Finding Anna

Chapter Five

Chapter Five

After getting off the phone to her mother, Anna decided to head over to the diner in search of food. The place, thankfully, wasn’t as bright on the inside as it was on the outside. She took a deep breath as she walked over and sat down at one of the booths in the most private and secluded area of the diner. She glanced over the menu for a moment before deciding on a cheese burger, fries, an extra side of garden salad, with a large coke to wash it all down.

It was likely that she wasn’t going to eat it all, but Anna was never allowed to eat at places like this while she was with him, and she certainly wasn’t allowed to eat burgers or fries. The salad was acceptable, but Anna actually liked salad, so it wasn’t like it was a chore to eat it so she could say she had something healthy.

“Hi there!” A bubbly woman with shoulder length red hair came up to her wearing the most disgusting yellow uniform Anna had ever seen.

At least it was more pale than bright, she thought, realizing now just how much she disliked bright colors. It was new to her, since she always enjoyed wearing a bright wardrobe, with prints and florals everywhere. Bold colors were also good, especially red. Anna looked down quickly, eyeing the dullness in her clothing.

“I’m Becca, and I will take your order whenever you’re ready.”

Her brilliant smile could melt the sun, Anna decided. She was tall, and although mid to late twenties, she was very beautiful with flawless pale skin and the greenest eyes Anna had ever seen. She felt a little jealous of the natural beauty of the waitress.

“Hi,” Anna started, “can I please get a cheeseburger with fries, a garden salad, and a coke?” Anna closed the menu and placed it carefully in the center of the table where she picked it up from.

Becca wrote everything down on a small notepad before slipping the pen and book into her apron. “Sure thing, be back in a jiffy.”

Anna nodded and looked out the window. She waited less than minute for Becca to come back with the coke, telling her she’d be back again with the food in a few minutes. Anna said nothing as the waitress walked away. Anna knew she was coming across as rude, but at the same time, she didn’t care much.

I am not here to make friends, Anna reminded herself.

Becca came back a few minutes later, surprising Anna at how quickly the service was. When Becca first said she’d be back with the food in a few minutes, Anna thought that was just something she was supposed to say as part of the job. But then again, the place was dead; there was not a single customer aside from Anna at the diner.

She was just a few bites into her fries when she began to look around. She might have been tucked away nice and neatly at the back of the diner, but she could still see out of the windows. She had to be able to make a speedy getaway, no matter where she was or what she was doing. It was a life she was, unfortunately, used to living. Looking over her shoulder. Wondering. Watching her back. Hell, even the army probably didn’t have it this bad. But every person who even looked the slightly bit like that awful man she had to look twice. To check. Run.

I can’t keep living like this…

She thinks sadly to herself, blinking a tear back as she carries on with her meal, blissfully unaware that the waitress is looking closely at her with intrigue. Anna embarks on her internalization. She was so glad she practically emptied her account before leaving town. And at least her savings were untouchable. Otherwise he’d probably have had the whole lot too. The look on the bank manager’s face when she said she needed the whole lot in cash was a picture.

A sharp rattling of plates disturbed the quiet diner, sharply rattling through her head, interrupting the country music playing over the jukebox. A rather tall gentleman in a suit was busy stacking plates away under the counter, giving them a light scrub with a dishcloth as he went. He looked a bit sharply dressed to be stacking plates, but that wasn’t Anna’s concern.

“Nate, what are you doing out here? I thought you were in the supermarket today?” The waitress pipes up.

“Well I would be. But that darn Johnny has called in sick again. Wish I damn well never hired him. He’s been a pain in the back teeth since I gave him the contract.” The smartly dressed man grumbled back.

“I’ve barely even seen him since he started,” Becca replied with a nod.

“That’s because he’s already phoned in with four colds in a month. He better hope that he don’t come back,” Nate shook his head, “he’s fired as soon as he walks through the door. This man runs a business, not a f*****g circus.” The manager seemed to be quite annoyed.

Anna looked down quite solemnly. Even slightly raised voices put her on edge. All she remembered when she heard men shouting now was the hairs on the back of her neck and the feeling of terror and suffering when he raised his hands to her. It had not been too often, but far too many times.

“Does that mean I get a new companion?” Becca excitedly clapped at the counter, the sound of an oven alarm going off.

“Yes, Becca. Yes, it does.” Nate rolls his eyes, loudly clattering more plates haphazardly as he packed them away on the shelf under the counter.

