Day Two
July 22, 1952
Tuesday Morning
River drank coffee while Alexa Blank tended to tables, deciding whether he was angel or demon. It was several minutes before she swung by with an answer. “Let me see your driver’s license.”
“Why?”
“Just do it.”
He obliged.
She studied it and said, “Dayton River, like you said.” She handed it back. “Get your car and pick me up behind here in the alley in ten minutes. You see that other waitress over there?”
River nodded.
“I told her that if I end up dead, you’re the one who did it. I told her your name, Dayton River.”
“You won’t end up dead.”
“I can’t believe I’m doing this.”
Heading out of Denver they didn’t talk much. River concentrated on the rearview mirror, studying every car, looking for a killer behind a wheel. At the edge of the city he made several evasive turns. No one followed. The woman kept a sideways eye on him and had her body pressed against the door as far away as she could.
“Relax,” he said.
“How?”
“I’m not going to hurt you,” he said. “My assignment was to abduct you and not let you see my face. I would be contacted later and told whether I should kill you or let you go. My question is why?”
“I don’t know.”
River frowned.
“This is important,” he said. “Think.”
“I am thinking.”
“Do you have any enemies?”
“No.”
“Boyfriends?”
“No.”
“Did you see something you shouldn’t have?”
“No.”
“Do you know something you shouldn’t?”
“No.”
“Are you blackmailing someone?”
“No.”
“Did you steal something?”
“No.”
“Are you a mistress?”
“No, I’m a waitress,” she said. “That’s all I am, just a waitress.”
“That might be true but you’re a waitress who’s on someone’s radar screen.”
She stared out the windshield.
“According to you,” she said.
“Not according to me,” River said. “You are, trust me.”
“I am trusting you but it’s hard.”
River patted her hand.
“I know,” he said. “I wish I could say something encouraging. Unfortunately, it’s going to get harder before it gets easier.”
The city got smaller.
The country got bigger.
Black and white magpies appeared in the sky.
Rabbit brush grew in number and size.
“Where are we going?”
“We’re going to your new home, until we can figure this out.”
“What is it, a house?”
“No, it’s something you’re not going to like.” A beat then, “If you want to live you’re going to need to be strong. I’ll help you all I can but most of it’s going to depend on you.”