March 29, 1946
"And now it's time for "The Captain America Adventure Program," brought to you by Roxxon Motor Oil. Tonight's thrilling tale takes us deep into the heart of the Ardennes forest, where Hitler's Nazi guard have ambushed the 107th infantry and taken Mariah Burstein, the battalion's beautiful triage nurse . . ." A train whistle blows through the radio. ". . .as their hostage."
"You lousy krauts are in big trouble once Captain America gets here." Flora all but gags at the woman's nasally voice. 'Great Merlin this is horrible.' She thought to herself as she circled another apartment ad.
"When I'm through with you, Hitler, you're gonna be seeing stars . . . and stripes!" Flora lifts her head and glares at the poor radio sitting on the counter across from her.
"Nein!" She gave one last look at the radio before going back to the ad in front of her. "You will bow down to the Fuhrer!"
"Angie, could you change that please?" Flora all but begged the woman. She was on her last nerve with the damn show, it followed her everywhere like a ghost that simply wouldn't let her forget.
"With pleasure, sugar." Angie quickly went to the radio and changed the station. "Arlene French beat me out for that part." Soon soothing jazz music flooded the restaurant. The tension in Flora's shoulders slowly faded away as the music played. Angie clears her throat. "You lousy krauts are in big trouble once Captain America gets here." She picks up the coffee jug and brings it over. "It's better, right?"
"Thrillingly realistic." Flora grumbles as Angie refills her cup.
"You and your sister moving?" She asked her. Flora looks up at her.
"Yeah, our apartment was broken into a day or so ago. And since Peggy found that one, I decide to find our new residence this time. One with better security and neighborhood." Flora told her. Angie takes the paper from her.
"Cozy two bedroom apartment. That means it's the size of a broom closet. Convenient to public transportation. You'll be living under the third avenue el." Flora sighed crossing her arms and dropped her head onto them. 'Shooting Hydra agents was a lot easier than finding a place to live.' "But there's two availabilities at the place where I live." Flora lifts her head.
"Yeah, really?" She questioned.
"Yep! It's over on 63rd. It's real safe, lots of great girls. Plus, I'd be your neighbor, so that's nothing." Flora stares at Angie for a moment.
"That sounds absolutely wonderful, Angie. Could you show me around the building? I can wait for you to finish your shift?" She asked her.
"I would love to do nothing more, Maria." Angie looks down at her watch. "I have about an hour left then we can head over."
"Great!" Flora gave her a rare smile. Angie smiles back and gets back to work. Flora takes the rest of the newspaper out of her pocketbook and reads it while she waits for Angie. Flora turns to the front page, only to scoff at the title. "FBI Search For Howard Stark Moves To New Jersey." The FBI wouldn't have much luck with their search, Howard absolutely hated New Jersey with a passion. Flora chuckled to herself as she remembered the rant he had gone into while they had stayed in New Jersey for a meeting for Stark Industries. She had no idea what brought it on but only knew that Howard wouldn't be visiting that state again and had forbidden her from ever returning as well.
"Ready to go, Maria?" Flora let out a gasp in shock and snapped her head up. Angie looked at her startled for a moment. "Didn't mean to frighten you."
"No, it's fine. I was just lost in thought is all." Flora told her as she checked her watch. "It's already been an hour?"
"Wow, you must've been really lost in thought." Angie chuckled as they head out of the restaurant.
"I've been known to lose track of time, usually it's because I'm working on a new project or something not memory lane." She replied. Angie perked up at hearing that.
"So it was a memory? Was it about a guy?" She questioned innocently. Flora cheeks pinked slightly but she remained quite. "Oh! So it is about a guy." Flora glanced at Angie out the corner of her eye taking in the beaming grin and eyes full of excitement.
"What's his name? What does he look like? Do you like him?" Angie began to fire off question after question not once letting Flora answer. Flora absently wondered if she was even taking a breath after each question as her skin takes on a light red color.
"Angie, breathe." Flora laughs as her friend stops talking and gulps in air like it's water. "But to answer a few of your questions. He's tall, much taller than me but not by much with an olive complexion with dark hair and eyes. He's a very dear friend of mine and his name is Howie." She chuckles.
"Is he smart?" Angie asked as they turned a corner. Flora nodded her head.
"Very smart, a genius in fact." She replied in a soft voice. "Though sometimes he let's it go to his head but under all that, he's a good man and I care very much about him." Angie watches her quietly. "I just wish he'd trust me more." Flora whispered to herself.
"I wish I had a man like that. Your so lucky, Maria." Angie told her as they finally reached her apartment building. "Welcome to The Griffith." Angie showed Flora around the building telling her about this or that about the place. "Hi Mary!" Angie waved to a women dressed in a blue suit.
"Hi!" Angie leans towards Flora.
