Lonely One: Chapter 10

"I'm thinking we should go elsewhere," I said, pulling my shirt over my head after a well received shower.  I smoothed out the wrinkles as I waited for a response.
"Why? We just got here," Epona said cautiously.  She ran a comb through her long brown hair.
"I dunno, I just don't feel safe here," I hinted.
"Why not?"
"Well, what if we're found?" I said, staring right at her.  
"Found by who?  Those thugs?  Unlikely.  We're way off the grid as far as they're concerned," Epona huffed.  "Now can we please go get something to eat?"
I let my shoulders sag.  I had to agree with her about finding a meal.  We hadn't eaten in a few days.  I'd been trying to drag out of her what I'd heard a few nights before.  I was almost ready to run.  Today was September twentieth.

"Hey, what about that café over there?" Epona pointed to a small, out of the way shop.  A perfect place for someone to jump us… or me, at least.  It was a smaller area, densely packed with dark and scary places.
"Uh, sure, right," I said, thinking of a plan.  It was not or never.  Why I hadn't run before, I didn't know.  Part of me didn't want to believe that Epona was against me, not with me.  I felt my eyes sting with unshed tears.
We were nearing the café.  I panicked and froze.
"What?" Epona asked.  She held the door open for me a few feet ahead of my own steps.
"I wanted to grab a newspaper.  I'll meet you inside, okay?" I said, taking a side step toward the newsstand that was nearby.
Epona gave me a puzzled look before going inside the shop.
I didn't have much time.  They might have already seen me through the large shop windows.  I casually walked toward the newsstand and purchase a paper.  The man behind the stand was less than friendly when I handed him my dime, but I didn't care.  All of my senses were on high alert.  I unfurled the paper and shielded my face.  I didn't read a single word, or even look at it.  I was looking passed at the alley ahead of me.  Without looking back, I ducked under a fire escape ladder, ditched the paper, and ran for my life.
"Nicole!" I heard behind me.  It was Epona.  She'd seen me.  I ran harder and faster than before.  I slid to my right and hit solid metal.  The door opened at the turn of the handle and I was inside the dimly lit back room of a butcher shop.  A damp odor met my nose while I searched my options.  In a nearby locker I found a white coat.  I slipped it over my shoulders before running to the front of the shop.  No one got a word out before I rushed out the front door, the tinkling of the bell still ringing in my ears as I flagged down a taxi.  I only had a few dollars, but at least it would put some distance between me and Epona.
"Where to?" the gruffy driver asked.
"Uh, what's the nearest most populated place?" I asked in a hurry.
"Paramount Theater," the man replied, clearly irked by my indecision and lack of knowledge.
"Fine, go," I said as politely as I could.  I saw Epona emerge from the butcher shop as the cab pulled away.  She looked right at me for a moment, a pleading look on her face.
During the ride I pulled my hair in to a messy bun and rubbed all of the make-up off my face.  My cheeks burned.
"Four fifty," the driver said, pulling up to the curb.  Without looking, I handed him a five and left the safety of the vehicle.
Something seemed different.  He'd brought me as close to the theater as possible, but it was still almost a block away.  The reason was, it was surrounded by police officers and civilians, all in a frenzy.
"The president is probably here," I said offhandedly to myself.  I saw a Central Park sign and decided to go there.  I wanted to be near people, but not that many.
It was growing dark by the time I reached the famous square.  I slumped down on a bench and recounted the day's events.  Once again, I was alone.  I thought about the family I'd lost, and the life I'd known before.  Determined, I clenched my fists and stood.  
"Excuse me, is there a payphone nearby?" I asked the nearest couple.
"Yeah, just head back toward the street.  There's one at the entrance to the park," the man said.  He pointed with his free hand.  His other was busy being wrapped around his girl's thin waist.
"Thank you," I responded.  I nodded and ran.  Thankfully I remembered the number I needed.  Long distance sure was expensive.
"Hello, La Scarla's restaurant, Jim speaking.  How can I help you?"
"JIM!  Oh my God it's so good to hear your voice."  
"Who's this?"
"It's Nicole!"
"Nicky!  Holy hell, girl!  How are ya!?!!???"
I proceeded to recount everything that had happened to me since our daring escape from the restaurant and the grocery store distraction.  Jim listened quietly on the other line until I finished.
"So thanks for sending me to Boston, I'm now in New York," I finished.
Jim laughed.  "It seems you've traveled very far these last few days.  What have we learned?"
"Come again?"
"Come on, Nicky.  You had to have learned something."
I thought for a moment.  "I learned that I miss you and Greg and Jenna and Scarla.  Does that count?"
"Awh, Nick.  I'm touched.  Greg got a job here.  Every day he comes in asking if anyone has heard from you."
"I've only been gone a few weeks, Jim."
"We've still been wondering," Jim replied.
The phone made a sound, indicating my time was nearly up.  I was all out of change.
"Jim, I've gotta go.  I'm going to try to come back to Chicago.  I don't care what happens now.  If those thugs want my dad's business, they can have it.  I just need a family, or at least friends.  I need familiarity."
Jim sighed.  "You know we're all here for you, Nicole.  We'll see you when you get back.  Good luck, and check in once in a while, okay?  And stop sleeping with Beatles!"
"I will.  Bye, Jim."
I hung up the phone and leaned against the booth for a moment.  The street lights were starting to come on.  I looked down at my now scarred hand and thought about my brother.



