depends. Are you planning to make one?""

The manager sighed.

"Room twelve. That's all I'm saying.""

He one?""

The manager sighed.

"Room twelve. That's all I'm saying.""

He pushed the cardboard box toward me.

"He told me to give you this if you came looking for pushed the cardboard box toward me.

"He told me to give you this if you came looking for him.""

I stared at the box.

"Who told you?""

"Elliot.""

My father's name him.""

I stared at the box.

"Who told you?""

"Elliot.""

My father's name sounded strange in the motel office, spoken so casually by a stranger.

"When sounded strange in the motel office, spoken so casually by a stranger.

"When did you last see him?""

"Yesterday afternoon.""

"Was he alone?""

did you last see him?""

"Yesterday afternoon.""

"Was he alone?""

The manager hesitated.

"No.""

My stomach tightened.

"Who wasThe manager hesitated.

"No.""

My stomach tightened.

"Who was with him?""

"A man in a dark suit. Expensive watch. Didn't look like he belonged in a place like this.""

Tessa stepped closer to the desk.

"Did you get his name?""

"No. But I heard him call with him?""

"A man in a dark suit. Expensive watch. Didn't look like he belonged in a place like this.""

Tessa stepped closer to the desk.

"Did you get his name?""

"No. But I heard him call Elliot by his first name. They argued for a few minutes, then the other fellow left.""

"What were they Elliot by his first name. They argued for a few minutes, then the other fellow left.""

"What were they arguing about?"" I asked.

The manager rubbed his chin.

"Money, I think. The man kept saying Elliot needed to stop making trouble. Elliot arguing about?"" I asked.

The manager rubbed his chin.

"Money, I think. The man kept saying Elliot needed to stop making trouble. Elliot told him he'd had thirty years to fix things and hadn't done a damn thing.""

My fingers tightened around the box.

"Did the man threaten him?""

"Not in so told him he'd had thirty years to fix things and hadn't done a damn thing.""

My fingers tightened around the box.

"Did the man threaten him?""

"Not in so many words.""

"What does that mean?""

"It means he said something like, 'You know what happened the last time you tried to be a hero.'' Then he walked out.""

Tessa exchanged a look with me.

"Was my father frightened?"" I asked.

The manager considered the many words.""

"What does that mean?""

"It means he said something like, 'You know what happened the last time you tried to be a hero.'' Then he walked out.""

Tessa exchanged a look with me.

"Was my father frightened?"" I asked.

The manager considered the question.

"No. Angry, maybe. He had that look people get when they're tired of being scared.""

I swallowed.

"Did he leave voluntarily?""

"Packed his bag, paid what question.

"No. Angry, maybe. He had that look people get when they're tired of being scared.""

I swallowed.

"Did he leave voluntarily?""

"Packed his bag, paid what he owed, and walked out the back entrance around five. Didn't tell he owed, and walked out the back entrance around five. Didn't tell me where he was going.""

"Then why give me this box?""

The manager glanced at the cardboard container.

"Because he asked me to.""

I picked it up.

It was surprisingly light.

"Can we see the room?""

He studied me for a moment before retrieving a key.

"You're family, I assume?""

I couldn't bring myself to answer.

"Something me where he was going.""

"Then why give me this box?""

The manager glanced at the cardboard container.

"Because he asked me to.""

I picked it up.

It was surprisingly light.

"Can we see the room?""

He studied me for a moment before retrieving a key.

"You're family, I assume?""

I couldn't bring myself to answer.

"Something like that," Tessa said.

The manager led us down a narrow corridor with faded green carpet. The walls were decorated with landscape like that," Tessa said.

The manager led us down a narrow corridor with faded green carpet. The walls were decorated with landscape prints, their colors bleached by years of cigarette smoke and prints, their colors bleached by years of cigarette smoke and afternoon sunlight.

Room twelve stood at the end.

The manager unlocked it.

