The End of the Littlest One [Completed]

40. Let me at least buy you dinner tonight

'Excuse me,' a female voice said.

Olivia looked up from her cup of coffee. For the last ten minutes she had been staring into it. As expected, it did not give her the answers she needed. Instead, it only got cold.

'Yes?' Olivia said.

The young woman smiled at kindly at her. Her bangs covered her eyebrows and a long, copper colored braid hung over one of her shoulders.

'Were you the one looking for a Jamie and a Danny? At the inn?'

'I was.'

Olivia smiled at her. This woman might have the answer she needed to find the two men. Would something like that just show up right in front of her? In the form of a woman she didn't know, but who seemed to know about her situation?

Weird...

'Do you mind if I sit down with you?'

'Not at all,' Olivia blurted out. 'Have a seat.'

She gestured to the empty chair on the other side of her table. The woman sat down.

'Do you know where they are?' Olivia asked.

'I'm not sure,' the woman answered. 'Let me explain,' she added upon seeing the confused look on Olivia's face.

'I work at the inn as a waitress. I see a lot of people come and go, and I don't know everyone's names by far. That would be impossible. However, I couldn't help but notice this rather attractive man,' she laughed a little, and her cheeks turned red.

'That does sound familiar,' Olivia smiled back. 'I work at an inn, too.'

'Really? Then you know how it is.'

'I do,' Olivia laughed.

'Anyway. I kept an extra eye on the man's table. Later in the evening another man joined him. They started talking and ordered food. When I was on my way to deliver it, I heard one call the other Jamie.'

Would it have been them?

'Obviously, I didn't think much of it. But I made sure to remember the name. When I looked in the register later that evening however, I couldn't find the name Jamie anywhere. I heard that was the same case when you asked around at the inn this morning, right?'

'Yes, they couldn't find the names,' Olivia said.

'Strange, isn't it? Then I thought it might've been a nickname. Unfortunately, I couldn't find any names that resembled it either.'

I hadn't even thought about that Olivia thought. Could their names have been nicknames? But anything resembling the names weren't in the register either. Nothing makes sense.

'That's not all, though. I also have information that might actually help you.'

'And you're only getting to that now?' Olivia laughed.

'I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I like storytelling,' the woman smiled. 'Here it comes. The next morning, when I came into work, I saw Jamie with the same man from the night before standing on the curb in front of the inn. I overheard them talking about the Wishing Well Inn.'

'I've heard of them.' Olivia got excited. This probably meant they were at that inn right now.

'Well, I think they might've gone there. It's not far away. One afternoon on foot should get you there before nightfall.'

Writing another letter would be of no use. I should go to the Wishing Well Inn and speak to them face to face. I need to figure this all out as fast as possible.

'Was that useful information for you?' the woman asked. 'I looked all over town for you, I'd hate to know I was wasting your time.'

'Don't worry about it. It was incredibly useful,' Olivia answered. 'Your efforts were certainly not in vain. Thank you so much. How did you know I needed it?'

'I didn't tell you that, did I? This must be very weird for you,' the woman chuckled. 'The guy you asked about the men at the inn asked some other employees about it, including me. I figured I could always tell you what I know, even if it doesn't turn out to be helpful.'

'That explains a lot. Again, thank you.'

'Sure, no problem. What are you going to do next?'

'I'll visit the inn they've probably gone to.'

'Well, if you do, you might want to wait until tomorrow. It's quite late already, and the roads aren't safe at night. I've heard of multiple wolf sightings these past few weeks.'

'Really? I might need to then.'

'Feel free to stop by the inn if you need a place to spend the night. Now, if you'll excuse me, my break is almost over.'

'I don't want to hold you here, then,' Olivia quickly said. 'Thank you, again, for what you've told me.'

The woman stood up from her chair and smiled at Olivia one more time.

'Don't mention it. Maybe I'll see you later. Bye.'

'Bye.'

As soon as the woman left the room, Olivia felt someone tap on her shoulder. She turned around to look for the source of the tap. It turned out to be a middle-aged man, sitting at the table behind her. He had turned on his chair to face her.

'Can I help you?' Olivia asked.

'I couldn't help but overhear your conversation. I am going to the Wishing Well Inn tomorrow. I could give you a ride to it,' he said. 'You'll be there much faster that way.'

'Why would you do that? I don't mean to be rude, but you must want something in return.'

Normally, Olivia isn't as suspicious as she was now. However, with all the things going on, she couldn't help but question people's motives.

'I can see why you might be a little suspicious,' the man said. 'But I'm just trying to help you out. I'm going to the same place you are, and I have place for you on the cart. Take it or leave it.'

When Olivia didn't immediately respond, the man sighed and turned around on his chair.

'Sir,' Olivia said.

The man turned around to face her again.

'Let me at least buy you dinner tonight.'