Part 32 (1/2)
Walker nodded.
Cal figured he had to. Walker wasn't the kind of guy who enjoyed sitting around doing nothing.
”But first I have to find someone,” Walker said.
”Who?” Penny asked.
”A woman named Ashley.”
Cal looked at his brother. ”A girlfriend?”
”Yes, but not mine. One of the guys in my unit was killed. Ben. He was a good kid. Not a great marine but he had a lot of heart. Ashley was his girl. He planned on marrying her when he got out. I have a letter to deliver to her, so I have to find her.”
Penny set down her fork. ”You have more than just her first name, right? His family can help you locate her.”
The darkness returned to Walker's eyes. ”Ben didn't have any family. He grew up in foster care. Four high schools in four years. I know she lived in the Seattle area when they were in high school and that her name is Ashley.”
Cal leaned back in his chair. ”That's not enough to go on.”
”Sure it is.” Walker picked up his gla.s.s of wine. ”I can go through high school yearbooks until I find where Ben went to school, then get the names of all the Ashleys.”
”Couldn't you hire a private detective or something?” Penny asked. ”That's a huge amount of work.”
”I have time,” Walker told her. ”I want her to have the letter.”
Cal knew his brother well enough to recognize his stubborn expression. ”Don't argue, Penny. His mind is made up.”
”Good luck,” Penny said.
”Thanks.” He cut off a piece of the battered fish. ”Great meal. The best I've had in nearly a year.”
”Thank you. I thought you'd like it. So why did you turn down Naomi?”
Cal winced. ”Very smooth transition. Subtle.”
Penny shrugged. ”I'm curious. You've been away a long time. I'm guessing there wasn't a lot of, um, well, you know.”
”s.e.x,” Walker said calmly. ”You're saying there wasn't a lot of s.e.x to be had on my tour.”
”Something like that. Naomi is attractive and from all accounts, very skilled.”
”You're offering me your friend?”
”No. I'm curious. Is it because she's older?”
Walker shrugged. ”She's what? Thirty-eight? Thirty-nine?”
”Forty.”
”Perfectly seasoned,” he said. ”It's not the age thing.”