Chapter 9: Hitchhiking
Josh Kane took off his hood as he drove the car onto the road, leaving the warehouse behind.
Although it was a convertible, Josh had already raised the soft top before leaving, so as long as he pulled up his collar, it was impossible for anyone outside to see his face clearly.
Moreover, Josh didn’t drive the car straight home.
After all, in this era, a Cadillac V16 was too eye-catching. If Josh drove this car home, it would be the same as telling the Mafia that he was the one who stole it.
So, Josh drove the car out of the city.
Then, not far outside the city, he found an empty forest, stored the car in his System Warehouse, and took out a fresh set of clothes from the system to change into. He burned his old clothes in a single blaze.
Perfect.
Let the Mafia search all they want. Even if they turned Chicago upside down, they wouldn’t be able to find him.
The only slight inconvenience was that without the Cadillac, he didn’t have a vehicle anymore.
He was now several kilometers away from the city—not too far, but not too close either.
Josh really didn’t feel like walking back.
So, after exiting the woods, he headed to the side of the highway, ready to hitch a ride.
Hitchhiking had become a common practice in America since cars started becoming popular in the 1920s, so it wasn’t anything new.
Of course, there were risks, but this was the outskirts of Chicago, and professional robbers rarely operated in such places.
If he was unlucky enough to encounter one, well, Josh had plenty of guns stored in his System Warehouse, and they weren’t just for show.
Still, even though hitchhiking was common, not every driver would be willing to stop.
The first few cars that passed by completely ignored Josh’s raised hand.
Luckily, his luck wasn’t all that bad. After about ten minutes, a car that had just passed him suddenly slowed down and came to a stop.
Josh quickly ran a few steps to catch up.
It was a beautiful convertible, quite similar to the Cadillac V16 that Josh had earlier. Of course, just like Josh’s car, this one had its top up, as the weather was still quite cold. Driving with the top down would turn anyone into an ice block.
The car's hood ornament, the Flying Lady, revealed the car's identity—it was a Packard.
Few people in the twenty-first century have heard of this name, as the brand ceased to exist in 1958.
However, during the 1920s to 1940s in America, Packard was as renowned as Cadillac, a luxury car brand known far and wide.
The brand had several different hood ornaments depending on the production time and model, including the Flying Lady, the Swan, and the Crystal Goddess. The Flying Lady was the most common and represented the brand at its peak.
The car Josh saw in front of him was a classic Packard 8.
Although its price didn’t quite reach that of a Cadillac V16, it still cost over two thousand dollars—a bona fide luxury car.
However, when Josh got a clear look at the driver, he realized that the car was beautiful, but the person inside was even more stunning.
Yes, the driver was a woman—a gorgeously beautiful woman.
Her skin was pale and flawless, her lips a vibrant red, and her features were exquisitely refined. Paired with a head of iconic golden curls of the era and a sleek fur coat, she was the epitome of elegance, a true modern beauty of America.
“Hello, handsome boy. Are you in some kind of trouble?” The woman smiled as she asked Josh.
In fact, she had initially planned to ignore him, but a casual glance caught sight of Josh’s face, and she couldn’t help but stop the car.
Who could blame her? Though still a bit youthful, Josh's looks and figure were indeed striking.
With his characteristic Germanic blond hair and light blue eyes, coupled with delicate features and no freckles, Josh cut a handsome figure.
Though not yet sixteen, he was already nearly six feet tall, standing straight and proud.
The only flaw was that his previous body had been somewhat malnourished and lacked exercise, making him appear slightly thin. But this only added a touch of androgynous beauty to Josh—a beauty akin to that of a famous star, not something effeminate.
As they say, no matter the era, having good looks is never a bad thing.
This elegant woman had undoubtedly stopped because of Josh’s good looks. Otherwise, a woman traveling alone would never have pulled over in a place like this.
“Good afternoon, beautiful lady. I’m sorry to trouble you, but my friends played a prank on me and left me stranded in this desolate place. I was hoping you could give me a ride.” Josh politely asked for help.
“Oh, poor child. It seems your friends aren't very kind. Hop in quickly before you freeze.” Upon hearing Josh’s words, the woman immediately invited him into the car with warmth.
“What’s your name?” the woman asked as she started the car after Josh got in.
“Josh, Josh Kane. May I ask your name, ma’am?” Josh inquired, noting the large diamond ring on her left hand's ring finger, which was quite conspicuous.
In this era, diamonds were not as inflated in value as they would be in the future, but they were still quite expensive.
The ring on the woman’s hand was at least 10 carats, what would later be known as a "pigeon’s egg." Sixty years down the road, a ring like this could easily fetch over a million dollars.
Even though diamonds weren’t as heavily marketed yet, this one was still worth nearly ten thousand dollars in today’s terms.
Wow, this was one wealthy woman.
Of course, it was possible that the ring was fake.
But considering her clothes and the Packard she was driving, that seemed unlikely.
“Margot Windis,” the woman smiled and answered.
“Hello, Mrs. Windis. You truly are a kind and beautiful angel. If it weren’t for you, I’d have had to walk several kilometers home on an empty stomach.” Josh complimented her.
“Oh, Josh, you’re quite the charmer.” Mrs. Windis seemed pleased by the compliment.
“Ma’am, I’m not trying to flatter you. I’m being completely sincere,” Josh said earnestly. “You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”
He wasn’t lying. At least in this lifetime, since his rebirth, Mrs. Windis was the most beautiful woman he’d encountered, far outshining even Daenerys Targaryen.
Especially her mature allure, something the petite dragon queen completely lacked.
Moreover, for some reason, Josh felt that Mrs. Windis looked somewhat familiar. Could she be a celebrity?
It was just that his knowledge of the stars of this era was limited, and he couldn’t recall who she might be.
“Come on, save those lines for the young girls. They don’t work on me.” Although she said this dismissively, the smile on her face showed that Mrs. Windis was clearly enjoying the praise.
“Are you a movie star, ma’am? I feel like none of the Hollywood actresses have your grace,” Josh ventured.
“Is that supposed to be a compliment? I’m afraid I’ll have to disappoint you. I’m just an ordinary housewife,” Margot smiled and shook her head.
An ordinary housewife? Yeah, right! Josh glanced at the luxury car, the massive diamond ring, and the luxurious fur coat, silently rolling his eyes in his mind.
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