Page 7 of Gold Rush
“We can get you off the streets.”
“Oh, great, yeah, I’ll go live in a homeless shelter, get the once over by the church members or social workers, be given a cheap phone and sent on jobs that pay about enough to get a damn burger a day. No thanks. Been there.”
Abs stopped, and they stopped with him. He waved his hands over his clothes and said, “Do I look like I work in a burger place or mopping up after people? No, but I did. I worked shitty jobs, and I struggled like you’d never believe. Someone helped me, now…now he’s helping you.”
Dean turned to Goldie and whispered, “You?”
“Y-yeah, I…I’d like to help.”
“Why is he doing all the talking?”
There was a twinkle in his eyes, and yeah, they were a brilliant deep sky-blue that drew Goldie in like that picture so long ago. “He never shuts up.”
Abs giggled and said, “I’d be mad, but it’s true. Come on, I really want out of here.”
They made it back to the pub, and Goldie sat Dean at a table while Mims stared at the guy. “Do you want something to drink?”
“Water would be great, thanks.”
Goldie and Abs pulled Mims aside after Goldie served Dean a glass of water so Goldie could ask Murphy’s whereabouts.
“He’s on a buying trip at the liquor warehouse. Why?”
Mims couldn’t stop staring at Dean, and Goldie stepped in the way so he couldn’t. “Stop gawking!”
“He’s fine! Who is he?”
“Don’t ask,” Abs said as he leaned on the bar.
“Abs, stop,” Goldie begged. “Mims, listen, this guy needs my help. I need to see if…I don’t know, he could stay around here for just long enough for me to find him a safe place.”
“Like it’s safe here,” Mims groaned.
“Did something happen?”
“No. I just miss Sonny. No matter what, he’s not coming out of hiding yet, so I have to see him when I can, and I miss him. That’s all.”
Goldie hugged his friend and said, “I get it, babe. I do.”
“Listen,” Abs said, “if Murphy doesn’t let this guy stay, we can get him a motel room.”
“Would that work for you?”
“No, but it’s a choice,” Abs defended.
Goldie saw that Abs wasn’t fond of Dean, and he’d question him on it later, but for the time being, he said, “He’s gonna stay here if I have to beg Murphy. No one gets better on the streets. Motels are for people who can barely afford to live, and if he sees that, it’ll worry him.”
Dean was suddenly at the bar, telling them, “You guys aren’t as quiet as you think. A motel is fine, really.”
“See?” Abs hissed.
“No. No motel unless we have no other choice.”
Dead shrugged and sat on a stool at the bar. “I’m scared, yeah. I just don’t want to involve all of you if I don’t have to.”
It tore at his heart to hear it. Goldie saw the pain in the man’s eyes, saw the fear. “We’re involved. Just…Just tell me where you have your things and I’ll go pick them up for you.”
“They’re at a motel,” he said with a little twitch of his red, succulent lips.
