Page 6 of A Dead Man's B-Side
I’ll admit, I was nervous.
My legs felt like they would melt right off my body if I took another step, but I couldn’t stop.
Finding the restroom vacant, I entered and slid the door shut harder than I’d intended, wincing with both hands behind my head as my eyes squeezed shut. I hoped I didn’t catch the attention of the entire cabin amidst my nervous outburst.
For a moment, I debated hiding in here until we landed. Already deciding on the best possible position to sit without cramping. But knowing my seat neighbour, he’d probably take advantage of my disappearance and…
An idea passed through my mind like a shooting star, but I was quick enough to catch it, hatching it into a fully formed plan not a moment later.
Upon exiting the restroom, I pulled out the Restoril I’d nicked from an unconscious man in the basement of a drug house I’d once found myself in.
I didn’t mean to search him, but when he’d rolled over on theripped and torn mattress, the half-full bottle fell out. It really was a matter of finders keepers, considering it wasn’tonhis body when I’d taken it.
I didn’t know what it was at the time, but anything in a medicine bottle was of value, given that it could be resold to someone else just as desperate. Or, more importantly, the reason I keep it on my body–to fall asleep more easily.
The flight attendant who’d dealt with the fussy man and his files earlier turned in a start when I poked my head in between the curtains separating the attendants’ cabin and the restrooms, “Oh! Good evening. What can I do for you?”
I watched her put a hand over her chest before smacking that pretty smile back onto her face like a mask, “I was wondering if my friend and I could get some water?”
She glanced at the can she was opening and almost seemed to sag in relief at my request. “Of course, I’ll bring it over right away, sir.”
I eyed the can, dog food from the smell of it, and pulled out the Restoril from my pocket with a pursed lip, hoping to come off as pitiful. “Can you put this pill in my glass? I have trouble sleeping, and well, it needs to dissolve properly…”
I left the rest up to interpretation, but she seemed to understand, thankfully.
Her brown bob moved with her hasty nods as she sent me a sympathetic look. “I understand. No need to worry.”
“Also, I hope I’m not coming off as rather… forward, but are you married?”
“Oh.” A blush warmed her pale cheeks, and she smiled, taking my words as a compliment. “No, no, I’m not.”
I shrugged with a genuine grin, imagining what type of show the fruits of my labour would reward me with. “Oh, that’s great, cause my friend, well, he seems to have a bit of a crush on you. I mean, from the moment he saw you…” I swept my arm across the air in a swift manner. “Gonner.”
Strangely enough, I don’t feel anxious when I set out to do something rather rash. Not when I have a plan laid out. If I can excuse it as being part of a higher purpose, the lies come out quite easily.
She giggled, flattered, before sobering up when what looked to be her senior entered from the pilot’s cabin, narrowing her eyes at me before eyeing the young woman in front of me. “I’ll get your glass of water straight away, sir.”
She spoke quickly, wanting me to pick up on the curt tone in her voice.
“Perfect. Thank you.”
I loitered for a few moments, wanting to be thorough in my execution and hoping to watch her get it done, but she didn’t move, and the situation became awkward when her smile turned tight.
I pursed my lips in what I hoped was a grateful look before turning to walk away, cutting my losses.
Running a hand over my face for my forgotten social skills, I returned to my seat as calmly as I could manage, and watched Evanread a newspaper I didn’t know from where he’d pulled out.
He emitted all the cues of a wealthy man who hadn’t reached will-writing age. Scoffing at the finance section, straight-faced through the comics, a barely-there glance at the sudoku side. He did, however, pause when going to turn another page, at an article that caught his eye. He didn’t seem to read it, only passing over the headline before having had enough and folding the newspaper away more harshly than I bet he intended. He let out a deep sigh before leaning back to fold one leg over the other.
With the source of his attention gone, he turned to me with a strange look. A creepy look of pity.
Like he would kill me but would be sad about it.
The thought had my mind turning at the realistic possibility of that happening.
“Got any family?”
I sent him a sideway glance, keeping my head forward in clear body language he should be understanding. “No.”