Ginger knelt in the grass and put her little five year old hands on the pavement in front of her.  "Color me!  Color me!" she said to Nicole, who was the keeper of the sidewalk chalk.  She was just seven, but already had a knack for being the leader.
"Hold still," Nicole said, kneeling in front of her sister.  She traced the small girl's hands as carefully as she could.  She sat back and admired her squiggly work.
"Hey, I want a turn," ten year old Ryan said, bumping in to his sister and sending the chalk to the ground.  The stick broke in two, one big piece and one little.
"Look what you did, dummy!  You broke it!" Nicole shouted.  Tears sprang to her eyes.  Ginger was already crying.
"Wait, hold on," Ryan said.  He picked up the bigger piece and broke it in half.  There were now three identical sized pieces.  "Now we can all play," he said with a grin, exposing his missing front teeth.



I looked up and noticed someone was watching me.  My mind raced back to the present while I headed deeper in to the park.  My heart was pounding.  I wondered if it was a coincidence of if I' really been discovered by Epona, or Mr. Wright.  
"Wait!  Stop!" Came a voice behind me.  Alarm caused me to break in to a full on run.  I dodged between trees and bushes until I came to another entrance to the park.  I wasn't safe here, and I needed to get to the motel to collect my things before Epona did.
I ducked in to the rotunda of a large hotel and rushed to a public restroom.  I prayed there was a window I could get out through.  No such luck.  Frustrated, I turned on my heel and dashed from the small haven.  I saw the man full-on.  He looked familiar, but not familiar enough for me to stand there any longer like a target.  He advanced, I ran.
"Miss!  You can't go in there!" A woman yelled.
"Ma'am, I work here," I said, barreling in to a kitchen.  I saw many platters and trays of food, trolleys of dishes, and about a dozen chefs flittering about.  My white coat matched their outfits.  All I needed was a toque, and I was concealed.

