Page 12 of Forgotten Path

“Is that named for Joel?”

The guy laughed. “Yeah. You know him?”

“I hoped to run into him, but he’s not home.”

The teenager handed him the drink, and Bodhi dug a bill out of his wallet. “Oh, you’re probably disoriented becausehemoved.”

“Pardon?”

“His campsite. He used to be down the road a piece. Across from the restaurant. He got a better deal on that scrubby old site where he thinks he’s gonna be able to make a vegetable garden.”

The shake of his head let Bodhi know what he thought of that plan.

“Gotcha.” Pleased that his steel-trap memory was vindicated, at least mostly, he smiled. “Keep the change. It’s hot as blazes out here.”

“Thanks. I appreciate it.” He tucked the twenty into his cash box.

Surprised that he didn’t take the change as a tip, Bodhi asked, “Are you Mike?”

“Yeah. This stupid little booze cart is paying for my associate’s degree at the community college.”

“What are you studying?”

“Right now, I’m going for my two-year degree in marine environmental technology.” His eyes lit up as he talked about the subject. “I want to get a job as a conservation or restoration technician, working on the reefs or seagrass colonies. Then maybe get more education once I’ve got my hands dirty—er, wet.”

“You have a well-planned path.” He didn’t know many teenagers, but this one seemed to have thought through his future with care.

Mike jutted his chin toward the road. “It was Joel’s idea, as a matter of fact.”

“What was? The degree?”

“Yeah, and the booze cart. I was tending bar at the restaurant, trying to save up for tuition at a four-year college. I wasn’t making much progress, though. Joel told me about the associate’s degree program over at the college, and he said I could make a lot more money working for myself. He was right.”

“Joel’s a smart guy.”

“Yeah.” Mike nodded, then frowned. “Haven’t seen him this week, come to think of it.”

Something about his tone made Bodhi ask. “Is that unusual—for him not to come around for a few days?”

“Uh, yeah. You don’t get a drink named after you unless you’re a regular. He’s here pretty much every day. Well, except for the first weekend of the month.”

“What happens the first weekend of the month? Do you close down?”

“No, I’m open every day. But he goes away.”

“Away? Do you know where?”

“He never said, and I never asked. I assumed he has a lady friend he visits.” He eyed Bodhi from under his swoop of bangs. “Or a guy friend. I mean, I don’t know.”

Bodhi was thinking. “Last Friday was the first.”

“Yep.”

“So, you haven’t seen Joel since last Thursday?”

Mike squinted and screwed up his face. “No, it was Wednesday night. He might have stopped by on Thursday before he left for … wherever, but I had to buy my textbooks for the fall semester, so my sister covered the cart for me. I don’t know if he came over or not.”

“Huh. Okay, thanks.”