Part 86 (1/2)
”I want you to get out of your apartment immediately,” she said.
”This minute. Close it and prepare not to return for several days.”
”What are ?”
”Just listen to me” she said steadily.
”I'm in a telephone booth.
Neither you nor I have much time.”
”Keep talking.
”Leave your apartment and make certain that no one sees you. Go somewhere for the day, places you've never been, places where no one who knows you would look for you. Then tonight you have to meet me ”
”Where?”
”Anywhere,” she said.
”But it must be someplace deserted. What's the most deserted part of the city after midnight?”
”I suppose Central Park at four A.M.,” he said jokingly.
”Perfect.”
”What?”
”Perfect,”she reiterated.
”What part?”
”You can't be serious.”
”I haven't much time! What part?” Her voice was strident and agitated, as he'd never heard it before. He could hear the sound of traffic behind her, horns and automobile engines. She was indeed in a booth.
”Do you know where the Great Lawn is?”
”I can find it.”
”There's a rock formation off the Great Lawn to the east. Between Eighty-third and Eighty-fourth ” he said.
”I can be in that area ” ”I'll find you” she said intensely. A recorded operator's voice sounded on the telephone and he heard her drop another coin into the slot.
”Now do as I've asked. Get out of. your apartment. Prepare not to come back. Don't be seen by anyone you recognize until you see me tonight.”
”Can't you tell me what ?”
”It's your life I'm talking about” she snapped.
”You can either believe me or you can risk getting killed The choice is yours, Thomas.