The man was close behind me.  Too close, for I had just barely jumped behind a simmering pot, hat in place, when he arrived.  I'd stuffed my hair in to the hat and slapped my cheeks red to look like I'd been working hard.  I busied myself stirring the concoction in front of me until the man decided to look for me elsewhere.
"What are you doing?" A harsh voice demanded behind me.  I turned around and ducked as a hand rushed toward my face.  "Get out of my kitchen, freeloader!"  The woman looked extremely angry.  I hurriedly apologized and left through a different door than I'd come in through.
The hall was deserted.  I threw the hat on a nearby luggage cart and walked toward the fire exit.  My ruse had worked, and now all I needed to do was figure out how I was going to get back to Chicago.  My heart ached.  I couldn't help but think about my family again.  Tears stung my eyes when I realized once more that my brother was dead, along with my parents.  I didn't even want to think about where my sister could be.
"Nicole?" My name sounded behind me.  
Panic. "Oh my God!" I shouted, spinning around and almost losing my balance.    A strong arm caught me.  I wrenched myself away and put at least ten feet between me and the stranger.  But, it wasn't a stranger.  It was Epona.
"What is the matter with you!" Epona shouted.  "Why the hell did you leave me like that?"
"You're one to talk," I spat.  "You were going to turn me in to Mr. Wright!  I heard that conversation you were having on the phone at the motel.  You told them were I was and everything!  You lying bitch!  I trusted you!"  I felt the heat rising in my neck to my face.  Never had I been more angry to someone.
"Don't you dare call me a bitch," Epona said sternly.  "I have no idea what you're talking about.  I don't even know a Mr. Wright!"
"Liar!" I snapped.  I backed toward the door.  "Liar liar liar!"
"Wait!  Stop!"  Epona pleaded.
"Why should I trust you?" I said angrily.  
I could see tears forming in Epona's big, brown eyes.  "Please, don't run off.  I can't tell you.  Can you just trust me that I'd never do that to you?  I looked everywhere for you, you know.  I don't want you to be alone."
I grimaced.  "Shut up, Eppie.  I can't trust anyone anymore, can I?"  I rushed out the door, leaving behind the sobbing Epona.
I ran toward the front of the building, but found it barred.  Dozens of police officers lined the entry way of the hotel.  I opted for the rear instead.  
Once on an empty street, I located a taxi to take me to the motel.  Once there, I gathered my meager belongings and left once more.
"Hello, dear," came a cool voice.  Shock rendered my legs useless.  I was staring in to the cold, angry face of Mr. Becker.  Next to him was Mr. Wright.  They both smiled.    "We've come for your signature, or your life, which ever."
"You bastards never quit, do you?" I spat.  
"No, we don't," Mr. Wright said with a laugh. "And neither do you. Who knew we'd have to come all the way to New York to find you?  My, my, we've been busy, haven't we?"
"There's no way I'm signing," I said with grit teeth.
"Oh, that's no problem.  You see, you're the last surviving heir to your father's company.  If something tragic were to happen to you, well, then it would go to me," Mr. Becker said.  "And naturally, Mr. Wright here would be on board as well."
A large lump formed in my throat.  "Kill me?  Huh, that doesn't sound too fun.  Maybe I should sign," I said.  "Pen, please."
"I think I like the other option," Mr. Wright said.  "You've caused us enough trouble.  Nobody will miss the orphaned girl from Colorado."
Instinct told me to run.  Common sense told me they were probably both armed.  No use in finding out just standing there.  I took off without a word.  Shouting took place behind me.  I kept running, sweat running own my flustered face.  The dark streets were deserted.  There was no chance of anybody helping me.  I rounded a corner and sprinted up the street.  I didn't know where I was going, but I sure wasn't going back.  I knew it was probably midnight.  Nobody was out past ten in this part of town.
Shots rang out.  I lost my balance for a moment, marveling at the fact that my life was in danger.  I felt almost hysterical.  I was going to die.
"Nicolette!  Jump in!" Someone had pulled up next to me.  I hadn't even noticed.  "Hurry!" the familiar voice was more urgent than before.
"I've got nothing to lose," I shouted to myself.  Screw never getting in a car with strangers!  It was better than being shot.
I dove in to the black car and landed with a thump on something, or someone, hard.  My suitcase landed next to me with a smaller thud.  The door slammed shut behind me and we were off.
"Nicole!  Nicole, shhh, Nicole it's okay.  Calm down.  You're safe now," the same voice cooed.  I was beside myself with misery.  The tears I shed were bigger than those I'd shed before.  Comforting arms encircled me and drew me close.  "Nicole, look at me."  
I took a deep breath and looked up.  I couldn't make him out in the darkness, but I smelled the familiar tobacco and aftershave.  My heart leapt.
"G…George?" I said, half sobbing.  "George Harrison?"
I saw a glint of teeth as he smiled in the dark.  "Yes, luv.  It's me, and I've got you.  You're safe.  I promise.  Everythin's gonna be okay."