“Yay! I’ve been saying this place gets too lonely. Can they be cute? And handsome! Or just friendly!”

The manager makes a light, exasperated grumble. “Don’t push your luck.”

The two seemed to go quiet, and Anna sighed quietly, before taking a bite out of her burger. It was so satisfying. It had been so, so long since she’d tasted something as delicious as this. As far as burgers go, it was probably run of the mill, bog standard with nothing special, but he, he had always been so obsessive about her figure. Her weight. How it had to be perfect. Eating any junk food was a sin, punishable by…

Anna let’s out a shiver as she remembered the last time she got caught eating this by that wretched man.

No wonder she had kept her shape so well. How healthy it was though, was another matter.

Unbeknownst to Anna, the two behind the counter had lowered their voices considerably.

“What about her?” Becca excitedly drew Nate’s attention with a small nod to the young lady that sat in the secluded corner of the restaurant.

“What about her?” Nate repeated sarcastically.

“Well come on Nate, I haven’t seen her in town before, she’s gotta want a job to keep some money coming in. She’s perfect!”

“How do you know she needs a job to keep money coming in?” Nate asked.

“Huh?” Becca asked, slightly confused.

“Does it not occur to you that she might just be passing through?” Nate peered subtly over the counter at Anna, just out of sight. Now that his colleague mentioned it, she was quite pretty.

“Come on, even if it’s just for a couple of weeks! Think of me!” Becca put on a blatantly fake frown, trying to pout with feigned sadness.

“Alright, fine. Let me get a better look.” Nate, at this, covertly picks up a nearby sponge, and walks out onto the diner floor, whistling loudly, conveniently walking up to the tables opposite Anna, and began to clean the already immaculate tops. “Morning!” he shouts to the customer Becca had taken such a shining to.

Anna looked up from her burger, making eye contact with the friendly manager, albeit just for a moment. The bright green eyes stare back, as though trying to warm her up from the inside out.

“Oh! Morning!” Anna hurriedly replied, the greeting throwing her off guard for a moment. She watched as he bent to start cleaning a table, and had to admit, he was rather good looking, but definitely not her type. Fortunately, he didn’t share any resemblance that horrible gentleman.

“Are you new in town? Guess they must have found a buyer for that house on the edge of town, huh?” Nate gently probes at her defenses. Now that he was getting a better look at her, he was beginning to see the appeal. He had to get her working for him. Damn, she was some crazy eye candy, and would be one hell of a conquer. Those tired looking eyes might not be on par, but she was darn pretty, he thought to himself.

“No, no, I haven’t moved in, I’m just getting my car fixed…” She replied rather shortly. The less information she told anyone, the better her chances were of eluding her unwanted follower.

“Oh, I see. Such fickle things, cars. I’m glad I drive a true gem of American engineering!” Nate laughed boastfully, half expecting the grand notion would intrigue the girl.

“I suppose you’re right.” Anna went back to her food, noticing that the whole scrubbing the table in circles motion was getting quite conspicuous. A full minute he’d be going at it. Was he going to cause a problem? Did he know him? Would he be one to follow her out after she finished?

“A girl of few words now! I like it. Play your cards close to your chest. Where are you staying?” He still hadn’t moved to the next table, and seemed unaware of how obvious he was.

Anna’s heart pinged for a few moments. Why did he want to know? Was he close to that man? Did he have friends out here? It wouldn’t surprise her if he did.

“Oh… Umm, just at the motel. Few days, you know.” She let out a fake, yet somehow convincing giggle.

“The Sunshine Days Motel?” He enquired. In her head, Anna was glad he’d suggested somewhere she didn’t even know.

“Yeah that’s the one.” She confirmed with a small smile, making sure it was yet another lie.

“Good to know. Say…” he started, “you weren’t looking to make a little extra cash while you’re were staying in town now, would you?” The manager finally straightened up from his pointless table scrubbing, hands on his hips, facing the girl he was quickly coming to admire.

Anna thought for a moment before shrugging. “It hadn’t really occurred to me, why do you ask?” she asked, finishing her burger at last.

“Well as it happens, I could use a new waitress! And I would be…” he leaned in with a mysterious, inviting glint to his eye, “delighted.” And at that, he gave a cheeky bob of his eyebrows, “To take you on as exactly that.” To top it off, he even included the fist pump across his chest.