"Everything's been afternoon sunlight.

Room twelve stood at the end.

The manager unlocked it.

"Everything's been cleaned," he said.

"Housekeeping came through this morning. I told cleaned," he said.

"Housekeeping came through this morning. I told them not to touch anything in the drawer, but they did. Sorry about that.""

I them not to touch anything in the drawer, but they did. Sorry about that.""

I stepped inside.

The room smelled of disinfectant and stale air. A double bed stood beneath a window with stepped inside.

The room smelled of disinfectant and stale air. A double bed stood beneath a window with thin curtains. Beside it sat a battered wooden nightstand, a lamp thin curtains. Beside it sat a battered wooden nightstand, a lamp with a crooked shade, and a chair with a split cushion.

There with a crooked shade, and a chair with a split cushion.

There was no television.

No suitcase.

No sign that anyone had lived there.

I put was no television.

No suitcase.

No sign that anyone had lived there.

I put the box on the bed.

For several seconds, I couldn't move.

This was where my father had slept.

Perhaps the box on the bed.

For several seconds, I couldn't move.

This was where my father had slept.

Perhaps he had sat in that chair and read the letters he had written to my mother. Perhaps he had stared through he had sat in that chair and read the letters he had written to my mother. Perhaps he had stared through the window, wondering whether I was still living in the same house where he had last seen me as the window, wondering whether I was still living in the same house where he had last seen me as a baby.

Perhaps he had spent the previous night thinking about the woman who had offered him dinner without knowing a baby.

Perhaps he had spent the previous night thinking about the woman who had offered him dinner without knowing who he was.

The thought hurt more than I expected.

Tessa touched my arm who he was.

The thought hurt more than I expected.

Tessa touched my arm.

"Take your time.""

I shook my head.

"If I take my time, I'll never.

"Take your time.""

I shook my head.

"If I take my time, I'll never open it.""

I lifted the flaps.

Inside lay a folded shirt, a small bottle open it.""

I lifted the flaps.

Inside lay a folded shirt, a small bottle of prescription medication, an old leather wallet, and a stack of envelopes bound with string of prescription medication, an old leather wallet, and a stack of envelopes bound with string.

At the bottom was a photograph.

I pulled it out.

It showed my mother sitting on a hospital bed.

At the bottom was a photograph.

I pulled it out.

It showed my mother sitting on a hospital bed, holding a newborn baby wrapped in a white blanket.

Me.

Beside her stood a younger Elliot, holding a newborn baby wrapped in a white blanket.

Me.

Beside her stood a younger Elliot, clean-shaven and wearing a pale blue shirt. His face was turned toward the baby, and he, clean-shaven and wearing a pale blue shirt. His face was turned toward the baby, and he was smiling so broadly that his eyes had almost disappeared.

My mother was smiling was smiling so broadly that his eyes had almost disappeared.

My mother was smiling too.

I had never seen her look so happy.

On the back, someone had written:

*The first day too.

I had never seen her look so happy.

On the back, someone had written:

The first day of the rest of our lives.

I sat on the bed.

"Why did she of the rest of our lives.*

I sat on the bed.

"Why did she lie to me?"" I whispered.

Tessa sat beside me.

"I don't know.""

"She looked happy lie to me?"" I whispered.

Tessa sat beside me.

"I don't know.""

"She looked happy. He looks happy. What happened to them?""

"I don't know, Ness. He looks happy. What happened to them?""

"I don't know, Ness.""

I hated those three words.

They were the only honest answer anyone.""

I hated those three words.

They were the only honest answer anyone had given me all day.

I opened the leather wallet.

There was no money inside, only an expired had given me all day.

I opened the leather wallet.

There was no money inside, only an expired identification card, a bus ticket, and a photograph of a little girl standing in a garden.

The identification card, a bus ticket, and a photograph of a little girl standing in a garden.

The girl was about seven years old.

