Chapter Nine
Alfred had almost missed the post in the corner of the newspaper, but something about its simplicity had caught his attention. Being a notetaker sounded simple enough and hardly a hobby, but he needed something. Dr. Cline had been clear about that. The trolley had let him off at the corner of 25th Street and Avenue L where a lush median of palm trees and large-leafed ferns lined the route in shades of green and yellow. The smooth avenue of 25th Street led toward the oceanfront to the south, and the long, metal footprints of trolley tracks divided the street, which looked nearly twice as wide as the one outside of the boardinghouse. Unlike the neighborhood he slept in, this block boasted tall, stone constructions with lacy porches and luxurious gardens. Taking stock of the str