It did sound nice. Very nice, in fact. But there was no point taking the job; the car would probably be fixed soon, and she couldn’t afford to set up base anywhere in case he found out where she was hiding.

“I’m flattered, I am, but I really must be on the road as soon as the car is done. I’m sorry.” She tried to be diplomatic, but knew she failed.

“Ah, now that is a shame! A real crying shame. You would make such a perfect fit! This town is rather charming. You might want to stick around for a while. You’ll find opportunity has a funny way of finding people.” Nate smiled as he smartly put a business card on the table, sliding it across the surface to rest in front of Anna.

She looked down at the crispy white piece of card adorned with a golden trim. Nate Watson, forever enshrined in gold!

Wow. Pretentious, much? she thought. The very smart calligraphy text shone back up. He definitely had a prestigious stature to him.

“Now, if you do decide to change your mind, I will keep the door ajar, just for a lovely woman like yourself, Miss…” he trailed off, hoping for a name.

Jackson. Jones. Yes, use Jones.

“Jones! Uh, Anna Jones.”

“A pleasure to have met you.” Nate begins to walk… no, stride away, carrying himself with all the confidence in all the world.

“Thank you…” Anna replied timidly, putting the card into her jacket. She didn’t plan to take advantage of the opportunity, but it might come in handy, she guessed. Oh wait, the bill. “Er… Mr Watson!” she suddenly shouted out.

The suited man stopped in his tracks, looking over his shoulder.

“Yes Anna?” he softly replied.

“Could I get the bill, if that’s not too much trouble?” she asked.

“Of course,” he gave her another confident, gleaming smile.

And with that, Nate disappeared behind the counter. It was only then she noticed Becca beaming up at her from the counter too. She didn’t say anything else, but went about her business.

Said bill landed on her table just a minute later. Anna glanced at it. $10.85. Not bad for a meal for one person.

“How would you like to settle your bill?” Nate asked politely.

“Cash, please.”

Anna reached into her pocket. The inner pocket. Oh god…

Her cash. Her money was still in her motel room. She’d forgotten the whole lot. She was definitely tired. Now way she could have forgotten that, it goes with her everywhere!

“No problems. That’s ten eighty-five.”

“You’re not going to believe this, but I’ve left my purse up in the motel.” Anna states guiltily, still rummaging through her pockets. And she just realized she lied about what motel she was staying at.

“Ah, such a tragedy.” Nate replies, rather unconvinced.

“I’m so sorry… Is there any way I could run and… You know…” She begins, but judging by the look on the manager’s face, it was unlikely.

“For such a lovely girl like yourself, I normally would. But being the first time I served you, and as much as it does ever so pain me to insist, I do need to take a payment now.” He insists.

Well, Anna did have one option. In the bottom of her pocket was a debit card. It was tied to her savings account, so she definitely had the money. She swore she wouldn’t use it though. It was too risky, and only for absolute emergencies. This wasn’t an emergency, but she didn’t really have a choice. She didn’t want to get booked for dine & dashing or whatever they call it.

“Well…” she started with a heavy sigh. “I do have my card,” she said to the manager.

“No problems!” Nate smartly produces the card reader for her to use, his eyes wandering over her body.

Reluctantly, Anna slides her card into the slot, and, making sure neither manager or waitress can see, taps in her PIN. Just as she knew it would, it’s accepted, and dutifully spits out a receipt a few moments later, as well as her card in return.

“Excellent. Well, you have a nice day, and I shall be waiting by the phone if you’d like that job!” Nate grinned widely again before making his chirpy escape, card reader in hand. Who carries a card reader around in their pocket, she wondered. Oh, he asked how I wanted to pay. Guess he is good at his job to come to the table organized. Anna was tired, and sleep was screaming her name.

She realized then that she used her card. Great! That card was only supposed to be used in an absolute emergency, and her being unorganized and forgetful was not an emergency!

She reminded herself that he didn’t know about that bank account… yet. He could still trace it, but only if he found out about it. Anna was careful this time when she left, she was smarter.

But, using the card also meant she would have to rebalance her finances when she got the next opportunity. She was grateful she still had that trusty card with her, but she never thought about it or included it with her money because it was for emergencies only. And though she hadn’t paid for anything on it she had made her escape, she was still nervous about having to use it. What if he knew about it by now? she thought. The card could be the ruin that directs him straight to her.

But there was someone watching the account for her, and all she had to do was wait for that phone call, and she would be back in the road in no time at all.