CHAPTER 5

The time I had been waiting for had finally arrived. It was 8:00am, he was coming. The bane of my existence. The door swung open and his voice filled my ears from across the diner.

"Yo Alex!"

Xavier waved while he walked towards me. He stopped in front of the counter and leaned in close.

"Did you make it to work early today or did you come in late like you always do?."

Before I could get a word in, I heard Jacob shout from the kitchen area.

"Like she normally does. Oh hey Xavier."

I yelled back.

"Hey, only by 3 minutes."

I guess Jacob came out to get a peek because he commented on Xaviers clothes.

"You look too dressed up for work today. What's the occasion?."

Now that he said something I noticed that Xavier did look really dressed up which wasn't normal for him. A black two piece suit with a red tie that complimented his dark skin, shoes that I know nothing about but look pretty decent and his one handed bag that hung on his shoulder. He even shaved today and managed to comb his short curly hair, not that it did any good. I put my hand on my chin like I was deep in thought and squinted at him.

"Yeah you are pretty dressed up."

My eyes widened and I tried not to shout.

"Are you going on a date!?. Who is the girl stupid enough to go out with you?"

He took a step back probably from my mini scream and frowned.

"Whoa chill. Thanks Jacob. At least I look better than Alex."

Great. Call me out while I'm wearing khakis and an employee t-shirt. Asshole. Before he spoke again he looked me dead in the eyes.

" And there is no girl. There won't be one for a very long time. Do you understand Alexis?"

I folded my arms and pouted in response.

Okay so I might have set up Xavier on a couple of blind dates in the last 10 years that we've known each other and let's say that they didn't really go as planned but really what could I do. My best friend had not dated anyone in the past 5 years, 2 months and 3 days. Yes I kept track of it just to mess with him. He continued after seeing my face.

"I'm dressed up because I have to interview the Carriers today concerning their ball or get together. That's coming up in 3 months. I gotta get it before any other channel does or my boss will have my balls."

Ugh, why does he always have to get involved in my shit.

Jacob laughed and shrugged.

"If you say so kiddo."

Xavier and I were left and since there was only 10 minutes left till the late morning workers came in for some semblance of breakfast, we were kind of alone. Seemed funny since we've been together for a long time. Xavier grew up in an orphanage and never knew his people.

I on the other hand had a dad but not a mum. My dad said that she left when I was a year old and never came back. Dad died when I was 10 and as fate would have it, I got sent to the same orphanage as Xavier. He was older than me by 2 years but it was fine. We helped each other cope and once he turned 18 and left, he didn't abandon me. Monthly visits at the orphanage and some drop offs at school till I turned 18 and moved in with him. People always thought we were brother and sister since we kind of looked alike. Dark, tall, slim build, troublesome. In a way we were siblings. After a year of work I got my own apartment but in the same building. I actually owe him my life.

"Earth to Alex."

I blinked back, getting out of my train of thought.

"Where has your black ass been for the past 2 weeks. If I hadn't been seeing you here every day, I would think you were dead in a ditch somewhere. Don't you know what's been going on?."

He was referring to the murder of 5 people of colour all in the span of 2 months. 1 Hispanic, another Asian and the last 3 African American. The person was already labelled "The coloured killer" by the media. Yep we had a serial killer in Boston, Massachusetts but I was being really careful not to get caught. First time since the Boston strangler too.

I scratched my head, a classic tell-tale sign that I was about to tell a lie.

"A friend's place."

I shone my pearly whites in an effort to dissuade him from asking too many questions. He stared at me as if waiting for me to say the truth but finally spoke when he saw that I wouldn't budge.

"Uh huh. If you don't wanna tell me that's fine just don't get pregnant or get any STDS."

I groaned outwardly. I got the clap just once and he still wouldn't let it go.

"Dude…"

He shushed me.

"Look just text or call me everyday so I can know you're okay. I'm running late. I gotta go, I'll call you after the interview. Bye"

Xavier sprinted towards the door. He forgot to get his signature blueberry muffins and latte. I gave him a wave he couldn't see.

"Bye Xavier."

•••••

The clock read 3:25pm. My shift was almost over but Xavier hadn't called me yet. Just as I was about to call him I saw his name pop up on my phone. He was calling, I picked up.

"Yo Alex, what's up?."

Since there hadn't been a new customer in the last 15 minutes I headed to the back of the shop.

"I'm alright. Shift's almost done. How about you?."

I heard shifting of feet in the background.

"Just got done with the interview. I'm heading back."

That took a long time.

"Why so late?"

The shifting stopped.

"They made me wait. Look, I'm heading to you right now. See you soon."

The call cut out and now I want to know exactly what happened during that interview to make him sound so squirmish…and for personal reasons of course.

I went back to work and soon enough 4:00pm got here. I went to the staff room and changed before clocking out. On my way out the door I saw Jacob cleaning the grill.

"Bye Mr Jacob. See you tomorrow."

I waved him goodbye and he waved back.

I heard my name once I got outside.

"Alex."

Xavier walked up to me looking worn out. His tie was gone and his jacket was unbuttoned now.

"Hey so tell me, how did the interview go?."

He didn't talk for a whole minute, just stared at the ground as we still stood outside the restaurant. Finally he spoke.

"It was good. Got solid info for the paper but something feels very off in that house."

My face lit up but I didn't show it. Finally some good Intel.

"What happened?"

He breathed heavily and his shoulder dropped.

"Well I think I saw George degrade a help. It's normal for rich white people to do it but the help was black and the way he spoke to her, the way he handled her…I just didn't like it."

I wasn't surprised. If Robert could abuse his wife then what's a black maid to them? There goes my Intel. I placed my hand on his back and assured him.

"Hey everything is fine. It's out of the ordinary for them since they are philanthropists to the coloured community but we don't really know what happened now do we."

They did have a very dark family history though but I let it go.

I checked my phone. 4:30pm.

"Well I might as well go back home with you since you're spooked. I'll go back to my friend's place tomorrow."

He looked at me carefully.

"Whatever you're doing Alex, just be careful."

I sent him my signature smirk and ruffled his hair.

" I'll be fine."

Everything would finally be okay soon.