September 8th, 2017

5.47 pm, Key West, Florida

“Just fantastic.” Ruth Lane, AKA Ruthless, says as the rain washes upon her.

Frustration radiates from Ruthless’s face as she races down the street while holding a red zippered padfolio above her short dark brown hair. Her comfortable yet increasingly wet round toe black leather flats propel her along the road with ease. Unfortunately, her short black skirt does nothing to shield her bare slender legs from heaven’s chilly droplets. Although her cream buttoned top isn’t see through, it still clings to her sensual curves. What a day to be braless.

Damn, I’m lost. Ruthless thinks to herself.

Her light brown eyes scan around until they land at a bright neon open sign through the storm. A restaurant. Ruthless checks for traffic then dashes across the street. Soon, she pushes the door and is inside the warmth of a small town restaurant. The lights are somewhat dim with mellow music, adding to the low buzz vibe. The space behind the front desk reveals a large rectangular room half-filled with happily dining customers. The hostess at the front desk greets Ruthless.

“Welcome to Blue’s. Do you have a reservation?” The young hostess asks.

“I’m a little lost and it’s rainy.” Ruthless responds.

“Where were you heading to?” The hostess asks.

“Hotel Key West.” Ruthless answers.

“That’s about 3 blocks from here.” The hostess says, “You are welcome to wait out the rain.”

Ruthless looks outside the glass door, measuring the cloud cover.

“Don’t worry, the weather should be sunny in 20 minutes.” The hostess comforts.

“You don’t mind that I’m soaking wet?” Ruthless asks.

“Ma’am, this is the Key West.” The hostess answers merrily, “Come, I will seat you myself.”

The hostess turns, giving Ruthless no option but to follow in tacit agreement. The eyes on the briefly stunned faces of various patrons of many sexes follow Ruthless as she nonchalantly walks down the central red carpet. The attention only stops when the party in focus arrives at an unoccupied dining booth.

“Right by the window so you can keep an eye on the weather.” The hostess says.

“Thank you.” Ruthless says as she sits down.

“Coffee?” The hostess asks.

“Black.” Ruthless responds.

“I will send a waitress your way, ma’am.” The hostess says as she walks off.

Ma’am? I just turned 44, not that old. Ruthless thinks to herself as she grabs nearby napkins.

Ruthless wipes off the water on her padfolio then unzips it to find its contents undamaged. She picks up her phone only to find it in low battery mode, the reason she got lost in the first place.

I should’ve just called an Uber, screw the damn budget. Ruthless thinks then her thoughts get interrupted by a voice.

“Here you go.” A waitress says, placing a cup of coffee on the table.

“Thank you.” Ruthless says.

“Would you like to order anything?” The waitress asks.

“Good for now.” Ruthless answers then asks, “My phone is dead. Could you point me in the direction of Hotel Key West?”

“Sure.” The waitress says, “Once you exit the doors, turn right and walk past 2 traffic lights. Turn left after crossing the second and the Hotel should come into view.”

“Thank you.” Ruthless says, noting down the directions on her pad, “I will wait out the rain.”

“If you need anything else, just raise your hand, ma’am.” The waitress says as she walks away.

Ruthless stares out at the window while sipping her coffee. She loses her attention on the rain clouds overhead while thoughts of her frustrating day pass through her head. Dead ends.

Not one clue. Ruthless thinks to herself.

Ten minutes later, a man in a nearby booth gets up. His eyes linger on Ruthless’s turned back.

“Thanks for the patronage, sir.” The waitress says to the partially inebriated middle-aged man.

“Yeah, yeah.” The disordered man says as he staggers to the door.

This little episode totally escapes Ruthless’s attention, as her mind is in the clouds with thought.

Well, there was the crematorium. A bunch of bodies brought in by the military? Although the description matches a certain CIA Director. Ruthless continues her internal monologue.

But what would he be doing here. Better question, is his presence a cause or effect of the attack… She ponders.

Suddenly, Ruthless is pulled from her thoughts by a passing figure. A tall man in sunglasses that seems undeterred by the rain, unaffected by the cold weather. Through the glass, this man’s presence feels raw. Something about his walk, his aura draws her attention.

Sunglasses in the rain? Ruthless asks herself.

He’s still in dark clothes. Is he one of the mourners from earlier? Did he know the dead girl? Ruthless asks herself.

Ruthless follows the man with her eyes, straining her neck in his direction as she watches his solitary back move past.

Broad shoulders. Ruthless thinks.

What am I thinking? Focus Ruthless. He is getting away. Follow or not? Possible scoop? Ruthless thinks.

Fuck it. He’s heading towards my destination anyways. Ruthless says in her head.

Ruthless downs the rest of her coffee as she hurriedly packs up. She pulls out the only 20$ in her padfolio and deposits it beneath her now empty coffee as she stands up.

“Thanks!” Ruthless says as she heads to the restaurant door.

“Oh, it’s you.” The hostess says, then asks, “Looks like the rain is stopping, why not wait a little?”

“In a hurry. Money on table. Thanks!” Ruthless shouts as she exits the restaurant.

Ruthless runs onto the rainy street, and sprints towards the man’s direction while holding her padfolio over her head. She can see him already past the first traffic light. He sticks out on the empty street with his jet black, orange-tipped hair.

Why orange? Ruthless wonders while she waits at the pedestrian lights.

The lights turn green and Ruthless bolts towards the man who is almost at the next light.

Should I yell? Yell what though? If I let on I’m a journalist, he might clam up. What the- Ruthless is thinking when all of sudden, she is grabbed and pulled into a small alleyway.

Suddenly, she is pressed against the nearby alley wall with her mouth covered. Ruthless’s padfolio lays on the main street while she is held at knife point.

“Hush now, little missy.” A man with crazy eyes and stinky breath says right to Ruthless’s face.