I was hoping for more people to be interested, but since it looks like I might have some interest, here's another chapter...
"Are you sure this is going to work Sven?" Eve asked as we walked through the door.
Honestly all I could do was nod since I had no idea if it would work or not. The worst that could happen would be for her to go through with her promise. I know she didn't mind threatening people in front of Robin, but to actually kill someone was a different story. I'm pretty sure Robin wouldn't be so happy if she had before. Only one way to way to find out.
I have to admit its kind of unnerving to know a woman's staring at you without even looking in her direction. How do I know? Easy. I can practically feel her eyes drilling a hole through the side of my face. No, I'm not looking directly at her. I don't want her to think that we specifically came to see her. If Eve looks, that's all right since well…she's a master at hiding her facial expressions.
"Coffee for me. Eve do you want anything?" I asked as Eve and I took a seat at the counter.
Eve shook her head, and I really don't blame her. I didn't really want anything either, but I was trying to be as casual as possible. No point in looking even more suspicious especially since I put my attaché case on top of the counter. The proper thing to do would be to leave it on the ground beside me, but I had two reasons. First, I could see Alice's reflection on the side of it. Second, if she started shooting, I wouldn't be completely unarmed.
One thing I did notice is that nothing seemed to faze her. I knew there was a possibility that she would pull out her gun again as soon as I touched my case, but she continued to calmly watch me while drinking her coffee.
After a moment, she put down her mug and took one of the napkins in front of Robin and scribbled something down on it. She whispered something to the kid who nodded and took the napkin running over to me.
"Alice wanted me to give this to you, and when you're finished, you're supposed to send your response back by her." Robin stated pointing at Eve, and she returned to her booth.
So she's going to make the first move? I opened the napkin and would have laughed at the doodles all over it if I hadn't found what Alice had written.
What do you want? Are you following me?
Now how to answer this? I had to get her attention somehow…
I'm not following you. I'm following Robin.
I passed the note over to Eve who read over it before glancing at me curiously. I knew she thought I was crazy, but the less information Alice had, the more likely she was to talk to us. Or, she could panic…
"Just be on guard. I think we might be able to make her want to talk to us." I whispered quietly to Eve.
"What makes you think that?" Eve asked folding the napkin carefully to buy time.
"Well she didn't shoot us as soon as we came in. Other than that, I can't be sure." I responded, and Eve went to deliver the message.
I finally took the time to taste the coffee and had to admit it tasted pretty good. No wonder Alice didn't seem to want to put hers down... Speaking of Alice, she was nodding towards me in what I guessed was her way of saying to join her. I lit a cigarette before I went balancing my coffee in one hand and case in the other.
Alice stood up to allow Eve to slide in and Robin moved to the other side of the booth to make way for me and Eve to sit down. Smart move. They could get out easier that way. To any on lookers, we must have looked cozy with Robin and me on one side and Eve and Alice on the other. Convenient set up too. Alice and I could look each other directly in the eye. Well I could if she wasn't wearing those shades.
"So you're following Robin? Why her instead of me?" Alice asked. Right down to business like I thought.
"I would be chasing you too if you at a 600k bounty on your head." I replied taking a long drag on my cigarette.
That definately got her attention. She had me by the collar of my shirt before I could blink. I tightened my grip on the mug fully prepared to throw it at her if I had to, and used my other hand to try and pry her hand off. The woman had a grip like steel!
"Calm down! You're making a scene! Eve don't do anything!" I shouted when Eve's hands began to transform.
"But Sven!" Eve started but Alice cut her off.
"Give me one reason I shouldn't break your neck right now?" Alice muttered deadly serious.
"Because he's not a bad man…" Robin whispered quietly.
Nice to know I have someone else on my side. Does make me wonder how the kid knows.
"What makes you sure Robin?" Alice asked glancing over to Robin who had stopped eating. She could probably make a decent mind-reader.
"Because the bad men are outside…"
Time seemed to stop when the whole table looked out of the window. Sure enough about fifteen men in black suits were slowly starting to surround the place.
"Friends of yours?" I asked as I removed her now limp hand from my shirt.
"You could say that…" Alice muttered as she pulled out her gun.
This was definitely bad. Not only would they start a mass panic opening fire on us, but we were severely out numbered. These definitely weren't odds I wanted to deal with.
"How good is your shot?" Alice asked out of the blue.
"Well I survived this long so it must be pretty good. What are you thinking?" Well whatever it was couldn't be good.
"I want you to take Robin and leave through the back while I distract these guys. I promise you your way will be clear." Alice stated as she moved her shades to the top of her head.
If her eyes were an ocean before then there was definitely a storm brewing now. Her whole persona seemed to change. She still looked calm, but there was something even deadlier about her now. She was just like the old Train before Eve convinced him not to kill.
"How do you know you can trust me? I am a sweeper after all." I asked letting curiosity get the best of me.
Alice actually laughed. A laugh that sent chills through my blood, but a laugh none the less. She twirled the gun around her finger before pointing it directly at my head mid spin, but lowered it just as quickly.
"You haven't figured it out yet? I need you to get Robin out of here safely. Let's make one thing clear though. If I see one scratch on her when I finish here, I will kill both you and the blond kid. If you try to run, I will hunt you down like a dog, and I guarantee your deaths won't be quick. Now wait until I have their attention before you move and stay on the ground."
Sometimes the only thing you can do in certain situations is to remain quiet, and this was definitely one of those times.