No Name Trilogy, Book I: No Name

Chapter 22 - Cab Ride

Though I wasn't hungry, Old Lisa insisted on feeding me. He cooked up some pasta and, I had to admit, it was pretty good. I began to feel a little better. The pains I'd experienced in that chair down in the depths of the Circuit's lair were memory, at that point, although on occasion my temple would experience a pulsing sensation. Overall, I wasn't concerned about it. Mac and I sat there and enjoyed a meal almost as if we were normal people stopping in for a bite. Old Lisa had some other customers come and go, and I watched them with a mild interest. I felt safe with that man around, even for as scared as he seemed of the Circuit. He was large and kind, and I sensed that he would help us if something happened. He was already going to help by getting me the Hineses' address; he'd gotten busy with the lunch crowd, but as soon as things settled, he said, he'd get right to the address.

Though my lightheadedness had worn away, I felt a strange loneliness as I sat there. I had Mac, and Old Lisa was nice, but I missed Henry, and I missed even more the idea that I'd be able to find him. I'd felt so determined down there, so hopeful in the face of what I knew were miserable odds. But now, even though I was going to look into a possible clue, I didn't know how it could end in getting Henry back.

For as little as I really knew him--Henry--I was sure he was the only person who might actually care about me. And if I couldn't find him, what was I supposed to do with myself? Where could I possibly go?

"Someone says he's here to see you."

It was Old Lisa that had spoken. Mac and I were eating in the room behind the counter; the man had felt it best to keep us out of sight, and I'd agreed. But now he was telling me there was someone to see me? It couldn't be Henry--I didn't get my hopes up, but I thought it might be Slim. Maybe he had some news about Henry! So I jumped up, followed Old Lisa out the back of the building, and exited to find a guy of average size and stature, piercings across his face, dime-sized plugs in his ears, tattoos disappearing into short sleeves on arms I could now see.

Bodie. Definitely not who I'd expected. I almost turned to go back inside, but then I realized he might also have information, coming from the Circuit.

"What do you want?" Now that I was able to see him in the daylight, he wasn't nearly as intimidating as he'd seemed before; it helped that he was alone rather than surrounded by people who in some way idolized him. I was feeling a little more courageous than I had even a day ago.

"Slim said you'd be here." He smiled, took a step closer. "You forgot to get your ration."

"You came all this way to give me a pill?"

He'd been joking, but I was in no mood to laugh. He saw that and grew serious. "No, no. Listen, he told me what's happened to you, that they hurt you."

"He told you that?" I was mortified. I'd been embarrassed enough to have Slim see me like that--was he going around gossiping about me?

"Wait, don't go back inside! I asked him. It's not like he's telling everybody. I didn't see you, and I asked. He wasn't going to say anything, but then I told him maybe I could help you, and so he told me."

I stood on a little staircase leading down from the back door, and Bodie had come close enough that he reached out and put a hand on the railing. I wasn't afraid of him, but I was definitely annoyed. "Unless you have information about Henry, I don't care what you have to say."

He looked mildly confused. "I don't know who Henry is. But--Nadia--can I say your name?"

No one had ever asked my permission to say my name. I gave an irked nod.

"I felt bad, the way I came on to you down there. It makes sense why you were confused, now that he explained you weren't supposed to be there. And I promise, I'm not a terrible person."