Day Two
July 22, 1952
Tuesday Morning
When River told Alexa Blank that someone hired him to abduct her and await further instructions as to whether to kill her or not, it took her a moment to realize it wasn’t a joke. “After I got hired, I got fired,” he added. “That’s because I was supposed to get the job done by last night and didn’t. What that means is that someone else now has the job. Since the target time was last night, my suspicion is that he’s already on your tail.” He looked around. “He might even be watching us right now.”
She stared in disbelief.
Then she walked away and said over her shoulder, “You’re cute but you’re way too weird for me. Have a nice life.”
River caught up to her, grabbed her arm and jerked her to a stop.
“I’m here to help you,” he said. “You need to trust me.”
She shook her arm free.
“Get the hell away from me or I’ll call the cops.”
Then she was gone, heading down the street and disappearing into the restaurant.
River waited for five minutes before following her in and taking a seat in the corner booth.
She was back in uniform.
Shaken.
Confused.
River waved at her and said, “Coffee please.”
She ignored him.
She didn’t disappear into the kitchen and out the back though. Nor did she head over to the phone to call the cops. River flagged down the other waitress, ordered coffee, and sipped it.
He eased back in the booth and stretched his legs out on the bench.
He didn’t stare at the woman.
He kept his eyes pointed out the front window, watching the skirts and suits parade past, ready to get up if someone looked too much like a killer.
Ten minutes passed.
He got a second cup.
More time passed.
A half hour.
An hour.
Alexa Blank was beginning to look his way with greater and greater frequency. Then, when River was hardly paying attention, she slipped in and locked eyes.
“Who hired you?”
River shook his head.
“I don’t know,” he said. “That’s what I want you to help me figure out.”
“How?”
He shrugged.
“Who wants you dead?”
“I don’t know.”
“You have to know.”
“Well I might have to, but I don’t.”
River studied her eyes and found no lies.
“What I propose is that you and me slip out the back right now and sort this out someplace quiet.” She was about to say something when River interrupted her. “Think long and hard before you say no. I’m only going to give you this chance one time.” A beat then, “You have ten seconds to give me your answer. After that I’m gone and you’re on your own.”
She darted her eyes.
“How do I know this isn’t a trick to get me to leave with you?”
“You don’t,” he said, standing up. “Five seconds.”