“I’ve never…been so affected by a woman on such short acquaintance.”
“You mean the other night?”
He nodded.
“But that wasn’t even—we didn’t even get acquainted.”
“That’s all right,” he said. “It happened as soon as I saw you. You’re very beautiful, Linda, and you had such a…gentle touch.”
“I…was doing my job.”
She was still standing against the door, and he could see the tension in her shoulders. He picked up her coat, walked up to her and put his hand on the doorknob.
“I’ll have Billy take you home.”
“Home? You mean, you don’t want—”
“Whatever I want,” he said, “I want you to want it, too. I think we both feel a little too awkward tonight.”
She frowned at him and said, “You’re a strange man, Decker.”
“Maybe you won’t think so,” he said, handing her her coat, “after we become better acquainted.”
Studying his face, she said, “Maybe I won’t.”
She stepped away from the door so that he could open it, and then he stepped away to allow her to precede him.
“Maybe we could dine again soon,” he said.
“Maybe,” she said.
He walked her down to the lobby and to the front door. Billy Rosewood was waiting outside.
“Good night,” he said.
“Thank you for dinner.”
He smiled and said, “Next time I’ll give you time to dress properly.”
She smiled back and started through the door. As the door closed, she turned and looked at him through the glass.
He pushed the door open a crack, and she said, “Tomorrow is my day off. Would you like to go to a baseball game?”
Chapter Fifteen
When Decker came out of his hotel the following morning, Billy Rosewood was waiting out front.
“Didn’t do so good last night, did you?” Rosewood asked.
“And what makes you say that?”
“Well, the lady went home kind of early, didn’t she?”
“That’s because we have a date today,” Decker said.
“Oh? To do what?”
“To see a baseball game.”
“How romantic. That won’t be until noon. You want breakfast?”
“Sure.”
“Come on,” Rosewood said. “I know a place.”
The East River Bridge was to be constructed in five parts. The central span of the bridge would be 1,595 feet long when it was completed. There would also be a span on each side—the Manhattan side and the Brooklyn side— from the tower to the anchorage, 940 feet in length. Then there would be approaches on each side.
Rosewood took Decker to a restaurant on Roosevelt Street. They got a seat by the window, from where they could see the tower.
“What is that?” Decker asked.
“Right now it’s a tower,” Rosewood said, “but when it’s done, it will be a bridge, a suspension bridge connecting Manhattan to Brooklyn.”
“I thought this was New York.”
“They’re both New York,” Rosewood said, “but this side is called Manhattan Island, while the other side is called Brooklyn. That bridge will span the East River and connect the two.”
“Amazing,” Decker said.
When the waiter came, they ordered lunch, and Rosewood explained what little he knew about baseball.
“I’m not a fan or anything,” Rosewood said, “and I’ve never been to a game, but as I understand it, the object of the game is to hit a ball that is thrown by a man, uh, with a stick that they call a bat.”
“And what do you do after you hit it?”
“Uh…run.”
“To where?”
Rosewood frowned and said, “You’d better wait until you and the lady go to the game, Decker. She’ll be able to explain it to you better.”
“I’m sure she will,” Decker said. “She couldn’t do it any worse.”
Rosewood knew the way to Linda Hamilton’s residence because he’d taken her home the night before.
“It’s in Five Points, on Mulberry Street,” Rosewood said. “Bad part of town.”
“What’s she doing there?”
“Probably she can’t afford to live any place else.”
“She has a good job.”
Rosewood shrugged and said, “She must have been born there.”
When Rosewood stopped in front of Linda’s building, Decker got out.
“Second floor rear,” Rosewood called down.
“Got it.”
Decker entered the building and climbed the rickety steps to the second floor. Apparently there were two apartments on each floor. He walked to the rear and knocked.
“Hello,” Linda said as she opened the door.
“Hi,” he said.
They stood there a few seconds and then he said, “Can I come in?”
“Oh, I’m sorry,” she said, stepping back. “Of course, come in.”
He entered, and she closed the door. The place was modestly furnished, but it was very clean and well kept.
“Not much, I know.”
“I’ve seen worse.”
“Have you?” she asked. “Where?”
“All over the West,” he said. “In fact, in some places this would be thought of as luxurious.”
“I haven’t been anywhere but here,” she said. “I’d love to travel.” She looked at Decker and said, “When you’re born in Five Points, all you can do is hope to get out one day.”
“You have a good job,” he said, echoing what he’d said to Rosewood. “Surely you can save some money.”
“I am trying,” she said. “Shall we go? The game starts at noon.”
“I’m afraid you’ll have to explain this game to me,” he said as they walked to the door. “In detail.”
“Oh, I will,” she said. “I just love watching them play. I’m sure you’ll like it too.”
“I’m sure I will,” Decker said, without conviction.
