Cap. 4 – The lady vanished
Leon went to work in the next day waiting for any sign of Ada. He was shifting his thoughts. Sometimes he was thinking "When will she appear?" "I should have asked her phone number" and "This is all nonsense… why would she come? Maybe she make it up with that guy, John, and here I am, Leon loser wasted the money for nothing". At lunch time, Leon was sitting near a window, in a room inside that department. He was eating a meal he had bought in a restaurant and decided to eat in the police department. Kevin was with Leon during that lunch, however he was not eating a properly lunch, he was eating a good double BigMac with fries and drinking coke. Kevin was talking non-stop about a blond waitress who works in a place called "Jack's bar". He told how he has a crush on her, how often he was going to that bat to visit her, etc. Leon was listening and was making questions, but he was giving some glances out of the window on his left.
- What are you looking through the window, Kennedy? – Kevin interrupted himself while he was talking about the beauty of the waitress.
- Nothing… Why are you asking?
- You're kidding, right? Since you came to work, you keep looking for a window. When we took the car early to go to the Upper West Side, you were spying the sidewalk… I noticed that. Are you looking for somebody?
Leon smiled and fill his mouth with plenty noodles. He chewed, swallowed and realized that Kevin was waiting for a answer.
- Yes but I don't know if she will appear… Ok, I'll tell the story. – Leon told the whole story of how he met Ada last night, how he helped her and how she disappeared without even giving him a chance to ask more questions or say goodbye with a handshake, or a kiss in the cheek. Kevin laughed and thought about what to say.
- Kennedy, you paid the repair of her car and she just ran away from you?
Kevin took the opportunity to take another bite in the burger.
- I can't tell if she ran away from me… But I also can't say that she didn't like to stay with me. She asked me if I was going to arrest her after I said I was a cop. Why would I arrest someone because the car broke? She said that to tease me… - Leon was now messing his food with his fork, somewhat upset by that situation he was saying.
- Dude! And why didn't you say you would do it but only if she "refuses to give her number" or something?! You should have flirted her!
- How would I flirt her? She had a boyfriend and she was going to his apartment – Leon went back eating his food, but this time he ate a little fast, barely chewing – At least, she said she would come to visit me here. The problem will be if she never do that… Dammit, I won't take her off of my mind – he abandoned his fork in the food and now his arms was crossed.
- Leon, Leon, Leon… - Kevin finished swallowing the last piece of his BigMac. He drank his coke and spoke again – You have to learn how to flirt a girl right so you won't pass by situations like that. Now, talk about Ada… who is she? Tell me about her face.
- She must have 1,70 meters, or less than that… She has chineses eyes, but her face was very American… - He smiled while remembering her beauty – She has a dark hair, very black, short… She's thin, she has such a sexy voice… - he squeezed his thumb and his index finger in his eyes, as if he was cleaning his eyes – She's perfect… An oriental goddess.
- Why don't you pass by in Chinatown? Maybe she lives there… - Kevin joked.
- Oh, yeah, like, she lives that neighborhood… She seems to live in the Upper West Side, or Harlem…
- But you said she was going to her boyfriend's apartment who lives "near" to the Central Park. If she lives in these neighborhood you just said, why you would find her in the street you met her? Got it? You were far from the Upper West Side, remember?
- I know. Maybe she went to somewhere else, not exactly from his house. And what if she visited a friend before? I don 't know… The fact I've met her on that street has nothing to do with my theories about "where she lives". At least, in my opinion.
Kevin watched Leon. The blond didn't know if he were eat the food, or just play with it.
- When you meet her in Koreatown or in Chinatown, let me know – Kevin said his last mockery.
Four days has passed since Leon saw Ada, the "damsel in distress", let's say that way, in the street and she didn't appear for her visit. This time, Leon was already losing hope of that girl. It was Friday, 18:30h (6:30 p.m.) Leon though about her and what she could be doing. He thought about she could be doing anything way interesting than to think in visit him. "Maybe she make it up with her boyfriend" he thought.
Leon had chased a car with Kevin in that day, and he drove the car. He passed through a running chase to arrest the thieves. Leon was now with his bag in his back and he was heading home. He stepped in the sidewalk heading to the corner and he looked exhausted. He was sighing of tiredness and then he heard a voice:
- I thought I would have to wait here an eternity for you.
Leon turned quickly and saw that beautiful woman he have waited in these whole days. She was wearing an black jeans pants and a red shirt sleeveless. Her black hair was giving a contrast so beautiful because of her white skin and black pants. An red All-star complemented her outfit. Leon thought it was curious how she gives a different meaning to red clothes. He completely forgot how exhausted he were and said:
- Ada…
- You seem surprised… I should have said when exactly I would come.
Ada smirked to Leon He now approached her, trying to not make any stupid happy face because he knew he makes a stupid face when he's happy. Ada noticed Leon's hair now under the few sunlight. John has a lighter hair and it wasn't look alike to Leon's. Leon's hair seems to be two shades darker.
