Read Online Peak Oil by Arno Joubert - Free Book Online

together at the back of her head. They probably came from the surrounding towns.  
    Neil glanced at her. “You okay?”
    She nodded and then closed her eyes. “Tired.”
    A few minutes later, they arrived at the Ocelot Inn, and Alexa noticed a light go off in a room on the third floor. Dim, solar-powered walkway lights guided their way to the reception area, which was empty. Alexa glanced at Neil. She didn’t want to share a room with Voelkner.
    They rang the bell, and footsteps pattered down the wooden stairs. Mary-Lou emerged from the doorway, pulled a chair from behind the counter, and scampered on top.
    “Good day. My name is Mary-Lou, how may I be of assistance?” she recited in a monotone.
    “Is Missy in?” Neil asked.
    “Nah-ah. She’s got Bingo night.”  
    Neil scratched the back of his head and glanced at Alexa.  
    “May I interest you in a room?” Mary-Lou recited.
    Neil nodded. “That would be nice, yes.”  
    Mary-Lou jumped off the chair and positioned it in front of a large wooden key rack to the side. “Number eleven, number eleven. Two down, three to the side, two down, three to the side,” she mumbled, sticking her tongue out between pursed lips as she concentrated on the task.
    She counted two rows down, walking her fingers down the board. She counted three clips to the right and removed a key with a large wooden key holder. The number eleven had been burned into it, probably with a magnifying glass or a soldering iron, Alexa guessed.
    Mary-Lou looked back toward them and pointed a finger, the other hand on her hip. “Grandma Pauline says you better pay up tomorrow, or she’ll hunt you down and kick her spurs into your ass and drive you all the way over to California.”
    Alexa laughed. She walked over, took the key from Mary-Lou, and gave her a hug. Mary-Lou beamed at Alexa.
    “What else did Grandma Pauline say?” she asked.
    Mary-Lou popped her thumb into her mouth and mumbled. “Um, Grandma Pauline says that loose lips sink ships.”
    “Okay then,” Neil said with a raised eyebrow. “Should we go to our rooms then?”
    Alexa tossed the keys to Voelkner. “I’m going to stick around until Missy comes back. I want to ask her about the men at the bus stop.”
    Neil smiled. “I’ll stay with you; I’m sure I’ll pick up some idioms that my family never taught me.”
    Voelkner said good night and ruffled the girl’s hair.
    “Tell us some more things that Grandma Pauline says. What does she say about us?” Neil said, lowering himself down into a chair.
    Mary-Lou looked down and sucked her thumb. “Grandma Pauline says we’re not supposed to be flapping our jaws about paying guests.”  
    Neil tickled her ribs. “Ah, come on Mary-Lou. We promise we won’t pay,” he said and winked at Alexa.  
    Mary-Lou looked up with a hopeful smile. “You promise?”
    Neil nodded and lifted his hand in the air. “Scout’s honor.”
    She nodded, satisfied. She glanced shyly at Alexa. “Grandma Pauline says that a Texas rose don’t always be growing up in Texas, but they always end up here sooner or later.”
    Alexa laughed and shook her head.
    They looked up as Missy walked in and removed a shawl from her shoulders. She turned to them, a surprised look on her face. “Now why you keeping my grandchild up at this late hour?” she asked, combing her fingers through her hair.
    Neil stood up. “We picked up one of our colleagues and needed an extra room.”  
    “You help these people?” Missy asked Mary-Lou.
    The girl nodded. “The room from heaven, always right, number eleven.”
    Missy patted Mary-Lou’s cheek affectionately. “That’s right, my child.” She looked up at Neil and Alexa. “Now, was there anything else that y’all needed me for?” She nodded toward her granddaughter. “I need to get this one to bed.”
    Alexa stepped forward. “Yes, we were wondering if you heard or saw anything unusual at the bus stop a couple of evenings ago?”
    Missy folded her arms.