Benji hops in the passenger side and Spike never flinches. I shake my head, a rueful laugh coming from me. “I can’t believe Marilyn let you bring him in.”
“He doesn’t bark. He smiles. It’s kind of weird, but he does. He doesn’t pee—much.”
“He pissed on your shirt. And I think he was trying to hump a beer mug.”
“No, he was just looking at himself in the reflection of the glass. He’s a sexy beast.” He tugs at the flannel he’s wearing. “Good thing Crazy Carl had an extra in his truck. Dude’s alright, isn’t he?”
I nod. “Carl’s the shit.”
“I’m gonna get Spike a collar. Engraved. Something poetic. Spike, you horny lizard, I love the fuck out of you.”
We go down a rabbit hole of possible messages to engrave on the lizard’s collar.
I crank the truck.
“Where we going?” Benji asks as I miss the turn for Greek Row and head farther into Walker.
“Drive-by.”
“Who? Oh, Ana. Cool. I’m down.”
My hands tighten on the wheel. Maybe she’s still at the Kappa house, and I guess I’ll know if her car isn’t at her apartment. I’ll know to prepare myself when I drop Benji off.
When we pull in, Anastasia is outside her complex with a guy wearing a tool belt around his waist. She’s tugging on his arm.
“Something’s wrong,” I say as I park and get out. Benji follows.
“What happened, Sam! Start from the beginning,” comes Anastasia’s voice, raised and layered in urgency. “Here. Give me Oscar.”
“Please.” He heaves out a long exhalation and hands a dog to her, a small one, and she takes it.
“What’s going on?” I ask.
She flips around, her face wet from tears.
My adrenaline spikes. “Are you okay?”
Her throat bobs as she wipes at her face with one hand. “No. June… I came home, and she wasn’t here. Sam said she was hurt!”
Sam fidgets as I fix my gaze on him. “What happened?”
He blows out a breath, a harried look on his face. “The furnace blew out and a repairman came out to fix it. He saw June, and I guess he’s buddies with the landlord. He must have called him, then Mr. Winston showed up and tried to run her off. She threw some stuff at him then Oscar acted like a big dog and nipped at him. Poor dog is old and can barely move, but he gave him a good run. Then he started asking me questions.” He looks at Anastasia. “Ana, I had to tell him the truth. She’s been here too long.” He sighs. “He called the cops, said he was attacked by a dog and had a vagrant on the premises he wanted removed.”
Anastasia shakes her head. “Oscar would never hurt anyone, and neither would June!”
Sam nods. “Cops showed up, blue lights blazing. She started running, slipped on the pavement and fell, damn sleet, then jumped up and ran down the road. I didn’t see Oscar till they left. He was hiding behind one of her crates.”
Anastasia exhales. “I should have found her somewhere to stay. This is my fault. I should have made her stay with us—”
“You can’t do that,” Sam says. “Her name isn’t on the lease, Ana—”
“Forget that. It’s sleeting tonight!” She gives him a pleading look. “Which direction did she go, Sam?”
He grimaces. “She ran off down the street toward Highland. The cops took a look around and said to call them if she comes back. I’ll have to, Ana.”
She blinks rapidly. “She’s not a criminal. No one cares about her. People don’t see her. They don’t get that she’s a person! We aren’t all the same, we aren’t, and it’s okay if she’s different, it’s okay…” Her voice trails off, her face crumpling.
“Anastasia,” I say and pull her against me, my arms going around her. “Shhh, I got you, I got you.” Oscar squirms between us, and I give her some space as I tip her chin up. “We’ll figure this out.”
“I’m here for this!” Benji announces jovially. “Let’s find this June chick. She hot?” No one replies, and he shrugs. “Tough crowd. Maybe she likes lizards.”
Sam sighs. “I’m worried too, Ana. I’m sorry I couldn’t stop her or do anything. Don’t be mad at me.”
She leans on me. “I’m not mad at you, Sam, just terrified for her. I’m sorry I yelled. It’s just… She left her coat, her blankets. Even Oscar. It’s freezing out here and…” She stops, swallowing as she focuses back on me. “There are only a few places she goes. I have to find her.”
“I’ll drive my truck. You come with us,” I say. I whip off my varsity jacket and help her into it, pulling the collar around her neck. My lips graze hers. I don’t give a fuck what happened with her and Donovan in the basement. She’s my rainbow.
She nods, her hold tightening around the shivering mutt. “Oscar’s coming too.”
“Of course.”
23
Worry gnaws at my gut as we get in River’s truck. I take the front and Benji gets in the back. He’s got Oscar in his lap and a lizard on his shoulder. It should be funny, but my head isn’t processing humor.
River has my hand tight in his, his left one on the steering wheel as he drives to Walmart. We circle the parking lot three times, driving to the back where the loading docks and semi-trucks are parked. We get out and peek behind a couple of dumpsters. Nothing.
We get back in the truck and sleet beats against the windshield, harder and faster than it was before, and I shiver. He throws a look at me and cranks up the heat then reaches for my hand again, lacing our fingers together.
“She’s not here,” I say dismally.
Benji leans in between us. “So, this lady? Tell me about her.”
“She’s in her sixties, horndog,” I say.
He grins. “Just trying to lighten the mood. I may have had a few too many.”
I exhale. “I appreciate it. I’m just rattled.” Another long breath comes from me. “She wears an Atlanta Falcons beanie. She’s petite and small…” I stop, dread building in my stomach. What if she’s disoriented? What if she’s in someone’s back yard, slowly freezing to death? What if—
River brings our clasped hands to his lips. “We’ll find her.”
He makes one more circle around the parking lot, driving slow past the front of the store. We scan over the people coming and going then I hop out and dash inside to talk to the employee greeter. I ask if she’s seen her and she says yes, she’s seen her before, but not tonight.
“Try Big Star,” I murmur as I get back in the truck.
We leave and drive the two miles to the grocery store, my eyes scouring the sidewalks and businesses along the way, wishing it weren’t so late.
Big Star is closed with no cars in the parking lot. River drives up and down the front of the building, then goes to the back. He stops and parks and I’m out of the car, checking behind a dumpster and under the loading docks. He helps me, running from one place to the other. He slips once on the ice and I wince, but he rights himself and sends me a smile. “Can’t catch a ball this year, but I’ve got great balance.”