Taken: Day 18

Word Count: 108,008

Summary of Events:

Mitchell and his fellow workers at the shipyard were informed that Mr. Edgar had resigned his position as president of the Los Angeles branch of the CIO and had invited them all to attend a farewell banquet on the Saturday. Concerned that Odessa would be there, Mitchell was unsure whether he should attend or not, but Kelly, Walton, and Dolly all agreed he should go and see if he could get information, so Mitchell went, and enjoyed a delectable dinner. The speeches, however, proved to be many and boring, so Mitchell let his mind wander . . .

Excerpt of the Day:

Now that Mr. Edgar was resigning — heading off to unspecified business ventures that likely had something to do with Casino Adinerado and the hotel which would soon become attached to it — Mitchell might have to tender his own notice and find a different job that might avail him a better connection to the Edgars.

After all, Mitchell’s work at the shipyard had netted him far more money than information. While not a drawback to have money, Mitchell had been hoping for more information somehow.

He might have to look into getting a job at Casino Adinerado — he did know how to play several of the card games from nights when the EAFDC hadn’t met — or something, which would have the added bonus of allowing him to keep an eye on Dolly for her safety.

Mitchell wasn’t entirely sure what his next move would be, although listening to all of the speeches definitely gave him time to contemplate it. He was starting to run out of thinking to do, though, and wondered when they would move on to something more interesting.

They didn’t right away, so Mitchell scanned the head table. Mr. Edgar had given his speech first, emotionally and to much cheering. Beside him sat Odessa — who had, on sight, made Mitchell’s blood boil.

Again she had her brown hair styled fashionably in curls and was wearing an alluring red dress that was made out of satin and looked a little more formal than the one she’d worn to the event in Perry’s honour two and a half months before.

She looked beautiful, but Mitchell had to admit that he wasn’t as besotted with her as he’d been before. He harboured too much resentment for what she’d done to him now.

He was startled when she stood up, and he watched as she slipped off the stage discreetly while the speakers changed over. Mitchell wondered how many there would be as he watched Odessa make her way down the side of the room.

The table he was at was situated toward the back of the room and as Odessa approached it she looked up at him. Immediately she froze; Mitchell got a sick feeling in the pit of his stomach.

Her bloodcurdling shriek jolted Mitchell, who initially didn’t move.

“Mitchell Becker!” she screamed, pointing at him. “Mitchell Becker!”

Everyone at Mitchell’s table exclaimed in surprise, looking at him with astonishment.

“Seize that man!” the man at the microphone bellowed.

Mitchell leapt up, knocking his chair backwards, and took off for the door, a horde of men hot on his heels, intent to catch him and likely give him much retribution for having lied to them about who he really was.

It wasn’t entirely a surprise to Mitchell that this was happening, but he was disappointed, he’d had some hope that the beard would be an effective disguise of his face and would have allowed him to get close to Odessa and maybe probe her about the incident.