Sounds of Dixieland jazz drifted out across their path, then faded behind them with a sweet finality. Auntie Lil strained her ears, hoping for more. The music had somehow been reassuring.
But up ahead, barely visible a few blocks away, the Hudson River gleamed, its waves dully reflecting the light of the full moon above. Auntie Lil stiffened and dug her feet in automatically. But the strength of her two captors prevailed and they only lifted her from the sidewalk, carrying her inexorably forward. They were the strongest women she had ever known, hardened by street combat and the drive to survive. Maybe even stronger than Annie O'Day. Why had she left Annie behind?
They passed Emily's apartment building on the other side of the street. Auntie Lil looked upward. A light gleamed on the sixth floor. Was Theodore there? Would this be the last time she was near him?
Then it hit her. This was what had happened to Eva.
It was as if the woman in silver spangles could read her thoughts. "If you're quiet, we'll let you go. We just want to find out what you know. We're taking you somewhere private to talk. We don't plan to hurt you."
The docks. She knew with certainty, now, that they were hustling her over to the deserted docks near the Westside Highway. Should she struggle? She shifted an arm and prepared to fight back.
"If you don't come along," Leteisha Swann repeated patiently, "I'll stick you right here and leave. You'll bleed to death in the middle of the sidewalk and no one will ever know we did it. It's your choice. Die now or take a chance we'll let you go."
The finality and calm confidence of the prostitute filled Auntie Lil with complete despair. The woman was a professional, unfazed by abducting her in public and under the noses of hundred of other New Yorkers. She knew just what to do, and, most probably, meant exactly what she said. She'd know right where to stab her, too. There was nothing to do but go along. Perhaps they did only want to talk to her. Perhaps Eva had been stubborn again and that was why she died.
They passed the Jamaican restaurant at the corner of Ninth. Nellie, the owner, sat perched on her customary table. Auntie Lil turned her head slightly and their eyes locked. Auntie Lil's were wide with terror, but Nellie's remained as dark and impassive as ever. In fact, Nellie's braids barely clicked she turned her head so smoothly to watch the unusual trio crossing the avenue. They were heading straight west toward Tenth Avenue. Nellie hesitated, then her eyes clouded over. She looked as if she had reached a decision, but just then the front bell tinkled and a rare pair of customers entered the shop. Relieved at the momentary distraction, Nellie hopped from the table and set to work filling their order. But her eyes still stared out into the darkness that yawned on the other side of Ninth Avenue.
Forty-Sixth Street between Tenth and Eleventh Avenues was deserted. They were too far from the theater to attract restaurant-goers so the block was completely residential. Now it would do her no good to scream. A trickle of warmth ran down her right side and dripped onto her shoe. Just as she'd thought, the cruel woman on the right had drawn blood with her earlier jab. As sturdily built as she was, Auntie Lil was eighty-four years old and had not eaten dinner. She did not know how long she could last without fainting.
"This is a quiet block," she suggested helplessly. "We could talk here."
They ignored her and continued to pull her forward. Up ahead a ragged figure rummaged in a pile of garbage sacks. They drew closer and Auntie Lil could spot a decrepit old woman with frazzled hair and filthy clothes hanging from a gaunt frame.
Adelle, she thought triumphantly. Or one of the other retired actresses.
The old woman reached into a bag of garbage and pulled out a discarded container of Chinese food. She stuck two grimy fingers inside and scooped out the gummy contents, sniffed it then nodded and took a tentative bite. Auntie Lil's hopes fell. The poor woman would be of no help to her.
Soon, they reached Tenth Avenue and there to the left, Auntie Lil could see the neon lights in the windows of Mike's American Bar and Grill winking in the near darkness. It seemed like years ago, instead of days, that she had