Chapter 2
Good Advice
As was usual for a new job, I started out on the late shift. The Diner was open 24 hours a day, so that meant I worked 11:00 PM to 8:00 AM. Anne worked two shifts, from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, and from 5:00 PM to 12:00 AM. Not the best way to avoid getting noticed, because working two straight busy shifts required the constitution of Thor (I'm not exaggerating, that boy had quite the constitution).
My shift, on the other hand, was pretty light. There was a spike of activity when the bars emptied out at 2:00 AM and some of the drunks came in for a coffee and a danish chaser. But overall, duty (and tips) were light.
But that was OK. I figured turnover was high and that I would soon work my way to a busier shift.
Mitch, the owner, was about five foot three and three hundred pounds (although he carried it amazingly well). He showered maybe once a week, and that kept me from eating too much of his food. He had four other cooks working for him, three of whom he insisted served with him in Viet Nam. I suspected that Mitch was fibbing about his military experience, unless he was ten years older than he looked. It was possible, but I didn't think it likely. Mitch didn't look like a guy who would be older than he looked. Not everyone can be like me.
Mitch for the most part kept his hands to himself, and his remarks clean. Some of the older waitresses (meaning those over 19) whispered that Mitch used to be an ass grabber, but that things had changed since Anne started working there. Knowing what I did about Anne, I wasn't surprised.
As for Anne, she didn't say much to any of the rest of the girls. And since our shifts overlapped only by one hour, this pretty much meant that she said nothing to me at all. She kept to herself a bit too much for someone who wanted to avoid notice. Me, I made some light friendships, even went out dancing with a couple of the girls. I was good at not being exceptional, and while that meant not being too friendly, it also meant not being too standoffish.
One night, Anne ended her self imposed silence to tell one of the waitresses on her shift to stay in public areas on her way home, and to stay away from alleyways and places where there were no witnesses. Sensible advice for anyone, but it was interesting how much emphasis Anne put on her warning. I suspected that I knew why, and that she wasn't just thinking of muggers and chicken hawks. I also suspected that Anne herself did not follow her own advice.
But then, Anne's advice was for prey, and I was sure she was an alpha predator.