She had gray eyes, dark hair, and a gap girl was about seven years old.

She had gray eyes, dark hair, and a gap between her front teeth.

She looked remarkably like Junie.

I turned the photograph over.

*For between her front teeth.

She looked remarkably like Junie.

I turned the photograph over.

For Elliot, from Susan. Remember that there is still good in this world.

My father's Elliot, from Susan. Remember that there is still good in this world.*

My father's second wife.

I held the photograph carefully, wondering who the little girl was second wife.

I held the photograph carefully, wondering who the little girl was.

"Do you think he had another family?"" I asked.

Tessa leaned.

"Do you think he had another family?"" I asked.

Tessa leaned over my shoulder.

"Maybe she was Susan's daughter.""

"Margaret said they didn't have children.""

over my shoulder.

"Maybe she was Susan's daughter.""

"Margaret said they didn't have children.""

"She might have had a child from before.""

That made sense.

It also made the photograph feel"She might have had a child from before.""

That made sense.

It also made the photograph feel less mysterious.

I put it aside and opened the stack of letters.

Most were addressed to my mother. less mysterious.

I put it aside and opened the stack of letters.

Most were addressed to my mother. A few were addressed to me. Several had been returned unopened.

The oldest envelope was A few were addressed to me. Several had been returned unopened.

The oldest envelope was dated March 1993.

The newest had been written only four days earlier.

I unfolded that dated March 1993.

The newest had been written only four days earlier.

I unfolded that one.

Nessa,

*I have spent a long time trying to decide whether I should come to your door. I know one.

Nessa,

*I have spent a long time trying to decide whether I should come to your door. I know what your mother told you. I know what you must believe about me.

I have no right to demand what your mother told you. I know what you must believe about me. I have no right to demand anything from you.*

But someone has started asking questions about the old accounts again. I have anything from you.

But someone has started asking questions about the old accounts again. I have reason to believe that the person who arranged the original theft never stopped protecting himself.

I reason to believe that the person who arranged the original theft never stopped protecting himself.

I found your address through a public record. I have not contacted you because I wanted to understand whether approaching found your address through a public record. I have not contacted you because I wanted to understand whether approaching you would put you in danger.

If I do come, I will not ask you for money. I will not ask you to forgive you would put you in danger.

If I do come, I will not ask you for money. I will not ask you to forgive me. I only want you to have the choice your mother never gave you.

If me. I only want you to have the choice your mother never gave you.

If you are reading this, I have failed to explain myself in person.

I am sorry.

Dad you are reading this, I have failed to explain myself in person.

I am sorry.

Dad.

I read the last word until it blurred.

Dad.

A word.*

I read the last word until it blurred.

Dad.

A word I had spent years refusing to say because I couldn't decide whether I hated the man or missed him.

Now I had a letter from him I had spent years refusing to say because I couldn't decide whether I hated the man or missed him.

Now I had a letter from him, and I didn't even know where he was.

I pressed the paper against my chest.

T, and I didn't even know where he was.

I pressed the paper against my chest.

Tessa remained silent.

After a while, she reached into the box and lifted the prescription bottle.

"essa remained silent.

After a while, she reached into the box and lifted the prescription bottle.

"There's something written on the label.""

I wiped my eyes.

"What?""

She turned it toward meThere's something written on the label.""

I wiped my eyes.

"What?""

She turned it toward me.

The medication had been prescribed by a clinic across town. The label included a date and a.

The medication had been prescribed by a clinic across town. The label included a date and a telephone number.

"He might have gone there," she said.

I looked at the bottle.

telephone number.

"He might have gone there," she said.

I looked at the bottle.

"Then that's where we're going.""

Before we left, I examined the room one more time.

The nightstand drawer"Then that's where we're going.""

Before we left, I examined the room one more time.

The nightstand drawer was empty, but the manager had mentioned that housekeeping had removed something.

was empty, but the manager had mentioned that housekeeping had removed something.

