Infinite Loop - Chapter 32

Chance Encounter

Chapter 32

When Warren walked into Lou’s, he paid no attention to the other diners inside. He looked like the near invalid, which matched the cover story Amber gave him. His face remained swollen, and he showed the blue splotches from his beating. He still walked stiffly and carefully. His abdomen muscles hated the half-mile walk, reminding him with each breath he took. Shuffling through the rickety green screen door, he found the place nearly empty. A small counter stood in the middle of the room, and several booths sat along the large outside windows. He immediately noticed the curious stares from two men in coveralls sitting at the counter, half turning on their stools to look him over. The bucktooth waitress came from behind the counter as he carefully sat at the first booth.

“You ok, sweetie?” She asked.

“Yeah, I had an accident,” Warren remembered to lie. “It looks worse than it is. How about some coffee? Also, I’ll take eggs with toast if you got it?”

Smiling like a love-struck beaver, she left with the order. Warren nodded at the two men at the counter, who went back to their coffee. He noticed a Boston paper in one of the men’s jackets.

“Hey, Mister. Any chance I can get that paper from you?” Warren inquired.

The bearded man pulled out the newspaper, glimpsing at it. “Sure, I’m done with it.” He turned to his partner. “Come on, Joe. Time to get back on the road.” As the two men left, the bearded man handed Warren the bundled paper.

“Next time, try to keep your face away from the other guy’s fist,” he suggested with a grin.

“Thanks, I’ll do that,” Warren replied patiently as they left.

I must really look like hell.

He watched them through the window. The men got into a weathered truck with the words, Frenchie’s Cartage. They waved to him as they drove away.

Two pages into the paper from Boston, Warren found the latest updates about the investigation into the murders on board the Andes. According to the article, he was spotted swimming ashore before the ship ever got into the harbor and the authorities pursued that lead.

Good luck with that angle.

After his food had arrived, Warren skimmed through the other articles. All he found was depressing news about the economy to go with articles on the rise of turmoil in Europe and Asia. He was about to put the paper away when a name caught his eye.

Cassidy Hugh!

He leaned forward with a keen interest, reading the story in the daily beat column. The article reviewed the evening escapades of the famous Chicago gangster, as they called him. The press loved the fact he hung out with assorted moneyed and upper-class Bostonians in the Cypress Club. One part of the story focused on his time with local lovelies before returning to the Marquis Hotel where he was staying. The hook for Warren was the brief mention of Cassidy Hugh stopping by a club Krupin owned.

Warren Baker opened the black book he carried to make sure the name was the same. He concluded that his character must have some connection with this hood from Chicago. His first instinct was to return to Boston. Then he sighed. He realized that would be a problem. Aside from him being a wanted man, Warren was certain car rental places were not available every few blocks, as he remembered from 2013. He noticed a wooden phone booth in the corner and decided to call Cassidy.

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