The Woman Walter Was Afraid Of
Chapter 04 - The Woman Walter Was Afraid Of
Ruth returned that night at seven twenty.
She did not sit in booth seven this time. She stood just inside the front door while cold rain darkened the shoulders of her cardigan.
The room changed when Walter saw her.
He came around the register so fast he nearly knocked over the pie display.
“You can’t be here.”
Ruth lifted her chin. “I used to say that to drunks after midnight. Never thought I’d hear it in my own place.”
Several customers turned.
Claire stopped beside the coffee station.
Walter lowered his voice. “Leave.”
“No.”
“I’ll call the police.”
“Then call them.”
Ruth’s hands were trembling, but her eyes were not.
Walter looked toward Claire.
“You brought her here?”
“No.”
“Don’t lie to me.”
“I didn’t.”
Ruth walked slowly toward the counter. She touched the chrome edge as though greeting an old friend.
“My husband polished this every Sunday morning,” she said. “Even when we were broke.”
Walter moved between her and the register.
“This business is mine.”
Ruth gave a tired little laugh.
“You said the same thing at the courthouse after you moved me into Briar Hill.”
Claire heard the name. Briar Hill was an assisted-living facility twenty miles outside town.
Walter’s face reddened.
“You were placed there because you needed care.”
“I needed grief counseling. You needed my signature.”
A silence spread across the diner.
Walter reached for the phone.
Ruth did not stop him.
Claire stepped forward. “What signature?”
Walter pointed toward the kitchen. “Go back to work.”
“What signature?” Claire repeated.
Ruth looked at her.
“The one that supposedly sold Maple Street Diner to Walter’s company for one dollar.”
Someone near the window muttered, “One dollar?”
Walter slammed the phone back into its cradle.
“That transfer paid debts. She knows that.”
Ruth’s voice cracked. “Then why didn’t you tell Nora?”
Walter’s eyes flashed toward Claire.
There it was again: fear.
Not fear of an unstable old woman.
Fear of what she remembered.
Two police officers arrived ten minutes later. Ruth agreed to leave without a scene, but before stepping outside she turned toward Claire.
“Ask him what happened to the blue ledger.”
Walter’s expression went flat.
Claire waited until the door closed behind Ruth.
Then she untied her apron.
“I’m taking my break.”
Walter blocked the hallway.
“No. You’re going home.”
Claire stared at him.
“For tonight?”
May you like
Walter’s voice was cold.
“For good.”