- If you had said what day and what time you would come, you wouldn't be here waiting too much. By the way, how many times are you here waiting? – Leon tried not to appear anxious or make her realized how was racking waiting for her.
- Half hour. And I like to make surprises. They are exciting – she smiled while raised quickly her eyebrows. Leon lost his words for a while.
- Why did you leave like that? It seems that you were running away, I don't know…
- I knew you would ask about it… I would in a hurry to go home – Ada looked to the street and said everything naturally, without thinking how much she left Leon "in the lurch". – So… tell me, where you were going right now? Did I interrupt you? – she asked quickly before he Leon did more questions about how she left.
- I was going home. And, no, you didn't interrupt me. In fact, I was beginning to wonder if you would come here actually, or…
- I saw you on the West 45th street these days…
- Wait, did you see me? – Leon was forcing his memory to remember what he did in West 45th street. He remembered that he had gone with several police officer and the S.T.A.R.S. team for a certain coffee shop because of a robbery in a coffee shop. The situation was very intense.
- I was passing by and I saw you. The situation was kinda ugly, you were too busy… I wouldn't just go to you and say "hi", right? It wasn't the right time to start a conversation.
Leon was shocked by the idea of being so close to Ada and didn't know it. And she was right, he wouldn't have the chance to talk to her during his work.
- So… Do you know a café shop that opened near here? It has a bakery style, but it's very refined… Everything is a little Italian there. Let' go there. Do you wanna come? I think it's better than staying here chatting on a sidewalk – she smiled and pass through him, waiting for him to follow her.
- Sure, sure. I know what are you talking about… I have been there to buy a coffee – Leon was feeling that his legs was leading him to Ada without even think about follow here – So, how is your car?
- Better than ever.
- And how are you? – Suddenly Leon felt sorry for asking how her car was before asking for her first.
- Better than ever too. And you?
- If I sat I'm also better than ever, will it seem that I'm copying you? – Leon smiled. The truth was he was very tired and he wanted to lay in his bed and rest for 40 minutes.
- I don't know… Maybe – she looked to him, but then she looked forward.
They arrived in a place called "Mazzaropi", the place Ada was taking him, and the place smelled of fresh coffee. Leon had already entered there, as he said to Ada, but it didn't pass through his mind go to Ada to that place. They bought a cappuccino and sat on a couch. Leon felt a relief when he rested his back on that couch. He tried to be very comfortable so he could have total attention to Ada.
- So… IO think you already know about me, you know where I work… What about you? Where do you work?
Ada hesitated. She thought about the things she didn't want Leon to know.
- I work in a cinema, in the projection room. I work from midday and forty until five p.m. in the cinema "L.C.". Do you know it?
- Yes, I know. – Leon drank his cappuccino and raised his eyebrows quickly. He would never guess that Ada would be the kinda of girl who has a peculiar job like to work in a projection room.
- Do you live near of where you work? – Leon asked.
- No… I live "way" far – she gave a emphasis on "way". She drank her cappuccino without looking away from Leon.
- Where exactly?
- I can't tell you, Leon – she gave a smirk and looked into the place she was.
- Why not? – Leon smiled, put his elbow on the table, sighed, rested his head on his hand, slid the index and middle finger across his forehead. He stopped to stare Ada with a funny look, as if he was saying with his eyes "Are you going to tell me or not?"
Ada was looking away, she didn't want to stare him all the time.
- Maybe another day.
- Are you afraid that I would visit you, or are you afraid that I might arrest you? Do you have a criminal record? – Leon joked while he was resting his head on his hand.
- No… - Ada paused – I just don't want you to know about everything at once.
- I didn't know you like to keep this aura of mystery… Do I have to worry?
- No. Relax, Leon… I'm very grateful for what you did to my car. It was very nice of you to help a stranger… I'll pay this coffee as a thank you, ok? I owe you one.
- No need to do that. Don't mention it. I was just doing what is right. You don't need to pay nothing. But if you want to "thank me", I was thinking…
- Leon, I need to go. – Ada rose gently, simply ignoring what Leon was talking. She knew exactly what he would say – I have some unfinished business to attend to.
She passed by Leon, who now have rose too and quickly said "Ada, wait!". Ada was getting close to the exit, but Leon could hold her left hand. It was a warm and soft hand. Ada looked at him and he said:
- Why do you simply walk away like that? I was saying something about…
- Maybe some another time, Leon – she smiled, approached him and kissed his cheek very fast, and made a little of effort to remove her hand from his hand.
She left the Mazzaropi and Leon, still shocked by the kiss on his cheek, decided to move his legs. But before he could exit the place, someone who works in that place called his attention because he didn't have paid the bill. Leon quickly pulled out his wallet and took the money out. He gave to the man who had talked to him and went to street quickly. He looked to his left, to his right and he didn't find Ada. He walked until a corner and looked to both sides. Once again, she disappeared. "Unfinished business?" he thought about the peculiarity of this sentence. "How did she disappear so fast?"
