"Well, well, well." he lifted one grotesque, malformed hand to grasp the cigarette holder in his mouth. I found myself marvelling at the state of his clothes. A pressed tuxedo, a top hat placed at a jaunty angle on his head. None of this was torn or stained.
How did he manage to stay so clean? Where did he find the water to wash his clothes? How was this possible. I willed myself not to fidget with the hem of my skirt, a nervous habit of mine. I didn't want to come before him wrinkled.
"Good afternoon, sir," I lifted my chin, aware of the way my curls bounced.
"And what brings such a well dressed young lady before me today?" he adjusted his monocle. I squirmed in my shoes, feeling the ache in my arches. Penguin clapped himself on his tall forehead.
"Where are my manners? Meat Hook, bring the lady a seat." the thug who had been standing by the door, his arms crossed over his chest, jumped. He nodded and scurried out, carrying in a metal folding chair.
"You must forgive the accommodations, Miss. Times are tough, of course. Might I ask the name of the pretty lady who came to see me?"
"Andromeda," I sat down delicately, pressing my knees together as I did so. He looked at me for a moment. "Andromeda Parker." I hadn't wanted to give him my last name, afraid that even with the city in ruins he would be able to dig up some information on me.
"Andromeda," my name rolled off his tongue. It sent shivers down my spine, the way he sounded so oily. "What a very pretty name. Do you know the myth of Andromeda?"
"Yes" I nodded, careful not to say 'yeah'. I wanted to be on my best behavior, wanted to show him how well bred I was. Though I didn't make it a habit to know much of anything about these criminals, I knew that he liked to fancy himself a society man.
"And do you feel like you're tied to a rock right now?"
"You could say that," I smiled in spite of myself. He nodded and took another puff off his cigarette, carefully turning his head so he didn't blow the smoke in my face. This is only remarkable
when you realize that he didn't have much of a neck to turn his head.
"What is your rock?" he questioned. Lanie wasn't a rock. I wouldn't call her that. But this illness was. The fact that we were stuck in this city. That was a rock. I cleared my throat.
"I'm in a bit of a rough spot, sir." I sighed. "My aunt and I remained here in after Black Monday. Supplies are low, and unfortunately, my aunt is quite ill. She needs antibiotics. If I don't get them to her soon, I'm afraid she'll die."
"And?" he prompted.
"And I hear that you're the man to come and see if you need something in No Man's Land." I lifted my chin to look him straight in the eye.
"Why didn't you take her to the MASH unit?"
"She's too ill to be moved. And she's not ill enough for me to feel like I should take free medicine." I swallowed. There was a pause in the room.
"So you come with payment. Not a beggar. I admire that." he looked pleased. "Show me the trinket you've bought to entice my tastes." he held out his flipper hand.
I bit my lower lip and pulled the ring off my finger. It was a gold band with three diamonds. It had been my grandmother's engagement ring. I had to go to Lanie's room to fetch it. I knew she was saving it for me, in the secret bottom of her jewelry box, for the man who wanted to propose to me. Whoever that might be.
But right now, Cinderella dreams of weddings and diamond rings seemed so far away and foolish. And I was sure that Grandma would want Lanie to stay alive rather than me have a piece of bling to wear. I reluctantly placed it on his palm.
"It was my grandmother's." I blurted. He hadn't asked, but I couldn't help it. "My aunt was saving it for when I get married."
"Oh, I think it's worth a course of antibiotic." he nodded to Meat Hook, who left and returned with several bottles. "Please, take your pick, Miss Andromeda."
I selected a course of amoxicillian. I placed it in my coat pocket and rose, extending my hand across the table. Penguin took it, but instead of the gentle handshake I was expecting, he gripped it tightly, clasping it between his hands.
"Will you come back and see me?"
"See you?" I repeated. "See you?"
"It gets—lonesome, sitting here with no one of any sort of intellect to talk to. I would like it very much if you would come and see me again and talk with me Keep the cobwebs out of my brain."
"I don't know..." I trailed off.
"I have fresh fruit and vegetables I have just about anything you could ask for, Miss Andromeda. I can make it worth your time."
"I have nothing left to trade you. My grandmother's ring was the only thing we had of value."
"Oh, you can trade your company. Come and speak to me, Andromeda, and I will make sure that you and your aunt want nothing." he beamed at me. It was the strangest smile I had ever seen.
My first thought was to say no. I wanted nothing more to do with him. I wanted to pretend that we had never met. And yet...
"Yes," I whispered. "I'll come back."
"Good! Meat Hook! See the lady out."
