The Journal 4 (Patreon)

The journal is leaving me more confused, muddling the case more than clarifying it. I turn the page, and the handwriting looks little like Mike's. It's rounded, feminine, clearly a woman's handwriting, though some small similarities to Mike's remain. Is this a lousy forgery attempt?

I decide to examine the room. It's been scrubbed, as i mentioned before, but even the best cleaners make mistakes.  One big mistake they made was they did too good a job, and it is obvious. Hotel maids don't work this meticulously, especially not at a sleazy roadside motel.

I check the bathroom-- both drains. I check the bed, under the mattress. I check the desk, even going so far as to look for false bottoms in the drawers.  It's driving me mad. There is something here. I know it.  And I know Mike had gotten himself into some kind of deep trouble, and I intend to find him and help him sort it out.

I go back to the journal and read the next poem.

Too tiny too tight

Tugging at the hem I fight

chilled, exposed, displayed