Chapter 3 - Someone Followed Her Home
Dora finished at 4:17.
She missed the bus.
Again.
At 4:36, she was walking beneath the elevated tracks when she noticed the blue sedan.
Same damaged bumper.
Same tinted windows.
Raymond.
Dora stopped.
The sedan stopped.
She started walking.
It moved.
“Oh, hell.”
She pulled Leonardo's card from her pocket.
Then hesitated.
She hated needing anyone.
Especially him.
The sedan accelerated.
Dora called.
Leonardo answered after one ring.
“Dora?”
“How did you know?”
Silence.
“Where are you?”
“Halsted, under the tracks.”
“Are you alone?”
“Yes.”
“Blue sedan?”
Her stomach dropped.
“Yes.”
“Walk into the laundromat on your right.”
She saw it.
“How do you know there's a laundromat?”
“Dora.”
“Right.”
She entered.
An elderly attendant looked up.
“Bathroom?”
Dora shook her head.
“Just aggressively interested in laundry.”
The sedan stopped outside.
“Leonardo?”
“I'm here.”
The rear door opened.
“Someone's getting out.”
“Stay inside.”
“What exactly are you going to do from a telephone?”
“Buy me ninety seconds.”
The man entered.
Dora lowered the phone.
“Can I help you?”
He smiled.
“You Dora?”
“No.”
His smile widened.
“You look like her.”
“People tell me I look like Beyoncé too.”
He stepped closer.
“Mr. Costa wants to see you.”
Dora held up the phone.
“Interesting, because Mr. Costa is currently listening.”
The man's expression changed.
Leonardo's voice came through the speaker.
“Put me on speaker.”
Dora did.
Leonardo said one name.
“Anthony.”
The stranger froze.
“You have approximately thirty seconds to leave.”
Anthony looked toward the windows.
“Boss, I—”
“Twenty-five.”
Anthony backed away.
“Raymond told me—”
“Twenty.”
“He said you wanted—”
“Fifteen.”
Anthony ran.
Dora watched the sedan disappear.
Then headlights flooded the laundromat.
Two black SUVs arrived.
Leonardo stepped from the first.
Dora marched outside.
He approached.
“You okay?”
She slapped his chest.
Not hard.
Enough.
“This is your fault.”
Dante stared.
Leonardo raised one hand.
Nobody moved.
Dora's voice shook now.
“They followed me home because you decided you liked my coffee?”
“I know.”
“You brought this into my life.”
“I know.”
“I don't want armed men outside my apartment.”
“I know.”
“Stop saying that!”
Leonardo became quiet.
Dora pressed her fingers against her forehead.
“What happens now?”
“You don't go home.”
“No.”
“Dora.”
“My apartment is all I have.”
“And someone knows where it is.”
She stared at him.
Leonardo lowered his voice.
“You can hate me somewhere safe.”
“Where?”
“My house.”
Dora laughed once.
“Absolutely not.”
“Hotel?”
“No.”
“Dante's?”
Dante looked alarmed.
Dora pointed at him.
“Definitely not.”
Leonardo almost smiled.
“Then my house.”
Dora looked back toward the dark street.
“Temporary.”
“Temporary.”
“No ordering me around.”
“I can't promise that.”
“Then I'm going home.”
“Fine. I'll try.”
“No guns pointed at me.”
Leonardo glanced at Dante.
Dante sighed.
“Fine.”
“And I'm not quitting my job.”
“That one may become complicated.”
Dora stepped closer.
“Leonardo.”
“Yes?”
“Try again.”
He closed his eyes briefly.
“Would you please allow me to keep you alive?”
Dora picked up her bag.
“See? Growth.”
Dante muttered, “This is going to be a nightmare.”
Dora looked at him.
“I heard that.”
“I intended you to.”
May you like
For the first time that night, Leonardo laughed.
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