She nodded. “I’m okay.”
The pair exited the train station, moved past the line of people waiting in the cab stand, and Charlie opened the door of a stretch limo for LuAnn. She gawked for a minute at the luxurious vehicle before climbing in.
Charlie sat across from her. LuAnn couldn’t help staring at the vehicle’s interior.
“We’ll be at the hotel in about twenty minutes. You want something to eat or drink in the meantime? Train food sucks,” said Charlie.
“I’ve had a lot worse, although I am kinda hungry. But I don’t want you to have to make a special stop.”
He looked at her curiously. “We don’t have to stop.” He reached into the refrigerator and pulled out soda, beer, and some sandwiches and snack foods. He unlocked a section of the limo’s interior paneling and a table materialized. As LuAnn watched in astonishment, Charlie laid the food and drink out and completed the repast with a plate, silverware, and napkin, his big hands working quickly and methodically.
“I knew you were bringing the baby, so I had the limo stocked with milk, bottles, and stuff like that. At the hotel they’ll have everything you need.”
LuAnn made up a bottle for Lisa, cradled her against one arm, and fed her with one hand while she devoured a sandwich with the other.
Charlie watched the tender way she handled her daughter. “She’s cute, what’s her name?”
“Lisa, Lisa Marie. You know, after Elvis’s daughter.”
“You look a little young to be a fan of the King.”
“I wasn’t—I mean, I don’t really listen to that kind of music. But my momma did. She was a big fan. I did it for her.”
“She appreciated it, I guess.”
“I don’t know, I hope she does. She died before Lisa was born.”
“Oh, sorry.” Charlie fell silent for a moment. “Well, what kind of music do you like?”
“Classical. I really don’t know nothing about that kinda music. I just like the way it sounds. The way it makes me feel, sorta clean and graceful, like swimming in a lake somewhere up in the mountains, where you can see all the way to the bottom.”
Charlie grinned. “I never thought about it that way. Jazz is my thing. I actually play a little horn myself. Outside of New Orleans, New York has some of the best jazz clubs around. Play until the sun comes up, too. A couple of them not too far from the hotel.”
“Which hotel are we going to?” she asked.
“Waldorf-Astoria. The Towers. You ever been to New York City?” Charlie took a swig of club soda and sat back against the seat, unbuttoning the front of his suit coat.
LuAnn shook her head and swallowed a bite of sandwich. “I ain’t never really been anywhere.”
Charlie chuckled softly. “Well then, the Big Apple is a helluva place to start.”
“What’s the hotel like?”
“It’s real nice. First-rate, especially the Towers. Now it’s not the Plaza, but then what is? Maybe you’ll be staying at the Plaza one day, who knows.” He laughed and wiped his mouth with a napkin. She noticed that his fingers were abnormally large and thick, the knuckles massive and knobby.
LuAnn looked at him nervously as she finished her sandwich and took a sip of Coke. “Do you know why I’m here?”
Charlie settled a keen gaze upon her. “Let’s just say I know enough not to ask too many questions. Let’s leave it at that.” He smiled curtly.
“Have you ever met Mr. Jackson?”
Charlie’s features grew grim. “Let’s just leave it alone, okay?”
“Okay, just curious, is all.”
“Well, you know what curiosity did to that old cat.” The dark eyes glittered briefly at LuAnn as the words rolled off his tongue. “Just stay cool, do what you’re told, and you and your kid have no problems, ever again. Sound good to you?”
“Sounds good to me,” LuAnn said meekly, cradling Lisa closer to her hip.
Right before they climbed out of the limo, Charlie pulled out a black leather trench coat and matching wide-brimmed hat and asked LuAnn to put them on. “For obvious reasons, we don’t want you to be observed right now. You can ditch the cowboy hat.”