Adventures at the Full Service Island

[st_clare]

It turned out that Searchlight was only about an hour's drive from Las Vegas, but Julianna slept through her wake-up call because she'd tossed and turned for most of the night after her conversation with Edmund. So when she got up it was nearly eleven o clock, which meant she didn't arrive at the car rental agency until almost noon. Nothing on this trip had gone according to plan so far except for her meeting with Dean Travers.

Fortunately, the agency wasn't busy when she arrived, and the Watcher was able to secure an automobile with a full tank of gas and a freshly vacuumed interior. She was going to have to get one of these on a permanent basis if and when she found something other than temporary lodgings.

The highway boasted mid-day traffic, and Julianna kept herself occupied by listening to the all-news station. The heat of the day meant she was going to need water. Damn this early afternoon sun. Clearly Nevada was not famous for its rainy season.

Searchlight really did turn out to be a blink-and-you'll-miss-it place, because she almost missed her exit. Brakes squealed a bit, and gravel crunched as she got off the highway. If Rhiannon was here, it should take her no time at all to find the girl. But first she was going to have to get some bottled water, because the heat was abysmal.

There was a gas station with the unimaginative name of the Gas N Go, and Julianna parked her rental in one of the few parking spaces and killed the engine. Even a place liked this had to have plastic bottles of water for sale. And then she could go about her business.

Comments

[devin_capshaw]

When the meter hit ten dollars, Devin grabbed the nozzle, shaking the excess gas off before putting it back in its holster. "I was," he admitted. "But I never read the review. If it was negative, I'd get defensive, and if it was positive, I'd sweat it out with my next book."

He smiled, almost sadly, wiping his hands on a disposable towel. "Some people are never satisfied."

Scratching at the stubble on his neck, he seemed to deliberate on something. Finally, he said, "I don't mean to harp on you about it, and it's probably none of my business. But you shouldn't be so quick to judge people.

"They can and will surprise you, sometimes in the best way, but only if you let them."

[st_clare]

Oh. Well, then.

Julianna could feel the corners of her well-formed mouth lifting almost of their own accord, and for once she took the words at face value. Rhiannon had been trying to make her angry, and it had worked, but there was no antagonism in the blond man's voice and so not even she could take offense at his words. The sun was very hot, and she took another drink of water. Had to stay hydrated, after all.

"You're not the first person to suggest it, love," she told him with that same smile. What would he look like clean-shaven? The Watcher steered her brain away from that bit of curiosity. She needed to go.

"I hope your ticket brings you luck," she offered randomly. "Even if you don't win the lottery, you know what the odds of success are."

[devin_capshaw]

Devin nodded, picking out the key to his car. He wanted to get back to his room, put the finishing touches on an outline he was planning to send to his publisher.

"Thanks, but I wouldn't know what to do with it if I did."

He started toward the driver's side, then paused, looking back at her. "The book is called Next of Kin, if you want to pick it up. It might not be your thing, but hey. It could kill a couple of hours."

Giving her a wave, Devin got into his car and started the engine. He'd scratch off the ticket after he got his work done.

[st_clare]

She waved back, looked up at the cloudless blue sky, then started to walk in the general direction of the post office. Next of Kin. Even if it wasn't any good, she could at least try it. Not everything had to be an intellectual pursuit. Even she was capable of relaxing with a book once in a while.

Maybe not all Americans were boorish and dreadful after all.