“Who do we have here?”
Abilene explained his made-up story, the abuse, and the blindness. When she was done, her husband gave a stifled grunt and murmured in her direction.
“I’ve told you about bringin’ home strays?”
I’m blind, not deaf, you jerk. I can hear you.
“Forrest,” she chastised. “Can’t you see he’s been through a lot?”
Gage sat straighter. “Sir, I won’t be a burden. I have a friend coming to get me. If I can get your address, I’ll be gone before you eat dinner.”
The man hesitated a long moment before he sighed, “We’re on County Road 12. Tell your friend to come to the front gate and ask for the boss, and he’ll be let in. Abi, com’ere. I wanna speak to you out back.”
“Yes, dear,” she said, her tone more amused than obedient.
Forrest called out in a booming voice, “Jesse! Show our guest the spare room. Get him some clean clothes and a plate to eat.”
Jesse came into the room reeking of seared meat and smoke. “Sure thing, boss.”
Gage stood when he heard the back door close.
“Spare room is upstairs, first door on the right.”
Gage followed the man down a long hall, counting the steps and memorizing every turn.
A knob unlatched and the door creaked open.
“Bathroom’s on your left. I’ll put some clothes on the bed for ya. There’s plastic bags under the sink for you to put your stuff in. Do you, um… Do you need help?”
“I can manage,” he said.
He could feel Jesse’s hesitation. Gage was quickly learning that people saw vision impairment as weakness.
As soon as the door shut, he pulled the stolen phone from the coat pocket. He had no clue how much battery was left, so he hurried and hit redial to call Roz, but he didn’t get an answer.
Crap. He’s probably still on the plane. He’d have to leave a voicemail.
He rattled off the address first, “I’m still on the farm. Hurry if you can. The owners seem nice, but I don’t think they want an overnight guest.”
After he hung up, he traced the room’s layout with his fingertips.
There was a full bed, two chests of drawers, a small closet, a bay window covered with sheer curtains, then he found the door to the bathroom.
He wasted no time shedding the stiff overalls and turning on the shower taps.
The water hit his back in a rush of perfect pressure and heat. The soap in the recessed shelf smelled like vanilla and lavender. Not his preferred scent, but beggars couldn’t be choosers.
As he washed, he could only imagine the dirt and dried blood running off him.
For the first time since being touched and prodded in the lab, he scrubbed himself enough to feel human again.
There were toiletries lining the sink—lotion, deodorant, a new toothbrush still in the wrapper, and a hairbrush. He used them all, then tossed them into a plastic bag with his dirty clothes.
He found the lightweight sweatsuit left out for him on the bed, it was soft and smelled faintly of detergent. He hung the overalls and long coat in the closet and left the room.
When he got downstairs, Jesse was waiting.
“I made you a plate. There’s a small dining table a few steps in front of you, on the right.”
