The Water Keeper(43)

“Watch me.”

I stepped closer. It was the first time I intentionally intruded on her personal space. “You have an ID showing that you’re eighteen?”

She nodded.

I held out my hand.

“Why?”

“I’d like to see it.”

She flashed it but didn’t let me hold it. “See.”

She was right. She had learned how to work the system.

I glanced at Clay, who shrugged and coughed once.

The ID wasn’t hers. A close likeness, yes, but it’d never pass in the bank.

I was tired. Thoughts were firing and I had no answers. I also felt like Angel was slipping further from my grasp the more I stood here and talked. But there was that picture. “Listen, I don’t know who you are. I’m sorry. I don’t. But we’ll be in Miami tomorrow, and if you’ll just hang out one more night, we’ll go to the bank.”

She stiffened. Raised a finger. “On one condition.”

I didn’t think she was in a position to make demands, but I went along with it. “Okay.”

“I keep whatever’s in that box.”

I nodded. “Deal.”

“Even if it’s a million dollars.”

“Even if.”

Her head tilted sideways. “Really? You’re not going to fight me for it?”

I shook my head. “No.”

“Why not?”

“Honestly?”

“Yes.”

“Because I don’t want what’s yours and right now I’m too tired to fight you or anyone else for anything.”

She folded her arms. “Can I ask you something?”

I wiped my face with my palm. “Sure.”

She held up the picture. “This you?”

“Yes—although I have no idea who took it or when.”

Next, she waved the news headline. “And this?”

I nodded.

She did not seem convinced. “Prove it.”

“No.”

She gestured with both hands. “Why not?”

It was late, and I still had some thinking to do. I spoke to everyone. “We’ll leave early.” Turning to Summer, I said, “Can she stay with you?”

Summer put her hand on Ellie’s shoulder. “Sure.”

“I’ll find some takeout and bring it back.” I spoke to Ellie. “Chinese or something?”

“You didn’t answer me.” A pause. “Why not?”

“I quit proving myself to people a long time ago. You can stay or go. Up to you. But—” I could hear her stomach growling. “I’m offering dinner.”

She considered my offer, hesitated, and spoke softly. “All right.”

Clay walked to his room. Slowly. His cough had worsened and it was producing more. Gunner walked alongside him. The two disappeared into Clay’s room.

The world just got a lot more complicated.

Summer kicked into momma-gear and slipped her hand into Ellie’s. “Let’s get you cleaned up and then something hot to eat. Deal?”

The two disappeared into Summer’s room. I set Fingers’ box inside the head and saw how Ellie had been living the last few days cooped up inside that small area. She’d made a pallet of towels to cushion her ride. Before I locked up the boat, I pulled out my sat phone.

When I turned it on, the screen immediately read, “You have 0 new voicemails.”

As I turned the phone in my hand, my cell phone rang. Caller ID put the area code as Colorado. I answered after the second ring.

He asked, “Late for you, isn’t it?”

“A little.”

“What’s going on?”

I stared at the lights of Summer’s room. “Well—” My eyes wandered to the hotel, then to the water slowly flowing south. “I’m traveling with a woman who’s looking for her daughter who doesn’t want to be found. The mom is on the verge of cracking. Fragile. Frayed threads holding it together. Fighting images in both the windshield and the rearview. Next to her sits a dying man who’s trying to get south for the first time in over sixty years. His eyes are tired and tell of a life lived hard, and there is sorrow behind them. I’m not sure where we’re headed, but I think he loved someone many years ago. He’s returning to that memory. Next to him is possibly the smartest dog I’ve ever seen anywhere. And next to him is a teenage girl who’s been hiding in the head since I left the island. She’s friends with no one but trying to dig up her past, which brought her to me—for reasons I can’t quite figure. Discovered her an hour ago. And tied to the bow is a box holding the ashes of my best friend. Before me is a lot of water and possibly a lot of pain. Behind me is an email. And back on the kitchen table is a purple urn. That’s pretty much it for starters.”

“Who’s the girl?”

“Thanks for the sympathy.”

“Oh, I’m sorry. Were you looking for some of that?”

I told him Ellie’s story.

He was silent for several moments. When he spoke I knew he was serious. He said, “I could be there—”

“If we find Angel, you’ll be needed where you are.” He knew I was right. I was tired. My filter weak. “Did you have a reason for calling me?”