Page 31 of Two Kinds of Stranger

‘That was kind of you,’ said Logan.

‘I’m sorry, what. . .Oh,’ she said, glancing down at the groceries next to her. ‘I wouldn’t want to lose my noodles on the train. . .so. . .no big deal. It’s just noodles.’

Her accent wasn’t New York. There was a hint of the south in her voice. And the smile she gave him, which carried a hint of embarrassment and self-consciousness, sent a quiver of excitement fluttering in his stomach.

‘You didn’t tell that lady that her shopping was spilling, you just acted. You helped her, and she’ll never know. No one would know. That’s arealact of kindness,’ said Logan.

She smiled back, let out a nervous giggle and swept some of her curls behind her ear.

‘Well,yousaw me, but I didn’t know anyone was looking.’

‘Exactly my point. My name’s Logan,’ he said.

‘Grace,’ said the young woman, still smiling. A good name for a butterfly.

The older woman beside her opened one eye as the train slowed for the next station, then closed it again.

The act of kindness came with selflessness. Different towhat he thought of Elly. Logan had never known kindness. It was alien. Something else to be studied, understood. He found himself wanting to get to know this woman. She seemed so rare to Logan, like fine gold dust running through the torrent of a dirty river.

‘It’s rare to meet genuinely kind people in this city. Maybe I could repay your kindness and buy you a cup of coffee?’ said Logan.

Grace closed her book, stood and said, ‘I can’t right now. My shift starts in ten minutes,’ she said, beaming a perfect smile.

Logan nodded and smiled back, said, ‘That’s okay. Maybe another time?’

‘Have we met before?’ asked Grace.

This time it was Logan trying to quell the self-consciousness that threatened to burn his cheeks. He said, ‘I get this train sometimes. Maybe you’ve seen me before?’

‘Maybe. . .’ she pondered, then said, ‘Sorry, this is my stop.’

‘Sure. Maybe I’ll see you again. Next time I’ll bring noodles.’

She laughed.

‘Or I could get your number, and we could meet for a drink. Or coffee?’ he asked.

The train slowed. Logan looked once again at Grace’s face. Her skin was pale and perfect, even her cute brown freckles. He wondered again, just for a second, what her face would look like dead.

Still smiling, Grace took her phone from her backpack, held it out toward Logan’s as she got up to exit the train.

Air Drop Request–Accept Grace’s contact information?

He looked up, Grace had her phone pointed at his.

‘I’m free tomorrow?’ she said, but her intonation was that of a question.

The train stopped and the doors opened.

Logan hit the accept prompt.

‘See you tomorrow, Good Samaritan,’ said Logan.

Grace smiled again and got off the train.

The doors closed and the train pulled away from the platform.

With Elly surviving the attack, he had some things to take care of. Someone once said that a killer makes fifty mistakes with each murder they commit, and if you can predict half of them you are a genius.