"Mr. Wick." Said the short man. "Management will see you both now."
The man escorted them to the corner table. John pulled the chair out for Evie and she took a seat. He took the chair next to her.
"Good evening." said the man at the table greeting her. "You can call me Winston."
"Nice to meet you, Winston." She said. "You can call me, Evie."
John rested his arm across the back of Evie's chair.
"Ms. Taylor, Jonathan let me know of the recent correspondence you received." He said. "Your mother's name is Judith Natalie Taylor?"
Evie nodded.
"She was also known as Natalya Alla Tumanova. She was married to Anthony Nicholas Taylor also known as Anton Nikolay Tumanova." He said.
"With all due respect, Winston, I don't understand how this matters." She said.
"Your father worked with Ivan Turov supplying guns to the various underground channels. Ivan made claims that your father stole from him. Your father was selling guns on the side to pay various debts. Ivan Turov was willing to work with your father's indiscretions. When Turov was killed. Alex Motkova assumed Ivan's operations and therefore the debts owed. Motkova is not as patient a man as Turov. So, your father offered your life as payment for his debts." Said Winston.
"How? How is my life payment for his debts." She asked.
"In certain circles, a daughter has a value. Motkova, before assuming the operations of the fallen Turov, was the owner of a lucrative service to provide gentleman with companionship." He said.
"Prostitution?" she asked.
"I can't speak to their plans for you. " he said. "Your father bargained your life to save his own. There is a contract for your capture, alive, to be brought to Motkova." He said.
"Then why is no one snatching me up?" she asked.
"This establishment is safe ground. Perhaps Jonathan has not had time to explain, but no business such as your contract, can be conducted on Continental grounds." He said.
Evie looked at John. Her head was spinning. She was beginning to fear what more she wasn't being told.
"Ms. Taylor, you are safe here." He said.
"Thank you, Winston." She said. "How can I clear my contract outside of turning myself over to Mr. Motkova?"
"I regret to inform you that he only way to clear it is for Motkova to release you from the contract." he said.
"That's why I will handle the contract from here." Said John.
"Who were the men who kidnapped me?" she asked as she glanced at John giving him a look of disapproval.
"Some men trying to make good on the contract. The last of Turov's men. Their recent deaths precipitated Motkova's take over." He said looking at John.
"I can't stay here." Said Evie.
"I'd advise it until Jonathan can negotiate your contract." Said Winston.
"I appreciate all that John has done for me but I cannot accept anything further. My father left me when I was a child. He has never saw value in my life and he doesn't get to decide now that there is for the sake of saving his own." she said feeling her heart pound in her chest. As she spoke she felt anger and sadness.
"Evie, I realize you were brought into this without choice, but this is a world that lives by a code not reason or logic. I'm sorry." said Wintson.
"Me too." she said as she fought tears. "Thank you for everything, Winston." She said standing and pushing at John's hand on her chair.
"Evie, please." Said John keeping his hand against her chair. She looked at him pleading with her eyes. She knew if she spoke one more word she might lose it. He took note and moved his arm to let her go. Evie walked to the bar. John stood to follow her.
"Jonathan." said Winston. "A word?" he said gesturing for him to sit.
Evie took a seat at the end of the bar.
"You ok?" asked Addy.
"I'm not sure." She said looking over her shoulder to see John and Winston still talking.
"Hey," she said setting a small glass before her. "On the house." she smiled. "Won't take your troubles away but helps take the sting out of them." she said walking down to the other end of the bar.
Evie took a deep breath then sipped from the glass. It was strong. She sat the glass down and wiped the welling tears from her eyes. She turned back to see John rise from the table and Winston stop him. She wondered what more they could discuss. She saw a man take a seat next to her. John turned towards her as sWinston spoke to him. She turned back to the bar and took another sip from the glass.
"Can I buy you a drink?" asked a tan dark haired man that had taken the seat next to her. "My name's Sal."
"No thanks, Sal." Said Evie keeping her eyes forward to the bottles behind the bar as she sipped her drink.
The man put his hand on her shoulder. She abruptly turned knocking his arm fom her shoulder. She looked at him disgusted.
"Woah, it's just a drink." He said.
"Please keep your hands off me." She said.
"I apologize. Ma'am, I just wanted to take that troubled look off of your face. I promise you, no harm, Ms. Tumanova." He said.
Evie stared at the man. That was the name Winston had told her belonged to her parents.
"Excuse me? I never told you my name, Sal." She said clearly shaken.
Evie turned to find Addy. She was down the bar serving drinks.
"Sweetie, I think you did tell me. You must be a bit tipsy." He said. She looked at him as he smiled. Her vision began to blur. She stood but her legs felt weak.
"I'm here with someone." She said.
"Not for long." He said.
"Evie." She heard John approaching. She felt hands steady her. She panicked and grabbed the hands holding her. The man who called himself Sal now stood at the other end of the bar watching. John turned Evie to face him. Her panic subsided as she saw it was him holding her.
"John, something's wrong." She said. He felt her hold tightly to him to keep herself steady. He wrapped his arm around her waist to keep her tightly at his side.
"John, is she ok?" asked Addy.
"Who was the guy talking to her?" asked John.
"He said his name was Sal." She said looking around.
"I'm taking her up to the room. Send the doctor and find out what you can about Sal for me." Said John.
"Sure." She said.
John walked Evie to the elevator and just as they got back to the room Evie collapsed on the bed.
She nearly overdosed." Said the doctor to John. "She wasn't taking any drugs?"
"No." he said.
"Maybe someone slipped something in her drink." Said the doctor.
John watched Evie as she lay in bed. Her breathing now normal and she seemed peaceful.
"She should just sleep." he said.
"Could you keep an eye on her for me? I have someone I need to talk to." asked John.
The doctor nodded understanding how John worked. "Of course." said the doctor as he took a seat and grabbed a book from his medical bag.