Spot opened the door to Flannigan's for Adelaide and she walked in and sat down at her usual table with Ralphie.
"There you are," he said. "Where've you been?"
"Sorry," said Adelaide, quietly, keeping her eyes on the table.
Ralphie watched her for a few beats. "Where were you?"
Adelaide didn't answer.
"Three months and your fella will be out of jail," said Ralphie.
"My brother will still be who knows where," said Adelaide.
"Or Ohio."
Adelaide looked up at Ralphie. "What?"
"He could be in Rain Rock, Ohio. With the Bradley family."
Adelaide reached across the table and grabbed Ralph's hands. "You know where he is? How?"
Ralphie gave her a look. "I know people."
"Can we get him back?"
"We could. But we won't."
Adelaide squeezed his hands, tears filling her eyes. "Please, Ralphie. I'll do anything."
"I already have you doing anything for me not sending Snipeshooter right back to that brothel." Ralphie looked at her for a beat. "Eat." He pointed to the food the waiter set on the table.
Adelaide sighed and let go of his hands. She picked at her food.
"Aren't you hungry?"
"Yeah."
"Then why don't you eat?"
"I don't want to throw it up in the morning."
"It's in your head," said Ralphie. "You only throw up in the mornings coz you think you're going to. Eat, and I'll take you somewhere after dinner. Somewhere you can relax."
After dinner, Adelaide allowed Ralphie to lead her through the streets of Brooklyn. She glanced behind her once and saw Spot following at a distance. That made her feel a little better - only because someone would know where to find her. She didn't know what Ralphie had in mind.
"Where are we going?" she asked.
"Trust me."
Adelaide swallowed the lump in her throat. As if she'd ever trust Ralphie.
Adelaide began to shake as she recognized the neighborhood they were in and the alley that Ralphie was taking her towards.
"Ralphie…"
"You're with me," he said. "You're as safe as a kitten."
He pulled her into the alley and banged on the door.
Adelaide felt her breath getting shallow and quick; her heart felt like it was going to beat out of her chest.
"Please, no, Ralphie," she said, her throat tight, tears coming to her eyes.
"It's okay."
Adelaide swallowed as the door opened and the same toothless man stepped into the light. "Ah, Mr. Valentini. Another girl for us?"
"No. This isn't business."
The man opened the door wider and gestured for them to come in.
Ralphie nodded and dragged Adelaide into the opium den. Adelaide was shaking so hard, she could barely stand. Ralphie let go of her wrist and kept his arm around her, holding her close to his side.
"Right over here," the man said, leading them to a bed.
Ralphie pulled Adelaide along with him. He sat on the bed as the old man filled the long pipe.
"Lay down," Ralphie said to Adelaide.
Adelaide laid down on the bed and Ralphie laid down next to her. The old man handed the pipe to Ralphie, who offered it to Adelaide.
"I don't want—" but when she saw the look in Ralph's eyes, she knew it was not wise to go against him.
She put her lips to the pipe and inhaled. She choked a bit and and exhaled.
"Takes a little getting used to," said Ralphie, taking a drag. "Just enjoy."
Ralphie lay next to her, propping himself up on his elbow next to her. He gently caressed her cheek.
It made Adelaide sick.
She closed her eyes, wanting to forget everything that was happening. She tried to imagine she wasn't in a filthy opium den with Ralphie. She wanted to be anywhere else. Ralphie put the pipe to her lips again and she inhaled. She forced herself not to hear his whispers in her ear, his suggestions. A small inkling of a plan had begun to form in her mind, but the drug had begun to take effect.
