Old Acquaintances and lost friends

[Bazza]

The young man finishes making both drinks and punches some numbers into a small hand-held console. Evangeline swipes her credit card through it, paying her dues instantly.

She picks up the small cardboard holder the coffees came in and, balancing it in her hands, proudly waltzes out of the building - whilst doing so she expertly removes one of the two cups and hands it to Sev.

It's gonna be hot so don't burn your tongue, alright?

Dodging a plethora of pedestrian traffic she briskly re-enters the same tower block from a door adjacent the Starbucks establishment, climbing a flight of stairs and arriving at the hotel lobby.

The Cosmopolitan presents itself as decidedly historical and traditional establishment. Grandiose, creamy sandstone walls and polished marble floors adorn a large, open plan foyer with a front desk situated against one wall directly opposite the entrance. Aside the reception is a winding staircase and elevator combination, the primary link to the rooms on the floors above.

Evangeline confidently strides past the secretary, the young attendants' gaze observing her and Sev with mild suspicion as the couple walk across the foyer to the elevator.

Having held Evangeline as a guest on numerous prior occasions, the staff of the Battery Park Cosmopolitan were no longer surprised by any of the odd people Evangeline brought back with her - nor her occasionally bedraggled appearance - nor the periodically boisterous nature of her assumed associates - nor the fact she carries an infant around with no apparent male interest.

Nonetheless she was a paying, repeat customer - thus thoroughly ignored.

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