Day Three
July 23, 1952
Wednesday Morning
A throbbing pain behind Waverly’s left eye pulled her out of a fitful sleep. The room was dark and silent except for the heavy breathing of someone sleeping next to her. The crazy storm of last night had diminished to a drizzle or had disappeared altogether. She raised her hand to the ache in her head and felt dried blood. Then the memory of last night flashed.
She recalled reaching for the man to see if he had the envelope.
She recalled his sudden move.
She recalled Su-Moon being knocked violently to the ground.
She recalled a scream coming from her throat followed by a heavy punch to the side of her head.
She recalled her legs buckling.
She recalled her face hitting the ground so hard that water splashed into her nose and choked the oxygen out of her mouth.
In hindsight, the man didn’t kill them.
He took what they had-the black book and the money-but he didn’t kill them.
They made their way to Su-Moon’s and confirmed that the envelope was in fact gone. Then they washed their wounds and went to bed.
That was last night.
Now it was dawn.
All their proof was gone-the pictures, the black book, the money, everything. Bristol was too smart to try to hide it again. He’d destroy it. He’d burn it or rip it to shreds or something equivalent. It was forever gone.
Waverly flipped onto her back and closed her eyes.
Now what?
Nothing, that’s what.
It was over.
Over.
Over.
Over.
Wait-
Maybe it wasn’t.
No, it definitely wasn’t.
They had one more thing to do, namely warn the woman from Bristol’s houseboat-the one who was draped across Bristol’s lap in the red dress getting spanked.
They owed that to her.
Plus, maybe Bristol actually had feelings for her. If she left him, it might actually hurt.
He had it coming.
Suddenly Waverly had a wild thought, so wild that she shook Su-Moon awake.
“I have a plan,” she said.
Su-Moon exhaled.
“What time is it?”
“I don’t know.”
“Go back to sleep.”
“I have a plan,” Waverly said.
“Good for you,” Su-Moon said. “Tell me in the morning.”
“It is morning.”
“The afternoon, then.”