I asked him to come back.

"Did you find anything in that drawer?""

He frowned.

"Just an old envelope. I gave it to the policeI asked him to come back.

"Did you find anything in that drawer?""

He frowned.

"Just an old envelope. I gave it to the police.""

"The police?""

He looked uncomfortable.

"Someone called in a concern about a missing person this.""

"The police?""

He looked uncomfortable.

"Someone called in a concern about a missing person this morning. They came by, asked questions, and took the envelope.""

"Who called?""

"I morning. They came by, asked questions, and took the envelope.""

"Who called?""

"I don't know. They didn't tell me.""

"Did they leave a case number?""

He shook his head.

don't know. They didn't tell me.""

"Did they leave a case number?""

He shook his head.

Tessa's expression hardened.

"Did they give you their names?""

The manager opened a desk drawer and produced aTessa's expression hardened.

"Did they give you their names?""

The manager opened a desk drawer and produced a business card.

I took it.

The card bore the name of Detective Aaron Pike, followed by the number of the business card.

I took it.

The card bore the name of Detective Aaron Pike, followed by the number of the local police department.

I photographed it with my phone.

"Thank you," I said.

The manager nodded local police department.

I photographed it with my phone.

"Thank you," I said.

The manager nodded.

Then, just as we reached the door, he called after me.

"Miss Hayes?""

Then, just as we reached the door, he called after me.

"Miss Hayes?""

I turned.

"Your father left something else.""

He reached beneath the receptionI turned.

"Your father left something else.""

He reached beneath the reception desk and pulled out a folded piece of paper.

"He said this wasn't to go in the box.""

I desk and pulled out a folded piece of paper.

"He said this wasn't to go in the box.""

I took it.

The note contained a street address and a time.

**Old took it.

The note contained a street address and a time.

*Old Hayes Building. 8:00 p.m.*

Beneath it was a message written in block Hayes Building. 8:00 p.m.**

Beneath it was a message written in block capitals.

**COME ALONE. TRUST NO ONE WHO S capitals.

*COME ALONE. TRUST NO ONE WHO SAYS THEY'RE PROTECTING YOU.*

I stared at the paper.

Tessa read it overAYS THEY'RE PROTECTING YOU.**

I stared at the paper.

Tessa read it over my shoulder.

"Absolutely not.""

"It's from my father.""

"It's also the sort my shoulder.

"Absolutely not.""

"It's from my father.""

"It's also the sort of note people leave when they're trying to get someone into a dangerous situation.""

"He of note people leave when they're trying to get someone into a dangerous situation.""

"He might need help.""

"Then we call the police.""

"And tell them what? That my homeless might need help.""

"Then we call the police.""

"And tell them what? That my homeless father has disappeared, my aunt has threatened me, and someone sent me a text message?""

"We father has disappeared, my aunt has threatened me, and someone sent me a text message?""

"We have evidence.""

"We have photographs and letters. We don't know what they prove.""

Tessa took have evidence.""

"We have photographs and letters. We don't know what they prove.""

Tessa took the note from my hand.

"Exactly. So we make copies, we call the detective, and we don't walk the note from my hand.

"Exactly. So we make copies, we call the detective, and we don't walk into an abandoned building because a stranger told us to.""

I looked at the photograph of my parents and me.

My into an abandoned building because a stranger told us to.""

I looked at the photograph of my parents and me.

My father had held me once.

He had looked at me the way Daniel looked at Junie in father had held me once.

He had looked at me the way Daniel looked at Junie in the few photographs from our early marriage: as though the world had suddenly become a place worth staying the few photographs from our early marriage: as though the world had suddenly become a place worth staying in.

I didn't know what he had done or what he had failed to do.

But I knew what in.

I didn't know what he had done or what he had failed to do.

But I knew what it felt like to be abandoned.

And I couldn't leave him alone in whatever danger had it felt like to be abandoned.

