Chapter Twenty-Five
Rude Awakening, Semi-Nude
I awoke the next morning stretched out languidly on the big bed of my cottage. I didn’t remember much more than trying to focus on the serial numbers of a Kenyan hundred-shilling bill. I did remember I’d won. But if I had, where was the money? For that matter, what were the stakes? Would Van Vliet play for bottle caps or islands in the Bahamas? Would a Dutchman Welsh on a bet?
Casting a sideward glance from where my leaden head lolled on the pillow, I spied my clothes hung in an armoire with other new garments I had yet to wear. I was clad only in my jockey shorts, which by my math were going on at least their third day of continuous use.
I had worried that Valerie would want to visit me during the night. (False pride, Rocky?) And I’d worri
