Turning onto Columbus and Dearborn the cab driver pulled over to the curb throwing the car into park as he turned to face me.
“So are we going out again tonight buddy? I know a dozen more places just like last night where we could really whoop it up?”
Laughing I dropped my elbows off of the headrests shaking my head.
“Sorry man, I’d love to ‘whoop it up’ with you but I got some other stuff to do tonight.” Grabbing up the suitcase I opened the door shutting it behind me as I stepped out onto the street, fishing around in my pants pockets for some cash.
“Okay kid. It’s your loss though.” Bracing my elbows on passenger side door I tossed a wad of bills through the open window.
“Thanks again. Maybe I'll catch you next time I’m in town.” Backing up I turned, suddenly stopping.
“Hey wait.” I shouted, as the cab slowly began to pull away.
Stopping the cabbie backed up as I walked again to the window.
“You said there were three people dressed up like trick or treaters in the hallway last night?”
“Yeah?” The guy shrugged. “So?”
“Are you sure it was three and not two?”
“Hey kid we had a lot to drink but I definitely wasn’t seeing triple.”
“Thanks.” Backing up again I tapped the roof of the cab tossing up a wave as the driver pulled away into the afternoon traffic.
* * *
“Hey.”
Turning I smiled.
“Hey yourself.” Stepping forward wrapping my arms around Eva, my body felt instantly relaxed at the site of her again.
She wasn’t a dream.
She was so real.
“Ouch.” Standing back she rubbed at the back of her head. “What the hell was that?”
Dropping my arms to his sides I glanced down at the metal suitcase that I’d swung around her back along with my arms.
“Whoops sorry. Didn’t mean to bean you in the head there.”
Her eyes lingered on the suitcase for a moment before she blinked rapidly pulling her gaze back up to my face.
“So do you want to talk inside?” She shrugged in the direction of a coffee shop behind us.
“No.” Answering quickly I tossed a hand out to signal another passing cab.
“What are you doing?” Following me to the curb she waited as the cab pulled over.
“Get in.”. Reaching out a hand I guided her to the opened door.
“You’re acting strange….of course what’s new about that?” She mumbled under her breath leaning down as I nudged her from behind.
“Hurry.” Climbing in practically on top of her I tucked the suitcase down by my feet before closing the door.
“So where are you taking me Batman?” Shifting her eyes over to meet mine she smiled.
“Sish is sheriosh.” I grumbled through closed lips.
She just blinked at me in confusion.
“Serious….this is serious okay. That’s what I was trying to say but I was trying to be secretive about it!”
“Okay.” Raising her eyebrows she sat back in the seat, letting me take her hand into mine as I leaned forward directing the cab driver where to go.
* * *
Once we reached our destination I paid the cab driver, my hand still clutching tightly to Eva’s hand as we walked brusquely in the direction of what appeared to be an abandoned building. When Eva began to protest I shushed her grabbing for the door handle and easily pulling the door open.
“What is this…the Batcave or something?” She asked as I signaled her to follow me inside the darkened building.
“Yes it’s the Batcave. I have to put on my suit and bat ears and then we’ll go and start up the Batmobile and ride like the wind through the city fighting crime.” I mumbled sarcastically over my shoulder, as the door closed slowly behind us, an uneasy darkness enveloping the musty smelling room we had entered.
Still holding tightly to her hand I lead Eva through the room, our feet tripping over unseen objects on the floor as we both stumbled to regain our balance.
“What the hell was that?” She hissed her fingernails digging into the palm of my hand.
“Probably a dead rat or something?” I answered back without missing a beat.
“Oh okay…well as long as it’s just a dead rat.” Tripping again Eva lunged forward wrapping her arms around my torso.
“WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?” She screeched her legs getting tangled with mine as we tumbled to the floor the metal suitcase bouncing from my grip.
“Well whatever it was now we’re probably lying on top of it.”
“That’s not helping.” She whispered into my ear from her perch on my back.
“Neither is your knee digging into my back.” Wincing I reached a hand around slapping at her to move.
“I’m not getting off of you until you tell me where the hell we are?”
“Look, I told you I needed to meet you somewhere private and this is somewhere private.”
“Fine. Then start talking.” Adjusting herself around on my back her elbows now found their way into my shoulder blades making me groan.
“I’m not going to talk to you like this.”
“Like what?”
“With you on my back…Jesus I think I’m losing feeling in my arms. Can you move your freaking elbows.”
“What difference-“ Dropping her elbows off of my shoulder blades she draped her arms around my neck leaning down so that her chin rested on my left shoulder. “Does it make whether I’m on your back or not?”
I sighed heavily with defeat.
“Fine.”
I could almost see her grinning with delight as I searched for the right words to say.
“Eva, Can I trust you?” Resting my chin on the heel of my hand I blew some stray strands of hair out of my eyes.
“Of course you can trust me.” Squiggling around on my back Eva shivered.
Pausing a beat I contemplated what I was about to do. Bringing Eva into this could makes things even worse than they already were…but I needed advice and there was no where else to turn…..
“Nick?” Pressing her cheek against mine Eva waited.
“Eva I’m in trouble and I need your help.”