almost okay

SHERMAN WHISTLES WHILE HE WORKS
Chapter Three: Face to Face With the Face

It was still hot and muggy the next morning as I drove to Home Depot. I needed some supplies... latex gloves, canvas work gloves, a shovel, 55 gal. heavy duty trash bags, a 5' extension cord, a rain poncho and a large pair of heavy duty end cutters. After paying with my company card, I piled the stuff in the back of the van and went back to my room to wait. She didn't get off work until after nine pm, so I figured I might as well try to get some rest. I hadn't slept well the night before and I would more than likely be up late again.

Sleep doesn't come easily in hotel rooms for me. I like my own bed. I tossed and turned until around seven, woke up in a sweat after a brief nap and felt vaguely hungry. Figuring I might as well polish off two birds with one stone, I drove over to the Boston Market on Lititz Pike just minutes from the room, for some dinner and some reconnaissance. The same Boston Market where the target was working her lunch and dinner shift.

As I waited my turn at the counter I saw her come around from the back. No mistake, it was her.

“Can I help you?” she said, a touch of fatigue in her voice.

“Yes, I'll have the three piece dark,” I said. She had beautiful deep brown eyes the color of chocolate and the photo I had didn't nearly do them justice. Her name tag read 'Latisha'.

“Sides?”

“I'm sorry?”

“What sides do you want?” She turned her hand, covered in a flat transparent glove, palm up to show me the choices, which were kept in heated tubs under glass in the middle of the counter.

“Well, I have to have the stuffing,” I said. “Hmmm... How many do I get?”

“Two.”

“How about the corn.”

“Three piece dark with stuffing and corn,” she repeated into her headset. “For here or to go?”

“To go,” I said.