The Crossing Read Online Free Page B

view was blocked by another railcar on a sidetrack.   If Temple Truett boarded the train, I was unable to see him.   I guess I would find out at breakfast.
    Liz’s conversation was falling on my deaf ears, while we had a late breakfast of scrambled eggs and toast in the dining car.   Despite the inconvenience, she was actually having fun and I was nodding at her words and adding an ‘okay’ or ‘really’ when it fit.
      Liz jumped as if she had been shot when I tapped her leg with my foot; Temple Truett had just walked past our table and into the lounge and bar car.
    He was wearing a wrinkled gray business suit, white shirt and slim black tie.   It appeared that he had slept in his clothes, and I suspected that is just what he did.   Small black rimmed glasses covered his hollow sleepy eyes; but Temple Truett was checking out everyone in the dinning car as he hurriedly walked through.
    “Is that him?” She leaned toward me and asked in a whisper.
    I didn’t answer and just nodded to affirm her question.
    “He looks like a nerd!” Liz added as she sat back up.
    “Probably, but we need to make contact with him if possible.   We’ll buy him a drink or do something to make conversation.   If things go according to plan, Sandy Rogers will board and join him when we make our stop in Jackson, Mississippi.   That should happen about 10:00, so we have almost a half-hour.   Are you ready?” I asked.
    Liz’s eyes were as large as saucers and I needed to calm her down. “Okay, Liz.   We’re going to go into the bar, have a Bloody Mary and be the happy couple.   Now, again, are you ready?”
    She didn’t speak, but just nodded.   We both got up, I left a tip and we casually made our way into the lounge and bar car.
    With exception of the bartender and Temple Truett, the bar was empty.   He was sitting at the far end of the bar and we took a table in the corner next to a window.   Temple briefly glanced at us as we walked in and then he went back to his drink, which I suspected was a Vodka/Tonic.   He was acting very nervous, constantly looking at his watch, and then looking out the large window between sips of his drink.   I told Liz to keep her seat, and I walked up to the bar and signaled the bartender, who quickly took my order for two Bloody Marys.
    “I love train travel, don’t you?” I casually said to Temple as I waited on our drinks.
    He looked at me, then back at his watch before speaking. “I prefer flying, it’s much quicker,” he said while looking at no one.
    “I know, but train travel is romantic.   Are you traveling alone?” I asked.
    He again looked at me then glanced over at Liz. “No, not really, I’m meeting someone who will be boarding in Jackson.   But, it seems we’ll never get there!” He was frustrated.
    “I HOPE we never get there,” I joked as I picked up our drinks and walked back over to join Liz at our table.
    “What did he say?” Liz whispered .
    “He said you were HOT!” I whispered with a smile, and just before Liz put a large bruise on my shin with her newly purchased high heels!
    “Ouch!   That hurt!” I gritted my teeth, smiled and tried to pretend it didn’t happen.
    We had just started our drinks when the train began to slow for Jackson, Mississippi.   I really needed to see Sandy Rogers when she boarded and what kind of luggage she was carrying, so I excused myself and told Liz to stay put until I returned.
    From the window in our compartment, I watched the woman I knew to be Sandy Scarlet Rogers approach the train with a short husky Red Cap pushing a cart behind her.   She had short black hair covered by a weird hat and was wearing a short blue skirt with matching shoes, a white blouse and sunglasses.   Sandy Rogers appeared to be very nervous as she talked to the Red Cap porter and I noticed she only had two pieces of luggage, a medium size footlocker and a standard suitcase.   The Red Cap boarded the train with the luggage and placed them