No Time To Run (Legal Thriller Featuring Michael Collins, Book 1) (39 page)

Michael cupped his hands beneath it, and then he splashed a handful of cold water on his face.

“
You know exactly what I’m talking about.” Kermit wandered around the bedroom, looking. “Here, use this.” Kermit found a duffel bag and picked it up. He threw it onto the bed, and then walked back toward the bathroom doorway. “Andie dumped your ass and took off, and ever since then you’ve mostly been a surly self-absorbed pinhead.” Kermit clicked his head to the side, evaluating his last statement. “And I mean that in the nicest sort of way.”

Michael brushed his teeth as Kermit continued
.
“I get dumped all the time and you don’t see me being all surly-whirl-y.” Kermit’s latest dalliance with Lowell Moore’s ex-wife, Valerie, ended when she
had
found somebody with more money and a nicer car. Nobody was surprised
, especially after Kermit lost most of his money in a Nigerian lottery scheme
.

Kermit had found his "numeric equilibrium" based upon the teachings of Dr.
Moo Yung Song
. His knowledge was gleaned from a back-page advertisement in an in-flight magazine as well as a random assortment of psychotropic and recreational drugs. But even Kermit's cosmic balance was no match for the Nigerian scammers.

“
If you want her back,” Kermit paused for drama, “which I know you do,” Kermit paused for even more drama, “then you have to fight for her.”

Michael looked at the reflection in the mirror. He saw Kermit standing behind him. Kermit was striking an exaggerated boxer’s pose while he spoke.

Michael did want Andie back. Kermit and the rest of the gang at the Sunset Resort, however, didn’t know the full story.

Everybody knew that he had asked Andie Larone to marry him. That was true. Kermit and the others also knew that she had said no. But, they didn’t know that she had initially said yes.

It was only after Michael had told her everything about his past that she packed-up and left. She blamed him for what had happened in New York, and hated the fact that he now owned her cash-strapped resort. Andie
had been
about to lose
the resort when
Michael had set up a shell company to buy
half
the Sunset from her. It had seemed like a good idea at the time, but Andie didn't agree.

Michael ran his toothbrush under the faucet, and then he ran his finger across the bristles to get it clean. “I don’t even know what I said, where I agreed to go, or what I told people that I’d do.” Michael put the toothbrush down on the side of the sink, splashed another handful of water on his face, and then wiped his face dry with a towel.

Out of habit, Michael touched the small scar on his cheek. He looked at it in the mirror. The scar was
something that he never got used to seeing; a daily reminder that he was still on the run.

Michael turned away from the sink, and then squeezed past Kermit to get back into
Hut No. 7's
main room.
He
saw the duffel bag that Kermit had thrown on the bed. “What’s this?”

“
It’s your bag, dude.”

Michael kept walking
toward
his dresser to get his paperback and sunglasses for the beach, but Kermit took a quick step behind him. He extended his long arm and grabbed Michael’s shoulder. “I toy with you not
, bro
.” Kermit let go of Michael’s shoulder and lowered his voice. He pointed at the duffel bag. “You need to pack up and go help Pace’s dad. I can explain on the way.”

“
Where? On the way, where?” Michael asked.

“
To Florida, of course.” Kermit smiled.

Michael began to protest
yet
again, when there was quick knock at the door. Michael turned. “Who’s there?”

“
It’s Pace.”

Michael
looked at Kermit. He was trapped.
“Come on in,” he said.

The front door opened, and Pace stepped inside Hut No. 7. “Senor Collins, I wanted to come and say thank you before you left.”

“
Well, there’s no need, I’m sorry but I’m—”

Kermit cut Michael off. “There’s no need for thanks, little buddy, because it makes Senor Collins, here, sort of embarrassed. He knows that you’re grateful.”

Pace smiled and nodded his head, as if this made sense.

Michael raised his hand, halting the conversation. “No, it’s not necessary because...” He looked at Pace. Then he looked at Kermit. Kermit’s eyes were wide, pleading.

Michael turned away from Kermit and looked back at Pace. He started, again, but stopped himself. Michael took a deep breath, and then resigned himself to keeping a drunken promise that he didn’t remember making.

“
Thanks aren’t necessary,” Michael said. “It’s just a quick trip
, only a few days
.” Michael looked over at Kermit, who beamed. “We’ll figure out what’s going on and then let you and your mom know.”

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