Elizabeth.
She gave him a small nod.
“So you remember.”
“Please…”
I almost couldn’t believe what I was hearing.
The man who had shown me no mercy was asking for some himself.
Diane crouched to collect the larger pieces of ceramic.
Automatically, I started to bend down.
“No.”
Elizabeth’s voice stopped me.
She looked directly at my stomach.
“Sit down, honey.”
“I’m okay.”
It came out automatically.
Elizabeth looked at the hand I had pressed beneath my belly.
Then at my face.
“You’re shaking.”
I looked down.
She was right.
Diane took the tray from me.
“Booth three. Sit.”
“Diane—”
“Now, Katrina.”
I sat.
The rich man looked toward me.
Something unfamiliar had appeared in his expression.
Embarrassment, perhaps.
Or fear.
Elizabeth turned back toward him.
“I’ve wanted to have this conversation with you for a long time.”
He stood abruptly.
His chair struck the booth behind him.
“Not here.”
Elizabeth’s eyebrow lifted.
“Why not?”
“Elizabeth.”
“You weren’t worried about behaving publicly five minutes ago.”
Several customers had openly turned to watch now.
The man noticed.
His jaw tightened.
“Please.”
Elizabeth studied him.
Then she opened her worn brown handbag.
His eyes dropped toward it.
And he actually stepped backward.
“Don’t.”
That single word silenced even my own thoughts.
Whatever Elizabeth was about to pull from that bag frightened him more than losing his meeting.
More than the staring customers.
More than the owner he supposedly played golf with.
She reached past tissues.
An old coin purse.
A pair of glasses.
Then she removed something small.
Red.
Plastic.
Scratched along one edge.
She placed it beside his expensive watch.
It was a diner name badge.
The lettering was faded.
But still readable.
ALAN
The rich man stared at it.
And suddenly he had a name.
Part 5 — Before the Watch
Elizabeth placed one hand beside the old badge.
“You left this with me a long time ago, Alan.”
His eyes didn’t move.
“I told you to throw it away.”
“I remember.”
“Then why didn’t you?”
