Chapter 3

I checked into a budget hotel.

The place was nothing special, and the walls were practically paper-thin. I could hear the TV blaring from next door.

But honestly, I finally got some real rest. It was the most peaceful sleep I'd had all year.

*****

The next morning, I was jolted awake by my phone buzzing.

There were tons of missed calls, from August, the admin office, and a bunch of unknown numbers.

I ignored them all, got up, washed up, and changed into something sharp.

Standing in front of the mirror, I took off my old hearing aid I'd…