Page 41 of It's a Wonderful Knife
“I need a cigarette,” Richard mumbled, and he stood, almost knocking over his chair.
Mona stiffened. “Don’t try and go toward the river, Mr. Walker. My boys will stop you.”
His expression was grim as he stomped out of the dining hall.
I watched him go, wondering if I should try and dig deeper into whether or not he was using drugs. If there wasn’t a raging storm outside, maybe I’d go search the shrubs he’d seemed so enamored of. Perhaps that was where he’d hidden his stash? Or maybe he just liked bushes. Maybe I needed to search his room for a meth pipe or something?
I was leery of making any kind of move, in case I was wrong. I had no proof of anything. All I had right now was a hunch that Richard might be a drug user. I decided I’d sit on my theory for a bit. Richard wasn’t going anywhere at the moment.
I glanced over and found Santiago watching me. His mouth was a hard line, his dark brows knitted. Was he worried about the storm or something else? Perhaps he thought, as a cop, I should be able to handle the situation? Fix the situation? I raised my brows in inquiry, and he looked away quickly.
“Should we go back to our cabins?” Gianna asked.
Mona gave a reassuring smile. “You can stay here if you want. You might feel less worried around other people. We’ll keep the fire going in the living room, and we can play more board games if you guys want? Sorry, we don’t have a TV. Elle will keep the snacks, hot chocolate, and adult beverages flowing, so we might actually end up having some fun after all.”
“We’ll just have to make the best of it,” Penelope said.
“Yes.” Hermina kissed Mary Puppins’s head. “At least I have my little snookums here with me.”
“It’s hard being all alone in this situation.” Gianna glanced dolefully toward Santiago.
He kept his face averted, giving no inkling he cared about her situation. He had to be pretty callous to use her like that and then just toss her aside. She was no innocent, but it seemed heartless to sleep with her and then not eventalkto her again. Perhaps Amelia had given him some sort of ultimatum. I wouldn’t be surprised.
When Dakota and Chloe began clearing the table, that was our cue to move into the living room. Max and I took a seat on the couch near the fire, and Lucas and River joined us. Max stiffened at first, his jaw tense, but then he seemed to relax, and he even smiled in their direction.
What in the world is that about?
“Were you able to talk to your patients yesterday?” Max asked River.
He’s making conversation? With River?
Even River looked shocked that Max was addressing him. “Uh… no. I didn’t end up using the landline. Lucas talked me out of it. This is supposed to be a vacation, and he reminded me of that.”
“I see.” Max nodded. “Your receptionist, Lilly, is very capable. I’m sure everything is fine.”
“Yes.” River cleared his throat. “What about you, Royce? Don’t you worry things might fall apart in town if you’re not there?”
“Believe it or not, the world might just go on without me.” I smiled.
“Not my world,” River laughed, fluttering his lashes.
Lucas rolled his eyes, and Max sighed.
I changed the subject. “Where do you suppose Richard ran off to? It’s still raining cats and dogs out there.”
“I’ve never seen a man so eager to please his boss,” Lucas murmured.
Max nodded. “He’s odd.”
“Very odd.” River took a glass of whiskey that Dakota brought to him. “Thanks.”
“My pleasure,” Dakota said, turning to me and Max. “Can I get you two anything to drink?”
“I wouldn’t mind some whiskey,” Max said brightly. “Just to warm the cockles and all that.”
I smiled. “I’ll have the same. I don’t want Max’s cockles to get warm when mine are cold.”
Lucas laughed, but River frowned.
