Page 60 of I Am Salvation

“Okay, Teddy.” I pat his soft head, which is now clean thanks to the bath I gave him. “Let’s go.”

I slip out of bed quietly so as not to disturb Dragon. If anyone ever needed the escape of sleep, he does.

I throw on a pair of sweats and a sweatshirt, slide into some flip-flops even though it’s fall, and attach Teddy’s leash to his collar.

He whimpers, and I shush him. “We don’t want to wake Dragon,” I whisper.

Teddy’s ears perk up as if he understands me. He doesn’t, of course. He’s just happy to have a kind word from someone, I’m sure.

I kneel to his level, look into his sweet eyes, and scratch him behind the ears. “You’ll never be hungry again,” I promise. “You’ll always be loved.”

I take him out of the room, close the door quietly, and head to the elevator. Once we’re outside the hotel, I take him to the designated dog area. Once Teddy is done with his business, I clean up after him, and the two of us watch the gorgeous sunrise.

I take him back upstairs to feed him. I get his food ready in the other room so I don’t disturb Dragon. Then I shower, dry my hair, and pull it into a ponytail. I dress in jeans and my Steel Vineyards sweatshirt.

“I have to run an errand,” I say to Teddy. “Let’s go tell Dragon.”

Dragon is still asleep, but I don’t want him to worry when he wakes up and finds me gone. I nudge him.

He grumbles.

“Dragon,” I say.

He opens one eye. “Yeah?”

“I have to run a quick errand. The dog has been fed and he’s been out. I won’t be gone too long.”

I expect him to ask me where I’m going. To my surprise, he doesn’t.

“Okay,” he says and closes his eyes again.

I grab my purse and phone and leave the hotel room. Teddy whimpers, and I lean down and pet him again. “I won’t be long. I promise.”

I know exactly where I’m going.

The idea came to me while I was in the shower.

It’s not my place, but I’m here. I’m a part of this, whether Dragon wants me to be or not.

I’m going to see his mother.

Stefania Locke. Or Christina Delaney. Whoever.

The address is still programmed in the GPS in my car, so it’s easy to get there. I drive through the neighborhood and stop at Mrs. Locke’s trailer.

It’s about eight a.m. Early, perhaps, if you don’t grow up on a ranch or don’t work for a living.

But she will talk to me.

What I want most in the world right now is to help her son. And I can only do that if I know the whole story.

I get out of the car, walk up the rickety steps, and knock on the door.

No one answers.

I knock again, louder this time.

And again, no answer.

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