That hurt. And yet Elizabeth knew that no hurt had ever been intended for her or Robert or April. And again she thought about what River’s disappearance had done to her. What had happened to Natal and Harbor had been brutal on them all—but not totally devastating, as it had been to River.
“I’m sorry; that’s the way it is,” Henley said. “I needed a way to reach him with someone who could talk to him—who knew him in Brazil. I don’t think I could have gotten him without vio—without someone getting hurt—if it hadn’t been for a few friends he made down there.”
“We’ll need to write them—and thank them,” Elizabeth said.
April nodded. Once again, she was looking through the hallway window at her brother.
Dr. Freeman cleared his throat, “What River is suffering from is PTSD—but not just because of the war. What happened to his family … well, it’s no wonder, really. The human heart, like the human body, is fragile. It can only take so much.”
“But he will get better,” April said fervently.
Elizabeth put her arms around her daughter and held her as they all looked through the window to River’s room.
He looks good, Elizabeth told herself. He was sitting at the table they had given him, sketchpad in hand.
He looked up, smiling. Elizabeth thought that he was smiling at them. She waved.
But he didn’t seem to see her.
It was all right. He looked like he was happy. He reached out a hand across the table; it looked as if he caught something, but there was nothing there.
His smile, though, was beautiful. Soft and tender.
* * *
“You found me,” Natal said softly. “You will always find me.”
River’s smile deepened as he looked at his wife. “Or you will always find me.”
He heard a laugh. A sweet, delighted laugh. The kind of laugh that was like music in his ears.
Harbor sat on her mother’s lap. River reached over and squeezed her little fingers.
“Now, what’s so funny? You just love to laugh, don’t you. I’ll draw you a picture. What shall I draw? A bunny rabbit?”
“Bunny!” Harbor echoed.
“Now,” Natal said, trying very hard to sound stern. “You two may play with your art—which is wonderful—but, not too late. It’s nearly bedtime. And, of course, I will be making pancakes in the morning, so that is worth going to bed on time, right?”
“Yes, Mommy!” Harbor said, and giggled. She and River knew, of course, that Natal would make them pancakes in the morning, no longer how long they drew! But, it was getting late, and they were both sleepy anyway. They gave each other their secret look, and then River looked back at Natal.
Natal smiled, and something inside River caused a little trembling sensation that raced through the length of him and he had to try hard then to tear his gaze away from her to look at his pad.
“We will always find each other,” Natal said.
“Always,” River agreed.
* * *
Later that night, with Harbor curled beside him and Natal dozing in the big chair by the window, River watched television. The news came on.
They were showing Brazil. He saw the majestic mountains surrounding Rio—with the Christ the Redeemer statue’s open and outstretched arms.
He glanced at his sleeping family and turned the volume up slightly.
“This is a special report from Brazil,” an anchor announced. The screen switched to a shot of Rio, and the newscaster’s voice continued as different scenes of the city—and Reed Amato—were shown.
“The trial of Brazilian drug lord Reed Amato has begun. Amato is no longer out on bail. He has been taken into custody, pending a new arraignment. Prosecutors have informed the press that further charges will be added in the morning as Amato will also be charged for murder in the case of Frederico Damani, whose decomposing body was found in a river near Amato’s house. Physical evidence directly links Amato to the case, according to prosecutors. The city of Rio anxiously awaits the trial as it will be telecast daily; we understand that many in South America, the Caribbean, and North America will be equally interested. Amato is also suspected of owning acres of land dedicated to the production of illegal drugs that have flooded the continents. While Mr. Amato made many donations to the city of Rio, it’s alleged that he also threatened his workers, bribed many officials, and created an atmosphere of absolute fear that demanded complete loyalty while he engaged in his criminal pursuits.”
River let out a breath. They’d really gotten him. Reed Amato would spend the rest of his life behind bars.
“And now over to Maria Coppella, on the streets of Rio, for a very different story,” the anchor announced.
The scene switched.
“Thank you, Tom.” A woman stood on the street, outside one of the downtown buildings of Rio. “While we’re talking about Brazil, we can turn to some happier news. A local Brazilian man, Thiago Norway—known as just Theo around the city and the track—has hit a big payday. Mr. Thiago Norway is the sole winner of a lottery ticket that came in with a ten-million-dollar payoff. We are pleased to offer our congratulations to Mr. Norway.”
River stared at the television.
