Survive the Night by Riley Sager

Author:Riley Sager [Sager, Riley]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781529379969
Google: 3wQfEAAAQBAJ
Amazon: 1432888234
Publisher: Hachette UK
Published: 2021-06-29T00:00:00+00:00

INT. DINER—NIGHT

The diner is mostly empty. Just a waitress, an unseen cook in the back, and a couple in a booth by the window. The couple—a man and woman in their late twenties—have a boozy weariness to them, which won’t be much help to her.

Neither will the waitress, who looks to be well past sixty. She’s got high hair, coral lipstick, and age-spotted arms that poke like sticks from the sleeves of her mint-green uniform.

“Sit anywhere you want,” she says as she rearranges the pies inside a glass dessert case near the door. “I’ll be there in a jiff.”

Charlie makes a move to the left side of the diner, where the couple sits, hoping to snag the booth next to theirs. Safety in numbers. But the woman chooses that moment to let out a drunken cackle, sending Josh to a corner booth on the opposite end of the diner, next to a jukebox pushed against the wall. Charlie has no choice but to join him.

She leaves her coat on after sliding into the booth across from Josh. Since she’ll be going right back outside to make a phone call, she sees no point in removing it. There’s the added bonus that, like a bullfighter’s cape, its bright red has attracted the attention of others in the diner. Normally, Charlie hates feeling conspicuous, but now she appreciates the attention. If all eyes are on her, then Josh will have to be on his best behavior.

That moment of something working in her favor lasts only a few seconds. Because as soon as she’s situated, Charlie looks out the window and her heart sinks into her stomach, which sinks to the diner floor.

The pay phone is right outside.

Just on the other side of the glass.

In full view of Josh.

Inches from him.

Charlie takes a breath, trying to stay calm. Maybe she should change her mind and make a scene anyway. She does another quick sizing up of the rest of the diner. The couple in the opposite corner is shrugging on coats and slipping on gloves, clearly preparing to leave. The woman—the drunker of the two—gets her hair caught in her scarf and barks out another laugh.

“You okay to drive, hon?” the waitress says as they pass her on their way out.

“We’re fine,” the man says.

“Suit yourself,” the waitress says. Under her breath, she adds, “But if you wrap your damn car around a tree, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

Charlie watches the waitress watch the couple climb into the compact car parked outside and pull away. She respects the way the woman is looking out for others. That flinty concern might be needed if Charlie decides to abandon the phone call idea and straight-up ask for help.

The waitress closes the dessert case and flips a switch. It lights up like a window display at Christmas, the three levels of pies inside slowly rotating. Grabbing two menus, the waitress then makes her way to their table.

She looks familiar, but in a way Charlie can’t place.

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