BOILER

Chapter 14

He drove back into town and stopped at a bar called the Hogs Head. Two men stood stiffly against the cold outside. There were more men stood on a corner, drinking, dropping bottles and laughing. Toland ignored the eyes of the men in the door as he went in and felt the damp heat of the bar room.

Men played poker on a table next to the door, and there was a buck drawn in neon on the wall above them. They stopped to watched him as he passed. Most returned to their game after.

There was an old woman sat on a stool, drinking straight whisky, and watching the bowling on TV. She had a spaniel lying under her feet that was tied to the leg of her stool. The dog's head came up and sniffed at him before settling down on its front paws again. Toland scanned the room until the barman asked him what he wanted.

'Beer and a double gin, please.'

An old man at the poker table had watched Toland since he came in. Toland saw him as he made a pass of the room. He drank the gin, noted the time, and left the glass on the bar. He took the beer to a spot in a corner with a good view.

The men playing poker looked over at him now and then. The woman took another whiskey. The dog seemed to be asleep. The two men smoking outside came in and went to the dart board. The bar got busier. Toland finished his third gin and checked the time. He felt beat and wasn't going anywhere else tonight. He went back to his corner. The door opened and cold air came in behind a homeless man in a green coat that had white cotton blooming out of it. The soles on his black boots had worn through and the leather uppers were in a state of decomposition. His eyes were the purest blue and solid with no light in them, and his beard was matted, and a rank smell orbited him. He came to Toland holding a card that asked for change. Toland read it, felt his pocket, and handed over some loose coins. The man stared at him with those blue eyes before turning and shuffling to the men playing poker. Two men got up from the table, shaking their heads and shoving him back out the door.

The old man left the poker game and bought a drink. He'd glanced at Toland and stepped to him with a smile. One eye was scarred and smaller and with his smile, he seemed to be suspicious.

'How does the night find you?' the man said. His tone was lighter than Toland expected.

'Fine,' Toland said.

'Is it?'

Toland thought back to the cabin and shook his head. 'Did you win?' he asked.

The man turned to watch a hand being dealt at the poker table. 'I won some. I lost some. Just a game between friends, you know.'

The man stopped talking to drink and watch the hand play. 'This one near us has an awful tell. He's holding a pair of threes and a five, and there's already a four and a six in the river.'

'What's his tell?'

'He can't help leaning in when he gets excited. You just watch him. Anyone who wants to see can see it.'

The man stopped watching the game. He smiled at Toland again. 'I never saw you in here before. I don't know if you know, but this isn't the kind of place people come alone to. You from out of town?'

'No.'

The smile dissolved, and that small eye had a glint to it. 'So, you know this place?'

'It rings a bell. But it was on my way, and I needed a drink.'

'On your way to where?'

'Into town.'