The Planck Factor - Chapter 7

CHAPTER SEVEN

Alexis

They found a cheap motel well off the freeway, halfway to Portland. Swede peered out the window between the closed curtains, while Alexis stretched out on the bed and clicked through the ten available channels on the small TV.

“Are you ever going to tell me what this is about?” she asked, stopping on TBS to check out what might be a watchable movie.

“I told you,” Swede said. “It’s about the research.”

“Which tells me nothing.”

“Like I said--”

“I know what you said.” The movie was some cop flick, full of stupid banter and chase scenes. Alexis muted the sound, tossed the remote aside, and rolled over to face Swede. “You need to tell me more. I wouldn’t have even come this far, if you hadn’t freaked me out. But I insist on getting a few details. I’m not going any farther with you unless you tell me what’s going on.”

“I’m trying to protect you.” Swede turned from the window. He looked exhausted. “Please. Just trust me.”

Alexis considered this. “No.”

“No?”

“I need an explanation. You’re disrupting my life. I have a master’s thesis to work on and classes to attend. And a limited time to finish my studies, so if you’re going to insist that I live my life on the run, I have to know why I’m running.”