Shaniqua, Christine, and the two children were out a diner near where William had been found.

     Christine had not wanted to go to that side of town, but her daughter insisted on having a pink milkshake. There was only one diner in the city that would make her daughter stop screaming at the top of her lungs in the backseat, so that’s where they went.

     A light tanned woman with a bun of straight black hair walked towards the table. Her eyes were the color of mahogany after a rain. Her smile was so vibrant it would light up the whole diner.

     Lisa screeched with excitement when she saw her, “Jenny!”

     “Lisa, Charlie!” the woman rushed quickly to the booth. “How good to see you again!”

     “I made mommy bring us!” Lisa smiled with self satisfaction.

     Jenny tussled Lisa’s blonde curly hair lightly, “Well, I’m glad you did. Can I take your order?”

     “Pink Milkshake!” Lisa shouted before anyone else.

     “Pancakes.” Charlie said immediately after.

     “I’ll have the chicken salad on rye.” Christine handed her menu back.

     “I’ll take the fresh salad with italian.” Shaniqua responded.

     After the order had been given to Chef, Jenny walked back to the booth to talk to the two women. “So where is Willie?” she questioned his wife.

     Christine began to tear up, a lump grew in her throat and she was unable to respond.

     Jenny’s smile faded, and her skin paled.

     The kids had been coloring and making noise, they now grew silent.

     “He died recently.” Shaniqua broke the uneasy silence.

     “What?” Jenny gasped. “I’m so sorry kids, I did not know.” she knelt down and pulled Lisa close for a hug.

     “It’s ok Jenny.” Lisa said in small voice.

     “How long ago, may I ask?” Jenny stood back up.

     “About two weeks now.” Shaniqua replied while Christine silently cried.

     “I’m so sorry.” Jenny stated to Christine. “But, there was someone here looking for him. He looked like a loan shark type person. He grabbed my arm and wouldn’t let me go.”

     “When was this?” Shaniqua was shocked.

     “Friday.” Jenny looked at the reporter. “I told him about the ticket.”

     “You knew about the ticket?” Christine looked up at the waitress.

     “At the time I didn’t think anything about it. No one knew anything then.” she responded. “It was the next morning after the numbers had been drawn. If he knew about it he would have told me. I put his breakfast on his tab.”

     “The next morning..” Christine lost herself in the thought and began sobbing.

     The children became uncomfortable and on edge at the sight of their mother.

     Shaniqua looked at a confused Jenny. “You were the last person who knew him that saw him alive.”

     “There’s more.” Jenny said unsure if she should tell what she saw.

     Christine looked up and silenced her sobbing enough to listen.

     “There was blonde woman and a dark haired man here. They sat in my section and were talking like they had just come into a lot of money. They were acting really suspicious, and when I came close they acted like I was intruding.”

     Shaniqua chastised her loudly, “Why didn’t you call the station?”

     “What are you talking about?” Jenny replied.

     Shaniqua was clearly upset, “I ran a whole story on the ten o’clock news asking who were these two that cashed in the ticket.”

     “By ten o’clock at night, this waitress is normally sound asleep.” Jenny said defensively.

     “Had you seen them before? Were they regulars here?” Shaniqua pushed.

     “I hadn’t seen them before. But if I saw them again I would recognize them.” Jenny stated.

    

    

     After the kids had eaten Shaniqua handed them five dollars each to play games in the diner’s mini arcade. The arcade was in eye-shot of the booth so it was fine with Christine. Jenny got her fifteen minute break early and sat with two at the booth and they began to talk.

     “So, what would you do if you just won a half billion dollars?” Shaniqua asked.

     “I’d pay off all my bills and buy a new house.” Christine answered without hesitation.

     Jenny thought for a minute and then threw in her response. “First I would get a makeover, like she did. Then I would get all new everything. New car, new shoes, new clothes, new boyfriend.”

     The three chuckled slightly then got serious again.

     “I’d go on vacation.” Shaniqua decided.

     “A big vacation.” Jenny tossed in.

     Christine looked at the two and began to worry, “What if they took a vacation and they’re never coming back?”

     The two stopped dreaming and looked at the widow.

     “What if they have had enough of this place and they are never coming back? How will we get the money then?” Christine’s worry was prevalent.

     “No.” Shaniqua consoled her. “I don’t care if they move to New Guinea. We’re getting you your money back.”

     “I don’t even know where New Guinea is.” Jenny confessed and chuckled.

     “Well if we get this money back I’ll take both of you there.” Shaniqua sat back in the booth. “We’ll celebrate my promotion to news anchor.”

     After dropping Christine and the kids back off, Shaniqua drove home and turned on her computer.

     She typed the address of the diner into the search engine and searched for travel agencies nearby. The result showed twelve agencies, with four within walking distance.

     Shaniqua couldn’t tell you why she felt walking distance was so important, she knew in her gut that it was. That was what they called instinct, and if you’ve got it you’re defiantly on the right track for your story.