Ray Kowalski

[rayk47]

Ray Kowalski。

"That's that thing again. You're correcting. You're niggling. You're doing that thing with the T's and the I's, and I say 'A' and you say 'B'. I say 'night' and you say 'day'. Look! You just did it again! You just did it again! It's like some kind of disease. Look, I don't want to hear it! I don't want to hear it! I don't understand, I don't want to hear it! Look - I swear - I swear to God I will punch you right in the face. Fair warning."

NEW READ JOURNAL CREDIT

Comments

[rayk47]

[ He takes the photo, carefully thumbing it flat and looking down at the picture. There's some similarity there, and he smiles and places it in his pocket with the other pieces. ]

That's really uh--that's good. She's real pretty.

[ And blurry, but he'd manage to get something done with it. Maybe. It was going to be tricky, especially without Fraser around. ]

I promise I'll do everything I can to find her. In the meantime is there a...do you got a place to stay? A number I can reach you on?

[windhoverthief]

She

[She almost says was. Stay with it, Victoria.]

is. I mean, I expect her to be. I can't imagine she's changed that much, on the outside.

[Sad truths, rolled up into one lie.]

The motel I'm staying at, it's not the best my room doesn't have a phone and I don't think the clerk takes messages, if you know what I mean. What if I check in with you?

[Keep control of the meets. It's easier to stay in control.]

[rayk47]

[ Yeah well he has a problem with tense too. "My wife", for example, instead of "My ex-wife." It happens, so he doesn't even blink at the hesitation, and if anything only smiles more apologetically reaching out to touch her shoulder. ]

You can rely on me. I know people. If anyone's gonna find her, I'm your guy.

[ And now it was his turn to fish in his pocket and take out a card, and his pen, and he scrawls his address on the back of it before he hands it over. ]

My cell's on there, and the number to call to get right to my desk, but if something happens, you get in a cab, you tell them to take you right here. I'll look after you. You said you're staying in a motel--I don't suppose you know anyone in town? City can uh...city can be big and lonely if you don't know anyone.

[windhoverthief]

[The smile she has outwardly portrays gratitude, but on the inside, she's pleased with how easy this man seems to be.

And he's not Ray. That's curious.]

Thank you. I'm glad I called you.

[Taking the card, she makes a show out of putting it into her wallet, with her cash, as if it's of equal importance.]

Other than my sister? I thought I knew a couple, but neither of them are here now. They must've moved on.

[rayk47]

Well that's uh--that's too bad.

[ He even looked apologetic, ducking his eyes into the footwell briefly before looking back up at her. Why not, she was only grieving her sister and terrified of not finding her--what did he have to lose? ]

Well I um... I have to show my face back at the 2-7 this afternoon but if you wanted company, a friendly face, I'm uh... Well, like I said, my partner's out of town and it gets awfully quiet without him around the place screwing things up, so if you wanted to catch a bite to eat... Uh, cause even a cop's gotta eat, right? I'm not saying this right.

[ Too easy. ]

[windhoverthief]

[This is the easiest mark she's ever played.]

Your partner messes up your plan? He sounds like a poor partner.

[This is a face of all the sympathy. It's not entirely dishonest either as Ben's been known to mess up some of her own plans.]

There's a small diner I had lunch at, I don't have much to spend, but the food's good and the price reasonable.

[She gives him the name of the diner where she first met up with Ben. It's on purpose: one final test.]