Still studying the room, Vinnie said, 'Beat it.'
The waitress opened her mouth. Vinnie looked up at her. She closed her mouth and left. Jocelyn paid no attention. She was looking at me.
'How long have these threats been coming in?' I said.
'They just started. Just last night, after I went in the house, right after I saw him in the shadows.'
'And could you describe him again?'
'Dark slouch hat, dark coat. He looks like the same one following Jimmy,' she said.
'I'm sure it's the same man. I'll bet it's someone jealous of Jimmy and me.'
'You and Christopholous are an item?'
She looked down at the tabletop. She didn't say anything.
Hawk was looking at the door, his coat open, leaning back a little in his chair. Vinnie's jacket was unzipped. His eyes ranged the room. The only people besides us were two middle-aged women in sweat clothes sharing a dish of frozen strawberry yogurt. I waited. She was silent.
'You and Christopholous?' I said.
She shook her head.
'I didn't mean to say that.'
I waited.
'I can't talk about it.'
I waited some more. She raised her amazing eyes toward me and gave me the full charge.
'Please,' she said.
'I simply can't.'
'Sure,' I said.
Her eyes were very intense.
'Imploring' was how she probably thought of it.
'You will protect me?' she said.
'Of course,' I said.
'We'll be there every minute.'
'Could you, I mean no offense to anyone, but could you do it yourself.'
'It would be my pleasure,' I said.
'We'll have to take turns, in fact. But it never hurts to demand the very best.'
Hawk and Vinnie both glanced at me for a moment, and then went back to looking around the room and watching the door.
'Are you on your way to the theater now?' I said.
'Yes.'
'Then I'll start my shift now. I'll walk you there.'
Hawk dropped a ten on top of the check.
'Big tip,' Vinnie said.
'Reward for remembering all those muffins,' Hawk said.
'They're coming too?' Jocelyn said.
'Just to watch,' Hawk said.
'Find out what makes him the very best.'
'Won't do you any good,' I said.
'It's a white thing.'
'Good,' Vinnie said, and held the door open while Hawk went out and we followed him.
CHAPTER 19
With Hawk and Vinnie behind us, Jocelyn and I strolled through the misting drizzle to the theater next door. She went in to rehearsal, and I went up to Christopholous' office on the second floor. Vinnie and Hawk lounged in the theater lobby, blending in to the theatrical scene like two coyotes at a poultry festival.
I sat in the chair across from Christopholous. The lights were on, making the day outside look even gloomier. The old brick office walls were bright with posters from previous Port City productions.
'Does Rikki Wu contribute a lot to the theater?' I said.
'A lot,' Christopholous said.
'And she holds an honored place on the board.'