Could this be true?
Yes—there was Theo near the reporter in a square before a large skyscraper. All kinds of people were surrounding him, laughing, shaking his hand, and congratulating him.
River strained to see, sitting up higher.
“Yes,” he said softly.
Among the people surrounding Theo was Beluga. While others kept trying to reach Theo and pat him on the shoulder, Theo grabbed Beluga and gave him a huge kiss on the cheek. Beluga moved away, laughing—and wiping his cheek.
Convict was there, at Beluga’s side, barking with excitement.
“Way to go, Theo,” River said softly, watching his friends.
“Mr. Norway,” the reporter asked, “what will you do with all that money?”
Theo grinned and bent down suddenly. River saw that he had found a barely smoked cigarette. He looked at it as if it were the true prize.
“What will I do?” he asked. “Share—share with friends. What good is money, eh? Except for what it can buy? Maybe a new school—we have a few areas that could use one. And maybe I will travel. I have friends, you know? I will travel—see old friends and make new ones.”
River grinned. He could almost believe that Theo could see him through the TV.
* * *
River lay back down. He felt good.
Really good.
Harbor huddled against him. Natal rose, grinning with the news of Theo, and came to his side. She bent down and kissed his forehead. “Good things for good people,” she said.
River reached up to touch her hair.
“My girls,” River murmured, snuggling them both to his side.
He was going to be all right.
OTHER BOOKS BY HEATHER GRAHAM
Flawless
The Hidden
The Forgotten
The Silenced
The Dead Play On
The Betrayed
The Hexed
The Cursed
Waking the Dead
The Night Is Forever
The Night Is Alive
The Night Is Watching
Let the Dead Sleep
The Uninvited
The Unspoken
The Unholy
The Unseen
An Angel for Christmas
The Evil Inside
Sacred Evil
Heart of Evil
Phantom Evil
Night of the Vampires
The Keepers
Ghost Moon
Ghost Night
Ghost Shadow
The Killing Edge
Night of the Wolves
Home in Time for Christmas
Unhallowed Ground
Dust to Dust
Nightwalk
er
Deadly Gift
Deadly Harvest
Deadly Night
The Death Dealer
The Last Noel
The Séance
Blood Red
The Dead Room
Kiss of Darkness
The Vision
The Island
Ghost Walk
Killing Kelly
The Presence
Dead on the Dance Floor
Picture Me Dead
Haunted
Hurricane Bay
A Season of Miracles
Night of the Blackbird
Never Sleep with Strangers
Eyes of Fire
Slow Burn
Night Heat
Haunted Destiny
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
HEATHER GRAHAM is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than one hundred novels and novellas. A recipient of the RWA’s Lifetime Achievement Award and International Thriller Writers’ ThrillerMaster Award for Lifetime Achievement, she has also been honored with awards from Georgia Romance Writers, RT Book Reviews, and more.
Visit her online at www.theoriginalheathergraham.com, or sign up for email updates here.
https://twitter.com/heathergraham
https://www.facebook.com/HeatherGrahamAuthor
CHAD MICHAEL MURRAY has showcased his talents on television and the silver screen for more than a decade. His film credits include Outlaws and Angels, Left Behind, and the critically acclaimed Fruitvale Station. He currently stars on CMT’s Sun Records and is well known for his iconic starring role on One Tree Hill. Additional television credits include Gilmore Girls, Agent Carter, and Dawson’s Creek. In addition to his acting work, Murray is active in charities for children and teens. American Drifter is his debut novel. You can sign up for email updates here.
https://twitter.com/ChadMMurray
https://www.facebook.com/chadmmurray
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CONTENTS
Title Page
Copyright Notice
Dedication 1
Dedication 2
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Epilogue
Other Books by Heather Graham
About the Authors
Copyright
This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the authors’ imaginations or are used fictitiously.
AMERICAN DRIFTER
Copyright © 2017 by Heather Graham and Chad Michael Murray
All rights reserved.
Cover photographs by Getty Images
A Forge Book
Published by Tom Doherty Associates
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New York, NY 10010
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Forge® is a registered trademark of Macmillan Publishing Group, LLC.
The Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available upon request.
ISBN 978-0-7653-7487-5 (hardcover)
ISBN 978-1-250-18514-3 (signed edition)
ISBN 978-1-4668-4345-5 (ebook)
eISBN 9781466843455
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First Edition: November 2017