Wait For Me

Chapter 4- Meeting a (Sneaky) Gentleman and Having a Revelation

January 17th, 1930

As much as he disliked the city, and the bite of the cold, Alastor had to admit that the snow was awfully pretty. The freshly fallen snow - not that gross, brown-gray slush that came from rubble, muddy footprints, and car exhaust. No, Alastor found himself enamored by the sparkling, pure white powder that coated the existing trees, and perched along gates and fences. A winter wonderland indeed.

The saxophonist leaned a leg back against the wall behind him, cigarette in hand as he watched the sun sink to the horizon. Sun set in the winter was quite a bit different than a sun set in the warm, summery air, he noted. He was standing outside of the Italian restaurant he ordered from just last week, but this time he was fixing to eat-in and enjoy the atmosphere. The food was surprisingly delightful, and he was tempted to try the other, affordable, items on the menu. Lucifer's gift to him was more cash, he found out. Though it still wasn't enough to sustain him for two more months.

Moretti's, the sign above the restaurant proclaimed. The food smelled delectable and the restaurant seemed understandably busy for a Friday evening. Alastor was performing at the club later, but for right now, he was itching for a meal. Putting out his cigarette, he stepped inside the restaurant. It was as warm and welcoming as he remembered it being.

The hostess met him at the door with a polite smile and a soft voice. "Good evening sir, will you be dining in tonight?"

She was a pretty, young thing, with straight brunette hair, guileless hazel eyes, a curved nose, and soft rounded cheeks. Not for the first time did Alastor muse how simple it would be to end an innocent being's life. He wouldn't even have to resort to any torture, and she probably wouldn't fight back at all. Not only that, but it would appease Lucifer a bit and keep him off his back. What would that murder be like? What would it feel like? But then he shook his head, effectively shoving those thoughts to the darker recesses of his mind. He would stick with his morals, as he had been for years now.

He cleared his throat and rubbed his hands together, letting the warmth of the building reach his freezing fingers. "Yes indeed," he smiled back.

The hostess flushed a bit, yet another victim to his handsome features and charms. Alastor would chuckle if he wasn't used to every girl swooning over him by now. Egotistical? Perhaps, but it was simply par for the course at this point.

"Right this way." She led him over to a small booth along the wall.

Alastor glanced around as he walked. He hadn't paid too much attention the last time he was here, but now that he was, he noticed the restaurant had several paintings along the walls. A few of them he happened to get a decent look at, appeared to show a family of five. A burly man, a delicate and gorgeous woman, an older boy, and two younger children that clearly shared similar features. The man was scowling with one hand on the woman's shoulder and another on the older boy, whom Alastor noticed was trying his hardest to match the face of the man behind him. The woman wore a soft smile, eyes full of love, and she had two delicate hands around the younger children, a boy and a girl, if Alastor's assumptions were correct. The picture appeared older, but he didn't have too much time to inspect it further, as the hostess was waiting at his booth.

She did, however, notice his slight fancy in the portrait. "Oh! Those are the Moretti's!" she helpfully pointed out.

Alastor's brows knit in curiosity. "Really?" He supposed it made sense the owners would have their portrait hung up in their own restaurant.

The hostess nodded. "Yes. I don't know them much myself, but I know the mother is no longer around. Unfortunate really..." she looked around as though looking for prying ears, before waving him closer.