57 Chapter 57: Ava

Ava perched outside the store, the early morning fog thick clouds moving as rivers through the barren streets of New Orleans. She’d been waiting for over an hour when she heard footsteps in the distance, clicking against the cobblestone streets of the French Quarter. Another sound rang through the silence - keys being handled. It wasn’t until she was just inches from the door, key in hand, that she noticed Ava.

“Oh, geez,” she gasped, clasping her chest. “You scared me.”

“I’m sorry, but I need to talk to you.”

“Ava, how long have you been out here?”

“Since sunrise.” The woman gave Ava a concerned look as she took in her disheveled hair that hadn’t been dried all the way through, the hollow, nervous look in her shifting eyes, and the way Ava wrung her fingers over the leather strap of her oversized bag. “Ava, what’s wrong?”

“Not here,” Ava whispered, cocking her head towards the store.