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traightened out？ In the morning； he would call his father。 Frank had four bedrooms in his big house on the inland waterway in Riviera Beach。 Maybe the old man would take them for the summer； or even for a month or two until he could work something out。 Even two weeks would help a lot。 By that time； maybe he would have a decent place to live in Miami。 But now； with the two girls； he would need at least a two…bedroom apartment； or maybe a small house in a safe； quiet neighborhood。 Next Friday was payday； and his next paycheck was supposed to go to Patsy…then he felt a little better； a swift surge of relief。 Now that Patsy had sent him the girls； the agreement was canceled。 Finished。
Feeling a little better； but not much； Hoke butted his cigarette for later； went back to his canvas cot； and fell asleep。
11
Hoke took the girls to Gold's Deli for breakfast。 It was only two blocks away； so they walked。 On their way over to Washington Avenue； Hoke pointed out the dilapidated condition of the old apartment houses and small hotels； and explained that there had been a moratorium on new construction for several years because there was supposed to be a master plan for plete redevelopment。 But no redevelopment funds came through； so the owners of the buildings made only enough repairs to satisfy the fire marshal。 He also told them to notice the population mix； young Latins and old Jews predominated。
〃South Beach is now a slum； and it's a high…crime area； so I don't want you girls to leave the hotel by yourselves。 If you had a doll； and you left it out overnight on the front porch of the hotel； it would probably be raped when you found it in the morning。〃
Both girls giggled。
〃Maybe that's stretching it a little； but between First and Fourteenth Street； South Beach is not the real Miami Beach you see in the movies。 If you were looking out the window of the cab last night； and paying attention； you'd've noticed the difference。 North of Sixteenth there are tourists out on the streets； lights； open stores and restaurants； and so on。 But as soon as you reach Fifteenth； heading down this way； there are no people anywhere at night。 On the corners； you'll see two or three Latin males； maybe； but none of the old people leave their rooms after the sun goes down。 And I don't want you girls to go out alone at night either。〃
〃Why do you live here； then？〃 Sue Ellen said。
〃We're moving next Friday。 The owner of the hotel had a security problem with Marielitos； so I was just helping him out temporarily； that's all。〃
In Gold's； the girls ordered Cokes and toasted bagels with cream cheese。 Hoke ordered two soft…boiled eggs and a slice of rye toast。
〃Did your mother give you any money？〃 Hoke said； while they were waiting to be served。
〃Fifty dollars apiece；〃 Sue Ellen said； 〃after she bought our bus tickets。〃
Hoke held out his hand。 〃Let me have it。〃
Sue Ellen had forty…two dollars； and Aileen had thirtynine and some change。 They handed over the money reluctantly。
Hoke counted it。 〃Where's the rest of it？〃
〃We spent some ing down；〃 Sue Ellen said。 〃Then we had a pizza and went to a movie。〃
〃I played Donkey Kong in the bus station；〃 Aileen said。
Hoke gave each girl a dollar bill。 〃Until you get jobs； and I'll help you find work when we get back to Miami； I'll give you both a dollar a week as an allowance。 But for a while； money'll be rather tight。〃
〃You can't do much of anything with a dollar；〃 Aileen said。
〃I don't want you doing much of anything。 I've got to go over to the station after breakfast。 You can either go with me； or stay in the hotel； where Mr。 Cohen or Emilio can keep an eye on you。〃
〃Can we swim in the pool？〃 Sue Ellen asked。 〃I noticed the sign in the corridor pointing to the pool。〃
〃There's a pool out back； on the bay side； but Mr。 Bennett had it filled with sand。 If you have a pooi； you see； you have to have maintenance and insurance。 The bay's too polluted for swimming； and I don't want you girls going over to the ocean by yourselves。〃
〃At home； we had our own pool；〃 Aileen said。
〃Did you girls really choose to live with me； or did your mother send you down here against your will？〃
〃We said we'd rather live with you； Daddy；〃 Sue Ellen said。
〃All right； then。 Just remember that I don't make three hundred and twenty…five thousand a year。 But my job's got other pensations。〃
〃Like what？〃 Sue Ellen said。
〃Well； for one thing〃…Hoke smiled…〃I've got my two daughters back。〃
Apparently it was the right thing to say。 Sue Ellen smiled。 Aileen covered her golden mouth with her hand； so Hoke knew that she was smiling； too。
The girls decided to go with Hoke instead of hanging around the hotel。 But Hoke made them change from their shorts into dresses before driving across the MacArthur Causeway。
〃Tomorrow afternoon we'll go up on the roof； and you can watch the cruise ships e in through Government Cut。 We've got more cruises out of Miami than any other place in the world。〃
〃I've never been on a cruise；〃 Sue Ellen said。
〃Me neither；〃 Aileen said。
〃I went once； for a weekend in Nassau。 It isn't worth the money。 A weekend in Nassau's like a weekend in Liberty City。〃
〃Where's Liberty City？〃 Aileen asked。
〃It's just a black ghetto in Miami…one of the biggest。〃
When they got to the station； Hoke took the girls into the interrogation room； and then got them some typing paper and pens from his office。
〃I'll be working in my office； doing some paperwork； but you girls can draw pictures to pass the time。 I know you like to draw。〃
Sue Ellen laughed。 〃I'm sixteen years old； Daddy。〃
〃You used to like to draw。〃
〃That was a long time ago。 I remember。 I also remember the time you handcuffed me to the table in the patio。〃
〃I never did that。〃
〃Yes you did； too。 I remember。 And I cried。〃
〃You were only six when you left Miami。 My handcuffs wouldn't close around your little wrists。 They were only about this big around。〃 Hoke made a circle with his thumb and forefinger。
〃That's why you put the cuff around my ankle instead。 I remember lots of things。 You'd be surprised。〃
〃All right； then； if you don't want to draw； write letters to your mother。 I'll get some envelopes later。〃
Hoke returned to his office and telephoned his father in Riviera Beach。 On Saturdays； the hardware store was only open until noon； but Frank Moseley rarely went in until ten； so Hoke knew he could still catch the old man at home。
〃It's Hoke； Dad；〃 he said； when Frank answered。
〃How are you； son？ Did the girls get there all right？〃
〃Sure。 They're with me now； I'm at the police station。 Did Patsy tell you she was sending them down to me？〃
〃Yes； she called me； and she said she'd call you。〃
〃She didn't。 The girls arrived last night； and I didn't have a clue。〃
〃That's funny。 She told me she'd call you and explain。〃
〃Well； she didn't。 Things are a little awkward for me right now； Dad； and I was wondering if you and Helen could take the girls for a couple of weeks。〃
〃We aren't going to be here； son。 If you hadn't called me； I would've called you on Monday。 But in ten days； Helen and me are taking a round…the…world cruise on the Q。 E。 II。