Part 50 (1/2)

-It look pretty clean in here?

She looked at the seats.

-Looks really clean to me.

-Sure, to you and me it looks really clean, but to the guy who restored this thing from the axles up, it doesn't take much.

She brushed some ashes from the seat.

-Better?

I got out.

-Come on.

I jingled my keys and fiddled with the k.n.o.b before going in. But I didn't need to give him any warning, he knew the sound of the Apache from a block away.

I opened up.

He looked from the TV screen showing a paused frame of Spetters Spetters, put a finger to his lips and pointed at Dot, curled sleeping on the couch with her head in his lap.

I nodded and came in and closed the door softly, and Soledad rapped on it and Dot lifted her head.

-Mfuh?

I opened the door.

Soledad tapped my forehead.

-Forget something?

-Sorry.

I held the door open and she came in.

-That's Chev. That's his friend Dot.

Dot rubbed her face all over and looked at Soledad.

-Whasas?

I closed the door again.

-Hey Dot. Hey. This is Soledad. She's. This is Soledad.

Soledad pointed at the hall.

-Bathroom?

-Uh, yeah. Straight back.

She went down the hall.

Dot watched her go, looked back at me.

-She know what a d.i.c.k you are?

I nodded.

-Most definitely.

She put her head back in Chev's lap.

-Must've been the steam room look that got her.

I pulled the towel tighter around my waist.

-Yeah, she digs the bathhouse scene.

I bounced the truck keys on my palm and Chev held his hand up and I tossed them to him and he caught them.

He looked at the keys.

-You put gas in her?

-Yeah. Stopped at the corner.

-It's too expensive there.

-I didn't remember before.

He let the keys dangle from his index finger and studied them.

-She give you any problems?

-No. No problems.

Soledad came out from the bathroom and stood at the mouth of the hall and pointed at the two bedroom doors.

-I'm tired.

I pointed at mine.

-That one.

She yawned, covered her mouth.

-OK.