Page 5 of Tinley's Daddy
“Well, who do we have here?” Oscar whistled. “Who is she?”
“I don’t know. But she’s in trouble.”
Her eyes grew wide. “But never mind, focus on the guys. Let me know when you have something.”
I hung up and turned my attention back to her.
“Are you hungry?” I brought my finger to my lips. Maybe she didn’t speak English. “Food.”
She didn’t move a muscle but stared into my eyes.
I took it as a yes.
“Okay. I’m going to order you something to eat. And then I need to get you to a doctor to?—”
She squeaked to get my attention. She was like one of those girls raised in the wild with a pack of wolves. Her dress was expensive but didn’t fit her. She was rail-thin, and her pale skin had lost its glow, but those eyes sparkled.
She shook her head viciously and tried to get up. She collapsed back against the wall, exhausted.
But she understood me.
“Okay.” I squatted back down. “If you can tell me yes or no with a nod of your head, then we can hold off on the doctor.”
She shook her head slower to the left and then the right.
“You are not hurt?”
She nodded.
“Okay.” I held my hand up. “But food. You are hungry?”
She nodded slowly, but she licked her lips again.
“Good.” I stood and walked over to the bed. I grabbed the house phone and dialed room service.
“Hi, Mr. Burroughs.” The attendant spoke with a heavy Parisian accent.
“I’d like to order room service.” I held my hand over the receiver. “Pizza?” I asked my guest.
She shook her head.
“Cheeseburger.”
That got me an enthusiastic head nod.
“Cheeseburger, fries, and ranch dressing,” I said into the receiver. “And a glass of milk.”
“How would you like the burger cooked?”
“Uhm. Med.” I looked at my friend, but she didn’t answer. She stared.
“Okay, I’ll have that up to you in twenty minutes.”
“Thank you.” I hung up the phone and grabbed another two bottles of water from the refrigerator. I grabbed a pillow from the bed and dropped it on the floor in front of her. I pulled off my suit jacket and untucked my shirt.
She watched my every move.
I sat with my back against the couch, my legs stretched out in front of me. I unscrewed both bottles and handed her one. She reached for it. Our fingers touched and the electric jolt made us both flinch. The bottle dropped between us. Water splashed out on the floor. I snatched it up before it tipped over completely.
