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I went back inside the restaurant, running now, and sprinted up the steps to Zeke’s office. I didn’t think about the old man who’d called out to me on the street. I left him there, on the sidewalk.
In New York, that kind of thing happens all the time.
Chapter 15
Lola
“CanIhelpyou?”I said cheerily.
The old man turned to me. His hair was a little long and scraggly, his beard untrimmed. I could see his fingers were dirty. But he didn’t look homeless—not exactly. His clothes weren’t tarnished enough.
He turned and looked at me for a moment, and a lonely, sad pair of blue eyes watched me from his deep-set face.
“Can I help you?” I said again. I’d bumped into the old guy as I was leavingThe Blue Orchid.
“My son used to work here,” he said, a little sadly, as he turned and looked at the building.
I shook my head, and went on home. Maybe he was just crazy.
It had been two weeks now sinceTheBlue Orchidhad been closed. And we still weren’t attracting nearly as many customers as we had before despite our best efforts. But that was only the least of my concerns.
I hadn’t heard much from Alex since our night together, that wonderful, magical night when I’d given myself to him with all the passion of my younger days. I’d seen him, of course, cooped up in the office with Zeke while they poured over legal tomes and licensing laws, trying to find some loophole with which they could defeat Luca’s plans.
But there was nothing. They knew it, and so did I. And so did everyone else atThe Blue Orchid. Already some of the staff were talking about picking up extra shifts. We’d all had our shifts reduced, and more than a few of the waitresses were getting extra work.
I knew I’d join them soon, if something didn’t change. But today was my day off, and for once, I was relaxing at home. Macy was on a school trip upstate, and wouldn’t get back until later in the evening. I’d decided to take advantage of the free time by playing a couple of my old records. It was rare that I had a chance to relax. But I’ve never been the kind of person to sit still, especially when trouble’s around the corner. All the way home, I was tapping my fingers, my knee shaking. I was infectious with energy, and alive with the certain knowledge that Alex really did, well, like me. Not that I should have cared.
When I got home, I was relieved to find that Alex had called me. I called him back without a moment’s hesitation. I wanted something to do, anything, in fact. And I hoped he’d have a job for me.
“Lola?” he said, softly, and I felt a shiver of excitement run through me.
“Alex,” I said. “How are you?”
“Been better. But we’re not giving up. Not just yet. You wouldn’t happen to be free this evening, would you?”
“As a matter of fact,” I said, “I’ve got to be at the bus terminal in the city for nine. I could come around if you need help with anything?”
Part of me was hoping he’d invite me over to his place. That there’d be a repeat of the incredible evening in his grand apartment.
“Have you ever been in a speedboat?”
“Aspeedboat? Not that I can remember.”
I listened for what Alex was going to say next. And I could practically imagine him on the other end of the phone, grinning.
“How about you come down to the dock in Carrol Hill? There’s something I want to show you.”
“Okay,” I said, putting down the phone and shaking my head. I still hadn’t put two and two together.
***
TheTotowas beautiful. Gleaming white, it hovered in the water as Alex led me along the jetty. It was a narrow, long craft with a pointed bow and a riotously red racing stripe across its side. But Alex frowned when he saw me laughing.
“What is it?” he said. But his grumpy tone just made me laugh even more.
“Toto?” I said, incredulously. “As in, the little dog from the Wizard of Oz.”
“I didn’t pick the name,” he said. “Besides,” he added quickly, “it’s bad luck to change the name of a ship. Don’t you know that?”
