In Plain Sight

A rune to ease pain and improve joint mobility would take about half an hour, more or less. That meant Thomas’ workshop was close.

Unless he took a cab.

“Did you notice anything different about Thomas in the last few weeks?”

“Now that you mention it, he did seem a bit different,” Michael said, rubbing his stubble covered chin. “Happier maybe? Excited about something. Couldn’t tell you what, though.”

“Did he have a girlfriend?” Alex asked, remembering the state of Thomas’ bedroom under the glow of silverlight. Michael nodded.

“Betty something-or-other. Pretty enough as lasses go,” he said. “I only met her once.”

“Can you describe her?”

“Oh, a little taller than me, shapely, with long, auburn hair clear down her back. I’m sorry, that’s about the best I can do.”

Alex thanked him. “Is there anyone in the building Thomas was close to, who might know more about Betty or where Thomas had his workshop?”

Michael stroked his stubble again.

“The old battle-axe in 2F might know.”

“She friends with Thomas?”

“No,” Michael said with a chuckle. “She’s just the type who listens at keyholes, the old busybody. Her name is Hilda Jefferson.”

Alex laughed and thanked Michael. As he turned to leave, however, the little man grabbed his wrist.

“Saints be with you, young man,” he said, an earnest look on his face. “Bring Thomas home safe if you can.”

Alex didn’t have the heart to tell the old man that Thomas was probably dead, so he promised that he would do the best he could, and headed back upstairs. He now had a name and description of Thomas’ female companion, but he was still no closer to finding the workshop.

The door to Mrs. Jefferson’s apartment faced the stairwell and he heard her scurrying back as he approached.

“Mrs. Jefferson,” he called, knocking on the door. “Mr. Flynn downstairs said you might be able to help me.”

A much slower shuffle approached the door and it opened a crack. A woman’s eye appeared, covered by thick glasses that made it look comically large.

“Whatcho want?” she said, her voice like the creaking of a rusty gate.

“You know Thomas Rockwell in 5C?” He asked. “He’s missing and I’m trying to find him.”

“Don’t know you,” the woman said, starting to close the door. Alex jammed the toe of his shoe in the jamb to keep the door from closing.

“Please, Mrs. Jefferson,” Alex said in a mild voice. “His sister is very worried about him.”

“Hah,” the old woman cackled. “He’s been having a woman up to his apartment lately but if that’s his sister, I’m the Queen of Sheba.”

“You mean a pretty girl with long, auburn hair?”

“That’s her,” Mrs. Jefferson said. “Coming and going at all hours of the day and night, whispering her black magic in his ear. She’s a bad one, that.”

“That’s his girlfriend,” Alex said. “Name’s Becky. Thomas’ sister is named Evelyn.”

“That’s the only girl that visits Thomas,” the woman said, though Alex couldn’t see how she could know that.

“Did you ever hear Thomas say where he went to work on his runes?”

“No,” the old woman said, and laughed. “He never said, but he didn’t have to. I saw him out my window.”

Of course you did.

“Where did he go?”

“Building across the street,” she said. “Next to the five-and-dime there’s a door that leads to a stairway. He went up there whenever he left at night.”

“Did the auburn-haired girl ever go with him?”

Mrs. Jefferson shook her head. “He always went alone,” she said.

Alex stifled a laugh and thanked the old woman. He turned and went down the stairs but Mrs. Jefferson didn’t close her door until he was out of sight.

Thank God for nosy neighbors.

If Mrs. Jefferson hadn’t gone the extra mile and watched her departing neighbors out the window, Alex would have had to knock on every door in the building in the hopes someone else knew where Thomas went.

He’d gotten lucky.

* * *

The sun was just setting when he stepped out of Thomas’ apartment and into the cool New York night. He wanted to call Iggy, to get an update on the disguise runes, but Iggy was probably working, and even if he was taking a break he’d only yell at Alex for interrupting. On the bright side, he wouldn’t yell at Alex for staying out late. That gave him all night to go through Thomas’ workshop.

He pulled up his collar against the wind and set off toward the five-and-dime whistling a tune.

“Well you’re in a good mood,” Evelyn’s voice came from behind him. “Did you learn anything?”

Alex turned and found Thomas’ sister coming up the sidewalk behind him. Her dark curly hair blew sideways in the wind and she was trying valiantly to keep a broad-brimmed hat on her head. She wore a flowing white blouse with a tight, black skirt that went down to her knees.

“What are you doing here?” Alex asked, delighted to see her.

“Between you and the FBI, Thomas’ place is quite a mess,” she said. “If he’s… if he’s really dead, I want to collect his things. You know, family pictures, heirlooms, that sort of thing. It’s just junk, really, but it’s all I’ve got left.”