He watches as she walks in.  Again, in she comes, from nowhere, back into his path.  This is the forth time, in the last four weeks.  She almost floats.  That sharp hat and nave blue dress never seemed as complete.  Her shadow alone was a portrait, slender and graceful.

It was a chance meeting, a stroke of luck, the first time.  It seemed like much more here at the forth.  Not a word had ever been said between the two.  Events had been played out in his mind.  He’d decide his ticket wasn’t worth letting her pass.  He’d think, “Why not take a chance, forget obligation and try for something more.”

As his soap opera played in his mind, she turns, spots his glare and with a smile moves towards him.

Never, not in one if his scenarios did he dare think she’d approach him.

She extends her hand, “Hello, my name is Evelyn.”

With a surprising sense of comfort, he holds her hand, “Nice to meet you.  I am Harold.”

Still holding his hand, she sits down, “Do you realize this is the fourth time we’ve been in the same stop waiting?”

They finally release.  Harold stares, “Yes and I’d dare to say you may travel as much as I do?”

“Enough to know these tables aren’t built for anything but drinking”

“I’m sorry, would you like a drink?”

With a smile, “Now that you mention it I wouldn’t mind a little one.  I’d like something cold… maybe some tea or perhaps orange juice.”

Walking out of her view took his the comfort away.  How could he have gotten so lucky?  He couldn’t have created better company.  She was smooth and lovely.  He even loved her motivation.

He slides the orange juice to her and sipped some of his coffee.

“The only negative of orange juice is the fact you don’t look as refined drinking it as you do with coffee.”  The cup looked larger in her hands.

“I suppose I should’ve gotten you a cup like mine, but at the time I didn’t know it was even an issue.  What about the coffee, do you think, gives it such an appearance?”

“Other then the cups it comes in, I guess the steam, floating steadily.”

“You’d think advances in civilized society would lead to chilled orange juice that steamed.”

As they both semi laughed at their attempt with small talk, it became somewhat apparent how alike there lives really were.  Soon they’d be forced to start talking about work, nether was exited for that.

“That would be nice,” he said feeling the confidence proportional to his topics.  “Although, I wouldn’t say we are very civilized.  Have you been keeping up with the Katy fiasco?”

“Yes, that poor family they must be in a perpetual state of panic.  It was last reported they were expecting to pay over 10,000$ to the horrible people.  With crime the way it is, now a days, there’s no one for them to turn to.”

“All the police are owned by one gang or another.  So yes, giving the money is the only real chance that little girl has, but who’s to say someone willing to kidnap would even keep their end of the deal?”

“I do believe in spite of the few crazies we’re still heading towards good.  I’ve heard of people fighting against the gangs.”  She was down to almost only ice.

“People can make a difference, even individuals.  Say upon a chance meeting?”

“Maybe even after a few of them”, she breathed.

In came the moment of truth.  Who really needs these tickets anyways?  It’s time to live a little, “Would you like a refill or maybe a whole meal?”

Evelyn glances around the room, perhaps weighing her own responsibilities.

“There will be other trains.”

As if she won her last roll of the day, Evelyn smiled, “Let’s do it.”

The two stood and in a grand gesture, Harold took her arm in his and led her to the door.

What incredible luck.  Even if this was the last meal he maybe able to afford now, even if this is the last meal he’d ever have with this elegant women, he was happy. 

He lifts his hand hailing one of the small yellow cabs.

‘Good bye old you, hello risk taking, love making new me.’

With no more use for it, he decides to throw his ticket in the trash.  The cab pulls up and he opens the door for his new amazing companion.

“Please give me a minuet.  I have to say good bye to my old ways.”

“Take what ever time you need, we’ve got plenty.”

Harold jogs to the side of the small station, to its large trash can.  He pulls out his ticket and debates crushing or tarring.

Once the light of the street lap completely left his shoulders a hand replaces it.  Aggressive and fast he found his throat clasping and a rough grasp tugging at his ticket.

“Sorry fellow, you won’t need this now”, a whisper, almost amused voice in his ear.

The hand quickly took the ticket and with amazing speed it returned with a knife.

Struggling was meaningless, the grip was far too powerful and with the wound now bleeding out the little strength he had.  Harold risk taker and love maker, passed.

----------------------------------------

‘How easy they fall.  This little nothing was in his hands.  How lucky this twig was to experience true power.  He was even nice enough to have brought a ticket with his cash deposit.’

With a fluent motion his brawly arms tosses the stick into the trash.  Even in almost complete darkness he easily moves.  Griping his large suit case he walks into the light and looks at his ticket, only a few minuets till departure.  Looking past the ticket he notices a body worth grabbing, what a prize.  If only there was the time, he’d make quick work of the little blue number.

She quickly closes the door to the cab and watches as he walks into the station leering at her the whole way.

Inside he glances at the clock on the wall then walks towards the café owner.

“I’ve got to use your phone, were do you have it” clearly intimidating the man he reaches for the half way filled cup on the table the clerk was cleaning.  “Still some coffee left in this one.”

“heh… of course the phone is right this way…” faster then balanced the clerk shuffles to the bar and pulls a phone from it.  “Would you like… a dri… more of a drink?”

“Are you kidding?  At these prices you all are killers.  You think money grows off trees?”  With out taking his smirking eyes off the clerk he dials the phone and puts it to his ear.  “Do you mind?”

“Oh, um.. I have work elsewhere.”  The clerk walks to throw the trash.

The other end clicks to life, “Who is this?”

“Who do you think it is?  Tell the boss I still don’t understand what the big deal about this magic clown is but I’ve lost him and I’m on my way to some town south.”

“That wasn’t the plan.  You were supposed to head to...”

“I know the plan, but in order to insure none of you craps back home sell me out.  The new plan includes a hidden me.  Maybe even a dead magician, I haven’t decided.  I’ll call again in a day around this time.  Stay near a phone.”  With that he hangs up the phone as the train pulled up.

-------------------------------------------------------

The clerk, unsure how much time to give the stranger on the phone, slowly makes his way, to the back.  He notices the cab parked on the street, with the lovely young lady in blue.  She looked kind of frightened or worried.  She must’ve seen the stranger.

Finally at the back he notices a man in the trash.  “Excuse me, you shouldn’t be..”  A blur of motioned in front of him and an arm was around his neck.

“Don’t move him”

--------------------------------

‘Clearly this man was planning on taking a trip.  Whether he was coming or going I can’t be sure.  Maybe I should pump this guy for information, do some real detective work.’

He releases the worker and lets him flop on the ground, coughing, and gasping.  The final bells rang and the train began to depart.

‘I do know this is the work of that brute.  Is it a coincidence he took this guy near a train station or could he be planning on actually boarding it?’

Be hind him some foot steps then a shriek.

He quickly turns around glances at the girl and sprints the other way.

‘Guess it’s time for a ride.  What a nice shade of blue.’

With that he jumps on to the train and braces for the trip.

The women in blue looks in the trash and screams, “You monster!!”

‘Calm down lady, it’s not like I could feel worse about being to late for that one.’

Climbing to the back of the train wasn’t an easy task.  Though, compared to previous experiences it was hardly something to write home about.  When he made the last cart luggage a simple display of athleticism got him inside with only minimal noise.

‘Not sure when this train is going to stop, but I don’t think it’ll be any time soon.  By the looks of that guy behind the building, this one may turn out a tough bring down.’

He walked around, surveying the bags, cases, and packs, letting his hand pass over them.

‘With all this crap around, I’m sure to find at least a few good things.’