Chp. 5- Coffee Interlude

            It had been a few days since Linda Dawning last saw Horatio Gunner of the Eventide mob. She was sitting in a booth far from the window of a new café she had recently acquired just a few minutes ago. The café owner kept casting nervous glances in Linda’s direction, fear evident in his eyes. Linda traced her finger around the rim of her coffee cup as she stared out into space, deep in thought. She took off her fedora with red trim and smiled a little at it in remembrance as she sat it on the table.

            Two young gentlemen from across the café brought their attention to Linda as they gazed over at her. The black-haired Dawning woman glanced at the men while taking a sip of her coffee. A shared grin slowly spread across the two men’s faces. Linda noticed and grinned wickedly in return as she showed the inside pocket of her jacket to them; her revolver rested inside the pocket. Fear suddenly washed over the two men’s faces and they locked their eyes to their drinks.

            “That’s what I thought,” Linda breathed as she closed her jacket back up. She took another sip of her coffee, leaving a red lipstick stain on the white cup.

            Out of chance, Horatio walked past the little café and he did a double take as he glanced through the place’s window. He recognized the curly black hair of the Dawning woman and his hat with red trim on her table. He smiled as he went back and stepped into the café, making the little bell above the door ring. Horatio walked up to Linda’s table as he took his new hat off his head. “More coffee, ma’am?” he asked.

            Linda looked up at the Eventide man with a smirk. “Hello there, waiter,” she teased him with a giggle. “Yes, more coffee would be nice.” She watched Horatio walk to the counter, order two cups of coffee, and come back to join her at the booth. “You know, there has been a question playing in my mind.” Linda rested her chin on her hand, arm propped up by her elbow.

            “What might that be?” Horatio asked as he placed his hat beside Linda’s on the table.

            “Nice hat,” she complimented before moving on to her question. “How does an Englishman find himself on the Eventide?”

            He smiled and leaned on the table as well. “A big question,” he remarked. “And one with a story for an answer. Good thing I ordered more coffee.”

            “Yes,” she grinned. “And I like stories.”

            “Well, I fought in the war, as you know. I was part of an operation market garden, which fell flat on its arse,” he added. “I ended up joining up with a group of Americans. My CO’s were cut off and I wanted to fight. One of the boys there was the son of our boss, Mr. Eventide,” he said as their fresh coffee was brought to the table.

            “And then you basically befriended him and here you are today,” she finished for him with a smirk.

            “Pretty much and uh, like I said the other day,” he said while leaning in closer. “I specialize in getting the upper hand.” He gave her a wink.

            “I see. And does wooing me get the upper hand?” Linda asked, her smirk turning slightly evil.

            “Depends… is it working?” Horatio asked as he leaned back a bit.

            “Why would I tell you if does or doesn’t work?” She hid her true emotions very well behind a calm expression. “Did you know I’m very good at poker?”

            “I should imagine so, especially with your footwork the other day.”

            “My footwork?” she asked with a smile.

            “Your sly, under-the-table moves,” he replied with a wink at her.

            Linda giggled a little. “Yes. You can see I can keep my face in the same expression no matter how I feel inside; I can deceive many with my face.”

            “Yes, well, your body language sometimes betrays you,” Horatio pointed out. “You sat there running your finger around your coffee mug, looking into the distance in deep thought of something or someone. I can see you kept my hat and looked after it. Also, I must add the red lipstick suits you.”

            “Maybe my body language only betrays me to you,” she told him with her signature smirk. “And I trace my finger on anything when I’m thinking.” Linda looked him square in the eye and leaned in. “It’s what scares people the most.” She sat back again. “And the hat suits me. Why get rid of a perfectly good hat?” She tilted her head with the question. “And thank you.”

            “Only to me?” he asked in a smirk. Her only reply was to grin wickedly at him before sipping her coffee. Horatio smiled to himself then took a drink from his cup as well. “Anything else you want to know?”

            Linda looked up from her drink and shook her head. “Thank you for sharing, Mr. Gunner.”

            “It was a pleasure,” he said before finishing his coffee. Linda continued to stare at Horatio, drinking in his features with her blue eyes. She made notes in her head about his looks and appearance. “Something catch your eye?” Horatio asked teasingly upon catching her watching him.

            “Just taking some mental notes,” she answered in a grin.

            “Oh? And what notes have you made?”

            “That’s for me only I’m afraid.” She smirked at him.

            “I’ll enjoy finding out sometime,” Horatio said as he returned her smirk.

            Linda giggled again. “Did you know I was taken to court once?” she asked.

            “Haven’t we all?” Horatio replied with a grin.

            “Yes, but I defended myself and won.” She started tracing the rim of her cup again.

            “Hmm intelligence indeed,” he remarked.

            “Well, not just intelligence. I’m always taking mental notes and finding things that could be used as evidence later. And I always come out scott free,” she told him, grinning.

            “I’ll keep that in mind the next time I need a lawyer,” he said with a genuine smile.

            “Ooh would that look good? A Dawning defending an Eventide?” she asked with a tilt of her head.

            “Well it would certainly be something for the books,” Horatio replied with a cheeky grin. Linda giggled in agreement. “So, what are your plans for today?” he asked.

            Linda looked into her handbag and took out a little notebook. Opening it up, she scanned over the lines of writing with her index finger then sighed. “Dinner with my parents,” she replied in a bored tone. “My twin brother has been away for quite a while and is finally coming home. Also, I need to go collect some money from a few shops that we protect along with some other things. But, it’s nothing I’d ever speak of in front of an Eventide,” she concluded with a smirk directed at Horatio.

            He chuckled lightly. “Well, I would say send my regards to your parents but, I don’t think it would be right of me.”

            She grinned. “Maybe not, especially not with my dad; I’m a big daddy’s girl. Maria and I both are. Our dad doesn’t agree with some of my methods, and if he ever found out there was another man in my life I’m sure he’d blow a fuse. More so if it’s a man from the Eventide,” she added.

            “Hmm I wonder what his reaction was when he found out an Eventide saved one of his daughters,” Horatio pondered aloud.

            Linda shrugged her shoulders. “I heard some shouting if that helps.”

            “Darn, and I was hoping for dinner with the parents sometime soon,” he said with a wink.

            She rolled her eyes and sat back in her seat. “I don’t think that will be happening.”

            “Pity,” he spoke with a soft sigh.

            “Hmm I guess it is.” She leaned forward on her hands again.

            Horatio smiled at Linda. “I think our families could learn a lot from each other.”