ROMAN

"You're sure they stopped in Ashvale?"

"Yes," my guy, Ritchie, answers. "They've checked into a hotel named Ashvale Heights. They're getting their bags out of the trunk right now."

I sit back in my chair, mind racing. When I spoke to Nikki, she didn't exactly tell me what they'd be doing. I'm pretty sure she only mentioned that they'd be going on a trip to their mother's hometown. Why? I have no idea either. I've been too distracted, and that's not a good thing.

Then again, I was ...