Chapter 7 - THE NIGHT THE LIGHTS WENT OUT
Thursday arrived with rain.
The Corrant was busy until ten.
Then the dining room emptied.
Dina had rearranged the schedule.
Pearl was supposed to leave at nine.
Marin would finish at ten thirty.
Two additional employees would remain until closing.
But at eight forty-five, Pearl received a call.
Her face changed.
She stepped into the hallway.
When she returned, she looked terrified.
Marin approached.
“What happened?”
Pearl swallowed.
“Teddy.”
“What about him?”
“He says he's outside.”
Marin felt cold.
“Don't go.”
Pearl shook her head.
“He says he needs me.”
Marin took her hand.
“Call him back. Tell him to come inside where people can see him.”
Pearl nodded.
But before she could dial, the kitchen lights flickered.
Once.
Twice.
Then went out.
The emergency lights came on.
Dina emerged from her office.
“Everybody stay calm.”
Marin looked toward the back hallway.
She remembered Pearl showing her the breaker box.
Third switch from the top.
Kitchen.
Dry storage.
Delivery door.
Back hallway.
Someone had shut down the east-side circuits.
Then she heard a metal door slam.
Marin turned.
Pearl was gone.
“Dina,” she said.
The manager looked up.
“Call the police.”
Marin moved toward the back hallway.
Dina grabbed her arm.
“Don't.”
Marin looked at her.
“Pearl's back there.”
Dina hesitated.
Then released her.
“I'm coming with you.”
They moved together.
The emergency lights cast long shadows across the floor.
At the delivery entrance, they found Pearl standing beside Teddy Bell.
He looked younger than Marin expected.
Thirty, perhaps.
Thin.
Pale.
Terrified.
A second man stood near the door.
He wore a dark jacket.
His hands were empty.
But his posture made Marin stop.
“Pearl,” Marin said.
The older woman turned.
Her face crumpled.
The stranger looked toward Marin.
“Go back inside.”
Marin didn't move.
He stepped closer.
“I said go back.”
Marin remembered Gus's voice.
Don't waste time on the mistake. Spend your time on what comes next.
She looked toward the open door.
Then toward Dina.
“Dina,” she said quietly, “take Pearl inside.”
The stranger moved.
He reached for Marin's wrist.
She didn't try to overpower him.
She shifted with the pull, broke contact, and stepped toward the open doorway.
Dina grabbed Pearl.
Teddy stumbled backward.
The stranger swore.
Then a voice came from outside.
“That's enough.”
Aurelio Ferrante stood beneath the loading-bay light.
Nell was beside him.
And behind them, uniformed officers were moving toward the building.
The stranger froze.
Aurelio looked at Marin.
“Are you hurt?”
She shook her head.
Then she looked toward Pearl.
The older woman was crying.
But she was safe.
May you like
Marin exhaled.
For the first time that night, she allowed herself to breathe.
