American Drifter by Heather Graham

Author:Heather Graham
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Tom Doherty Associates

CHAPTER 14

It was a good thing, River supposed, that Beluga’s police friend Ricardo had been at the hostel—and that River was up and getting on his way.

There was no telling when police who knew about the dead man in the restroom would come around. And if they came around when River was there, it wouldn’t be good.

But he did his best to act normally. Beluga told him he could have a shower and his coffee and have a few minutes, but everyone else was up and gone and River needed to be gone too.

River tried to behave as he always did. He thanked Beluga, grabbed his pack, and he went to accept coffee from Maria.

While he was in the kitchen, Beluga came in. Convict trotted over to his friend, who slipped him a piece of sausage.

“Where’s your friend?” River asked, trying to sound casual.

“Ricardo? He went on to work.” Beluga was quiet for a moment. “I thought about telling him what you told me the other night. About the body. Ricardo—he’s always been a good man. But…”

“You didn’t tell him.”

“No—because you never really know another man.”

“No, you never do,” River agreed.

“Hey,” Beluga said, “you know, the dog doesn’t take up a bed. He can stay.”

River allowed himself to smile at that.

“I’m not sure when I’ll be back,” he warned. He hated leaving Convict, and yet …

It might be best, under his present circumstances. What if he was picked up and thrown in jail? What would happen to Convict? He could be put in a pound—or he could wander the streets and starve or be hit by a car or …

“Doesn’t matter,” Beluga said with a shrug. “Convict is okay. He’ll be here when you come back—and I know you. It won’t be that long.”

It could be forever, River thought.

And if so, wasn’t that best for the dog?

He nodded, squatting down and patting his companion. “You’re the best,” he told Convict. “But Beluga needs company. He talks about a woman, but he hasn’t gotten one for himself yet, so … you keep him company.”

“I can find a woman, you know.”

“One to keep!” River teased.

Beluga waved a hand at him.

He’d tarried too long at the hostel, River thought. He thanked Maria and Beluga and then headed out.

“You’re going to find your woman today, you think?” Beluga called as he was leaving.

“There’s always that dream!” River called back to him.

Natal.

He winced as he hurried down the path from the hostel.

Natal.

Would she miss him?

Would he ever find her again?

He had to believe, he thought. Belief kept a man going.

As he hurried away, he was glad that he hadn’t said anything to Beluga about the previous night—he would hate to ever put Beluga in a bad position. Beluga was probably a lousy liar—and River didn’t want his friend to have to lie for him anyway.

He took the road toward town; he needed to hear what had happened and if the police had or hadn’t found the man and if they were after him—if they had any idea that the act had been carried out by an American drifter.

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