Chapter 20

I crossed the road and trotted down the old wooden steps to start my stroll west toward the Misty View Motel. It was overcast, gray, and cold. The wind had picked up since yesterday, which meant rain soon. Before long, I was surprised to see the tall, massive frame of Murphy Vickers trudging along in the distance.

From time to time he would stop, bend over, and pick something up from the sand. Was he a beachcomber, too? I kept my pace to his so as not to impose upon his solitude. When he turned around and started walking toward me, I was soon close enough to see the surprise on his face.

The first thing he said, “Are you following me?” Paranoid much?

I sighed internally. “Nope. When you saw me out here yesterday, I was doing my usual routine. I walk out here as often as I can. Clears my head, and it’s beautiful.”