Outside Phoenix – Midday Heat
The Sun Valley Motel sat wedged between a forgotten gas station and a faded diner, its vacancy sign half-lit and buzzing faintly.
Her nametag read Tanya, and she blinked at him once before smiling too brightly.
"Checking in?"
"Yeah. Just a night," Alex said in a low voice, handing over one of his fake ID. His alias read Kyle Jensen—Arizona address, Midwestern roots, scrubbed clean.
Tanya looked at the card, then at him. "We don't usually get the tall, handsome, and dangerous types unless it's biker week," she said with a grin. "You passing through, or planning to ruin my life?"
Alex offered a polite smile that didn't touch his eyes.
"Just passing through."
Tanya leaned on the counter a bit more, her gaze dropping to his hands. "Well, if you need anything, like towels, or… y'know, recommendations," she said, voice thinning into something suggestive, "I'm around."
He nodded. "Appreciate it."
But the edge in his tone said no.
