The Green Line Read Online Free PDF Page A

place.”
    “Actually, I live right up here on Roscoe, just down the block.” Abby was pointing east. “It’s one-way heading west, so it will be much faster if I just jump out here. Really.”
    “No problem. Let me just pull over,” he said. “You’re obviously relieved to be home.”
    “You have no idea,” she said as he pulled to a complete stop.
    Finally sure that he was going to let her get out on Clark in the midst of people and streetlights, she was overwhelmed with gratitude.
    “I can’t thank you enough for taking me home. Please give me your address, so I can send you some money for the ride.”
    “Don’t worry about it.”
    “No, really. I insist on repaying you. Please.”
    He looked around the car. “Well, here’s a flyer from the store,” he said, grabbing a coupon from the back seat. “The address and number are at the bottom.”
    “Great. I’ll be in touch.”
    “Take care, Abigail,” he said with a tone that sounded like he never expected to hear from her again.
    She got out and leaned back into the door. “Thanks again, so much.” She slammed the door and watched him drive away.
    ABBY trudged to her townhouse, weighed down by physical and emotional exhaustion. She would have to ring Mrs. Tanor next door in order to get in. It was now after one o’clock.
    The buzzer on the gate was disarmingly loud. Abby looked up to the second-floor windows of all the other units, fearing that all the neighbors’ lights would immediately come on. A faint and scratchy “Hello?” came through the speaker.
    “Mrs. Tanor, I’m so sorry to wake you. It’s Abby. I’ve lost my keys and I can’t get in.”
    “I’ll be right down, dear.” The buzzer went off again, releasing the heavy iron gate so Abby could enter the courtyard. When Abby reached her front door, Mrs. Tanor came out in her trademark floor-length nightgown, matching robe, and fuzzy slippers. It was the uniform Abby had come to expect any time before eight in the morning or after eight at night.
    “Is everything okay, Abby?”
    “Oh yes. I had a really late night at the office and I misplaced my purse.”
    “Honey, you look wet. Were you crying?”
    “Oh no. I got caught in the rain. I’m just a mess. I’m so sorry to have woken you, but I’m so grateful that you have my spare.”
    “That’s what neighbors are for. Get some rest, dear.” Mrs. Tanor unlocked Abby’s door and gave her the key. She still had that worried look, the one she had when David moved out. She was never satisfied by Abby’s brief explanations. But Abby was never willing to share more, for fear of motherly advice she was sure would follow.
    “Don’t worry, Mrs. Tanor. And thanks again. Goodnight.”
    Abby headed inside and pulled out the three-year-old laminated neighborhood information sheet Mrs. Tanor had presented her when she and David moved in. She found the local precinct’s number and pulled out a wine glass, hoping the police and the wine could calm her nerves enough to get some sleep.

FOUR
    MARCUS watched as officers went in and out of Reggie’s. There were three cop cars on the street. Neighbors had streamed out of their homes to find out what was going on and Marcus blended in with the crowd. An ambulance pulled up, without lights or noise, and parked in front.
    They all watched as two EMTs carried a covered body out on a gurney and pushed it into the back of their vehicle.
    He had waited just beyond the entrance to the convenience store for about ten minutes, smoking a cigarette and watching the door, but the girl never came out. And now, watching the scene at Reggie’s, he didn’t think he’d get any answers here either. He would have to find out more tomorrow.
    “Hey dawg!” Marcus turned to see Darnel running up to him.
    “Hey, Darnel.”
    “You catch up to that girl?”
    “No.”
    “Too bad. Looked like that could have been fun.”
    “Yeah. So, what happened here?” He gestured to Reggie’s.
    “Dude, we were in the