"That's Mary - she's a legal secretary at Goodman, Kurtzberg, & Holliway." Flora waved to the woman as they walked by.
"Evelyn."
"Hey, Angie."
"Evelyn is a lounge singer at a club in midtown." Flora nodded to the woman. "Hi, Sarah."
"Hi."
"That's Sarah. She's a slut." Angie whispered causing Flora to snort in laughter. "I am so happy you're thinking about moving here. You're gonna love living here."
"Assuming Peggy and I are accepted." Flora told her. "We've never rented a flat that required an interview."
"It's just a formality. You'll both ace it. Miriam's a total pussycat." Angie shows her to Ms. Fry office. An older woman in a grey suit walks out and greets them.
"Hello, you must be Maria Carter?" She asked after they've shake hands.
"Yes, ma'am. It's a pleasure to meet you." Flora replied. Ms. Fry gave her an up and down glance before motioning for her to follow into the office.
"Please, have a seat." She gestured towards the chair.
"Thank you, ma'am." Flora open her pocketbook and pulled out her rent application then handed it to Miss. Fry. Flora sits still while she goes over it while tapping her pen on the desk and giving her side glances.
"Your references are impeccable. Senator Palmer is especially complimentary." Flora gives her a small smile.
"He and my father were dear friends." She told her remembering everything Peggy had told her about her family. Miss. Fry nods and puts the application down.
"How long do you see yourself working for the telephone company?" Flora stills for a moment, thinking.
"Only until I'm married, Miss. Fry." Was her answer which caused her to receive a happy smile.
"In a city filled with temptation, debauchery, and mischief, the Griffith hotel is a haven for proper young ladies. Our code of conduct is indisputable. Attire should be demure and elegant." Flora glance down at her blue-green dress not seeing anything wrong with it. "Curfew is ten. No drinking. No men above the first floor. No exceptions. Is that clear, Miss. Carter?"
"Perfectly." Flora replied nodding her head.
~o~
"You sure know how to work a person." Angie praised as they walked out the doors of the Griffith. Flora threw her head back and laughed. It was nearly 6 o'clock and the sun was casting an orange glow over everything.
"You sure you don't want me to walk you to the bus stop?" Angie asked.
"Yes, apparently dinner is in a few minutes and the ladies who abide at the Griffith put punctuality high on their priorities list." Flora teased, making Angie roll her eyes.
"Yeah yeah, ok. I'll catch you tomorrow then!" she waved, bouncing back up the stairs. Flora chuckled and waved before heading south to the closest bus stop. By her estimation, if the bus ran on time, she and Peggy could have half of their apartment packed up and ready to move in by tomorrow evening. Flora turned the corner onto a residential street, all the children were inside for supper so it was a rather peaceful walk until a payphone began to ring. Flora paused for a moment and scanned the street for anyone else that would be expecting a call. The ringing suddenly stopped however. 'Wrong number.' Flora told herself and continued down to the bus stop when yet another payphone, across the street this time, began to ring. Curiosity peaked, Flora made quick strides to the booth and picked up the receiver.
"Hello?" she asked, not expecting an answer.
"Maria, it's me." said the voice. Flora's grip tightened on the phone.
"Howard, how do you know where I am?" she asked in a hush tone. The street was empty and the blinds to nearly every window were drawn, she was sure.
"I have my ways. How's the apartment search going?" he asked.
"Howard, we both know this isn't a casual Friday night conversation. Where are you? Are you safe?" Flora kept her voice low despite no one being around to hear their conversation.
"I'm fine, with friends." he answered, "I'm calling to warn you, doll face." Flora felt her gut tighten.
"What do you mean?" her heart rate was starting to quicken, she tugged at the seam of her dress in attempt to stay calm.
"I can't go into detail, that'll only put you in more danger. Not everything is as it seems, I got someone else on my tail."
"You mean aside from every federal organization in the United States?"
"Shockingly I don't make friends as well as I do enemies. Just keep an eye out for anyone who looks shifty, scars on the face are usually a good sign."
"Howard, this isn't a comic book. Be serious or I'm hanging up." Flora demanded. She could hear Howard groan on the other end of the phone.
"I am being serious, just don't go down any dark alleys or go anywhere alone. I don't know how much these guys know about my personal life, not the publicized one but my real private life." Flora's mouth parted ever so slightly, he actually sounded scared. Truly and honestly frightened of these people.
"All right, Howard. I'll watch my back, but only if you do the same." she conceited. She could hear his sigh of relief barely above the other noise in the background of wherever he was hiding out at.
"Thank you. Hopefully I'll see you soon. Goodbye, Maria." and the line went dead. Flora hung the phone back up on it's hook and chewed her thumbnail. 'What on earth have you gotten yourself into this time, Howard…'