“Not really.” Ajax grimaced.
“You’ve got a smart one there.” The old man grinned. “My son’s an EMT, and he’s pretty smart too.”
“This man is not my son.” Dmytro’s loud, unambiguous statement caused everyone to look at him.
“Okay, well. I don’t judge.” The desk clerk turned to Ajax. “As long as you’re of age.”
Ajax put his elbows on the counter and rested his chin on his hands. “Oh, I am. I’m old enough for you too, silver fox. You got room at the inn for me?”
The old man giggled liked Poppin’ Fresh being poked by a giant finger. He was obviously as delighted by Ajax’s antics as Ajax himself was. Dmytro covered his shame with a grunt, and Bartosz swallowed a laugh. Ajax lapped up their discomfort like a Popsicle on a hot summer day, which was not the sort of image Dmytro should picture. Still, Dmytro couldn’t get the idea out of his head.
You can’t be serious. You can’t be stupid enough to find this awful boy… amusing.
“Bartosz, you deal with the car.” Dmytro could not afford to let Ajax derail his train of thought.
“You could have it towed to Colin Cuthbert’s place. He’s the best. Works with all the fancy new computers on wheels, but the soonest he’ll get to it is tomorrow.”
“Newfangled stuff,” Ajax said without mockery. “Unlike your motel. Which is a fucking classic.”
“Nah.” The old man smiled. “It’s just old.”
“I like old. It’s charming.” Ajax seemed to be talking about the old man too. Dmytro watched the blush his words drew. “Is the pool heated?”
“You are not going to swim in the pool.” Dmytro could think of nothing worse than watching an utterly defenseless Ajax lolling half-naked in a pool. Anyone could fire a rifle from any window in the motor court. “It’sindefensible.”
The clerk glanced up at the word. “Literally or figuratively?”
Bartosz asked, “Do you have what we need or not?”
The old man sighed. “209 and 211 up the stairs on the right-hand side and all the way down. We have cable television and free Wi-Fi. Sign on to SeaViewGuest. Password is Nachos with a capitaln. I warn you, the ice machine will drive you crazy.”
Dmytro let his eyes fall on Ajax. “Among other things.”
Their host typed as he spoke. “The rooms are all nonsmoking. You want two? Two doubles in each okay?”
“Yes, please.” Bartosz took his Iphicles American Express card out and signed the paperwork for their stay. “I don’t know how long we’ll need it.”
“Bartlomiej Kowalczyk.” He read Bartosz’s name off the card before offering his hand. “I’m Carl Lents. The rooms will be here as long as you need them. Like I said, people tend to pass us by on their way to better places. Sometimes you’d think they didn’t even notice we’re here.”
Ajax’s stomach growled loudly in the silence that followed Carl’s cryptic words.
“Where’s a good place to eat around here?” asked Dmytro.
“Depends on what you like?”
“Takeout,” Dmytro insisted. “Or delivery.”
Carl pulled an orange flyer out of the drawer beneath his computer. “Here’s a list of restaurants that deliver. On the back, you’ll find the places where you can pick up takeout. I suggest,though, that you head to Nacho’s Bar. The food there is good, and they have live music.”
“Awesome.” Ajax snatched up the leaflet while Bartosz and Dmytro picked up their bags. “I want to eat there.”
“We’ll discuss it in the room. Follow me. We need to get settled in and deal with the car before we think about food.”
Dmytro eased out the door and into the crisp, salty air. He needed a shower. Being carsick made him feel unclean. On top of that, he wanted to check the place out.
They marched to the stairway, up the stairs, and along the gallery. If there was anyone else in the motel, they were out or already asleep. He ushered Ajax into one of the rooms.
“Dmytro, stay with him until I get the car taken care of.”
