Blood Games

    ‘You worry too much, Hickok.’

    She frowned at Finley. ‘We don’t know anything about this guy-’

    ‘He’s got a nice bod on him.’

    ‘We’d be lost in the Bowery if it weren’t for him,’ Helen pointed out.

    ‘Right,’ Cora muttered.

    They followed Vivian and Wayne to the turnstiles, dropped their tokens into slots, and passed through.

    On the station platform, Abilene decided that having Wayne along might not be such a bad idea after all. A wino wrapped in a filthy coat was curled up on a bench, apparently asleep, a couple of over-stuffed bags at his feet. He wore mismatched tennis shoes and no socks. Near the far end of the platform three black teenagers were whispering and casting glances in their direction. She wondered if they had screwdrivers with sharpened points. She wondered if Wayne had any kind of weapon. She wondered if she would be worrying about such things if the three young men had been white.

    Soon, a train came roaring into the station. They boarded it. The wino stayed on his bench. The three black kids entered a different car.

    Except for an old man reading a newspaper, their car was deserted.

    Two stops later, the old man left. Nobody else entered. Finley, hanging onto an upright pole and smiling down at Wayne, said, ‘Sure are a lot of strange customers in here.’

    ‘Guess it’s our lucky night,’ he said.

    Helen patted his thigh. ‘I’m glad you’re with us, anyway. I feel so much safer.’

    For the rest of the ride, nobody else entered their car.

    They stepped out at the Times Square station.

    ‘We know our way from here,’ Cora said as they gathered in the rain at the top of the stairs.

    ‘I’ve come this far,’ Wayne explained. ‘I might as well see you safely to the hotel.’

    ‘It’s only a few blocks. We’ll be fine.’

    ‘No, really. I don’t mind.’ He started off, Helen staying close to his side.

    Christ! Abilene thought. Why won’t someone tell him to go home?

    ‘What the hell’s he up to?’ Cora muttered.

    ‘I don’t know,’ Abilene said. ‘But I don’t like it.’

    ‘He’s just being helpful,’ Vivian said.

    ‘You always were too trusting,’ Cora told her.

    ‘It looks like the guy’s adopting us,’ Finley said.

    ‘How are we gonna get rid of him?’ Abilene asked.

    ‘I’ll take care of it,’ Cora said.

***

    Wayne opened the door for them, followed them into the lobby of the Hilton and walked with them to the elevator bank.

    Elevator doors were open, cars waiting.

    Nobody entered one.

    ‘Well,’ Vivian said, once again shaking Wayne’s hand. ‘Thanks so much.’

    ‘Glad to be of service.’

    ‘I don’t know what we would’ve done without you,’ Helen told him. She offered her hand. Wayne took it, squeezed it and let go.

    Cora opened her purse. She took out her billfold, saying, ‘We’d like to give you a little something for all your trouble.’ She plucked out a ten-dollar bill.

    Wayne held up both hands to ward it off. ‘No, please. I don’t want your money. Gosh. Put it away.’

    Cora blushed. ‘Please. Take it. If nothing else, use it for a taxi home.’

    ‘The subway’s fine. ’ He patted a pocket of his jeans. ‘Already got my token.’

    Cora put the money away. ‘Okay, if you’re sure. Anyway, thanks so much.’

    ‘Yeah, you were a lifesaver,’ Finley said.

    ‘Thank you very much,’ Abilene added, realizing she had misjudged him. ‘You really helped us out.’

    ‘You’re all very welcome. Now, I guess I’d better…’ He started to turn away, then stopped and grimaced. ‘You don’t suppose I could… use your facilities before I start back?’

    Uh-oh, Abilene thought.

    ‘I really hate to ask, but…

    ‘I’m sure there’s a john here in the lobby you could use,’ Cora said.

    ‘Yeah. Probably so. Okay, I’ll…’

    ‘For Godsake! ’ Helen blurted. Scowling at Cora, she grabbed Wayne’s arm and pulled him toward an elevator. ‘Of course you can use our john. Come on.’

    ‘I don’t want to impose.’

    ‘You’re not imposing.’ She pulled him into the elevator.

    The others stepped aboard.

    Helen jabbed a button for the twenty-fourth floor.

    The doors slid silently shut and the elevator began to rise.

    ‘I really do appreciate this,’ Wayne said. He was leaning back against the rear wall.

    Cora turned to face him. ‘I’m sorry, but you’ll have to use the toilet in the lobby.’

    He frowned.

    ‘Cora!’

    ‘I mean it, Helen. Wayne’s been very nice to us and helpful and everything, but he’s not coming into our rooms. That’s final.’

    ‘It’s not fair! ’

    ‘I only want to use your toilet,’ Wayne said. ‘It’ll only take a minute, then I’ll be gone.’

    ‘I’m sorry.’

    ‘We could at least vote on it,’ Helen said.

    ‘We aren’t taking any Goddamn vote,’ Abilene snapped, stepping close to Cora’s side. ‘We’ve gotta be sensible, and it’s stupid to let a stranger into our rooms.’ Looking Wayne in the eyes, she said in a softer tone, ‘I’m sorry.’

    ‘What do you think I’m going to do, attack you all or something?’

    ‘We just don’t want to take any chances,’ Vivian told him.

    ‘Sorry,’ Finley added.

    As the elevator stopped, Wayne shook his head. ‘You gals are sure something.’

    The doors rolled open. Cora glanced over her shoulder and punched the button for the lobby. ‘Just stay here. We don’t want any trouble.’

    ‘This is the thanks I get, huh?’