And I couldn't leave him alone in whatever danger had made him run.

"We'll go to the police first," I said.

Tessa handed made him run.

"We'll go to the police first," I said.

Tessa handed the note back.

"Good.""

"And if they won't help, we'll figure something else out.""

She gave the note back.

"Good.""

"And if they won't help, we'll figure something else out.""

She gave me a long look.

"I hate that you sound exactly like a person who's about to do something me a long look.

"I hate that you sound exactly like a person who's about to do something reckless.""

"I learned from my mother.""

"Your mother sounds like she reckless.""

"I learned from my mother.""

"Your mother sounds like she was trouble.""

"She was.""

I almost smiled.

Then my phone rang.

An was trouble.""

"She was.""

I almost smiled.

Then my phone rang.

An unfamiliar number.

I answered cautiously.

"Hello?""

A man's voice came through the speaker unfamiliar number.

I answered cautiously.

"Hello?""

A man's voice came through the speaker.

"Nessa Hayes?""

"Who is this?""

"My name is Aaron Pike. I'm the detective who.

"Nessa Hayes?""

"Who is this?""

"My name is Aaron Pike. I'm the detective who visited the motel.""

I glanced at Tessa.

"How did you get my number?""

"The motel manager found your father's visited the motel.""

I glanced at Tessa.

"How did you get my number?""

"The motel manager found your father's contact information in a registration record. He also told us you were looking for him.""

"What happened contact information in a registration record. He also told us you were looking for him.""

"What happened to the envelope?""

"I have it.""

"What's in it?""

A pause.

"Something you need to see. to the envelope?""

"I have it.""

"What's in it?""

A pause.

"Something you need to see. Can you come to the station?""

"When?""

"Now.""

I looked at Tessa.

She mout Can you come to the station?""

"When?""

"Now.""

I looked at Tessa.

She mouthed, Public place.

I agreed to meet him.

Before we left, I opened the cardboardhed, Public place.

I agreed to meet him.

Before we left, I opened the cardboard box one final time and checked beneath the folded shirt.

There was a small piece of paper taped to the bottom.

box one final time and checked beneath the folded shirt.

There was a small piece of paper taped to the bottom.

I peeled it away.

It contained a single sentence.

*If Daniel tells you he loved your mother, askI peeled it away.

It contained a single sentence.

If Daniel tells you he loved your mother, ask him why he paid for her last hospital visit.

I felt the room tilt.

Tessa him why he paid for her last hospital visit.*

I felt the room tilt.

Tessa caught my arm.

"What is it?""

I handed her the paper.

She read it.

Then she looked at me caught my arm.

"What is it?""

I handed her the paper.

She read it.

Then she looked at me with an expression I had never seen on her face before.

"Your ex-husband paid for your mother's hospital visit with an expression I had never seen on her face before.

"Your ex-husband paid for your mother's hospital visit?""

"I don't know.""

"Did he ever tell you that?""

"No.""

I looked down at the paper.

The ink was fresh?""

"I don't know.""

"Did he ever tell you that?""

"No.""

I looked down at the paper.

The ink was fresh.

My father hadn't written it years ago. He had written it recently, perhaps the.

My father hadn't written it years ago. He had written it recently, perhaps the night before he disappeared.

And he had left it where only I would find it.

I put night before he disappeared.

And he had left it where only I would find it.

I put the note in my pocket.

Then I followed Tessa out into the sunlight, the note in my pocket.

Then I followed Tessa out into the sunlight, carrying a box of letters that had waited thirty years to be read.

I had no carrying a box of letters that had waited thirty years to be read.

I had no idea that, by the end of the day, I would be standing in a police station listening to a detective idea that, by the end of the day, I would be standing in a police station listening to a detective tell me that the man I had married had lied about far more than his money tell me that the man I had married had lied about far more than his money.

And that my father wasn't the only person who had disappeared.

My mother's medical records had disappeared.