Ghostly Game, page 26
“Barry the bartender had to leave unexpectedly?” Lydia echoed.
“Yes. His mother had a heart attack.” Rory tried not to sound glum. That was just plain mean, and she wasn’t a mean person, or at least she tried not to be. But she was feeling sorry for herself. She hadn’t been able to stop thinking about Gideon. She had become one of those women. Mopey. Thinking about him all the time and worrying about his health. An idiot. She could still feel his kiss on the back of her neck. It burned, as if he’d left behind a brand.
“Barry’s going to have to take care of his mother. That means if I leave too, Brad will be down too many bartenders. Even if he hires someone else, he won’t have anyone experienced enough.” She looked at Lydia. “This is your chance. I can get you on and train you if you really want to try the job. I don’t think I’ll be going anywhere for the next few weeks.”
Lydia’s face lit up. “Do you think I could really do it? I haven’t had any formal training.”
“I’ve taught you the skills, Lydia. You’ve studied online. You know the glassware, the equipment, how to clean it; you can change out a keg, at least in theory; you know the lingo. You have knowledge of beer, wine and cocktails. How to mix the drinks. You just need to believe in yourself and sell it.”
Lydia glanced at the others and then back to Rory. “The idea is scary.”
“You can start as a barback, but you won’t make near the money. Brad’s going to have to bring up our best barback as it is, so we’re going to be down one. He’d hire you for that position, but honestly, it would be better if you just come on board and start making drinks right away. I know you can do it. We’ve spent hours now practicing, and you’ve gotten fast. You can make them in your sleep.”
“I can do it. I know I can. But then there’s Ellen. I’ll worry.”
Cindy cleared her throat. “I’m staying. I’ll put a bed in my room, and she can sleep in my apartment when you’re working. You can come and get her when you get off. She’ll just be asleep, Lydia, and she probably won’t even know.”
Lydia looked around at all of them, took a deep breath, looking determined, and nodded.
Rory measured her medication into the machine and turned it on. At least Lydia was going to get something good out of all the mess going on.
15
The bar was noisy and packed as usual. Rory thought it was becoming even more popular. She was happy for Brad. He was a good man, paid his employees well, treated them even better and was fair if things took a bad turn. As a rule, he was in a good mood. He worked hard and expected his employees to do the same. For that reason, she had been up front about Lydia.
Rory had asked Brad for a private meeting. She wanted to be as transparent with him as possible because she thought he was fair. She’d explained that Lydia was a good friend who needed the work. She also told him that she’d spent weeks teaching her and that Lydia had also gone online to learn as much as possible. She was hardworking and would give her all at the job, but she had no practical experience. Rory was still asking for the favor. Brad had agreed to try Lydia out, more, Rory thought, because he needed extra hands at the bar than for any other reason. He also knew he owed Rory, and this was the first time she’d asked for anything.
Lydia was doing great. She worked hard and didn’t slow down even if she accidentally stepped in the barback’s path. She hadn’t yet picked up the natural flow of traffic behind the bar, but she was getting there. Rory was proud of her.
Rory worked on autopilot, keeping one eye on Lydia just in case she needed help, which she did occasionally. She scanned the bar for trouble whenever she felt a possible shadow. She tried to stay alert for trouble, but being the only experienced bartender in a crowded bar made it difficult to do much besides keep her mind on what was happening around her.
There were two women seated at a table at the back of the bar, not in her section, who she had originally considered might be part of Gideon’s family. There was just something about them that seemed different, but she couldn’t put her finger on what it was. Neither paid the least attention to her. They shared an animated conversation that flowed naturally between them.
Both were beautiful, but one of the women was absolutely gorgeous. That could be trouble if the crowd turned rowdy, or any of the groups of men drinking quite a bit turned ugly. She tried to keep an eye out for them, but after Rory was slammed with so many customers, she couldn’t watch over the two women sitting close to the front door. That was the bouncer’s job.
Halfway through the night, she began to get a nagging feeling in her gut that told her something was wrong. No matter how many times she scanned the bar, she couldn’t find the source of the lengthening shadow. It seemed distant.
The last thing she wanted to do was reach out to Gideon, especially since she’d already opened herself up to him. Each time they connected telepathically, the bond between them only strengthened. Her declaration to have him stay away from her hadn’t lasted very long. But what if he had ripped open that wound again, and he was bleeding internally? He had come close to death the last time.
Torn, she made several drinks, hoping the feeling would go away. It didn’t. She glanced at Lydia several times. She was laughing and talking with the customers, looking carefree, although Rory could see a little bit of strain on her face from trying to concentrate. The nagging feeling that something was wrong kept growing. Eventually, Rory felt she had no choice.
Reluctantly, she reached out to him. Gideon? She held her breath, waiting for him to answer. She should have tried to text Javier. She’d kept his phone number. Why hadn’t she done that first?
Red.
Just his name for her. The relief was tremendous. Are you feeling weak at all?
No, not really. I’m feeling fine. Why?
She tried to analyze his denial. Not really. What did that mean? Do me a favor and send for that doctor of yours. He’s always driving you nuts. I know it’s the middle of the night, but they have to earn their money somehow. Have him go to you right away and examine you. Make sure that wound didn’t open back up.
He was silent for a little while, but she felt him moving through her mind. She talked to several customers, answering them, giving them bright smiles, all the while focusing her attention on Gideon, willing him to do as she asked.
You’re certain the danger isn’t to you? It isn’t there in the bar?
Gideon. She hissed his name, allowing her impatience to show.
Red, the moment you asked me to call the doctor, I texted him. He’s on the way. I feel the foreshadowing you’re feeling. The intensity is growing. I’m certain the repair the doc did on me is holding. I’ll have him check, but I don’t think your warning system is going off because of me. Who else? Can you judge the distance?
If not Gideon, who would it be? She did a quick rundown of her friends. Lydia was working with her. Janice and Pam were at work. She sent them both a quick text, asking if everything was going okay. Cindy was watching Ellen, and she would have immediately gotten ahold of Lydia if anything had happened to the little girl. Sally had come to the bar to lend moral support to Lydia. That accounted for everyone she was close to. She waited a little anxiously until Pam and Janice checked in with her, affirming they were both fine.
She made drinks and talked to customers as she assessed the shadow spreading through her. It wasn’t going away. Distance. She texted Cindy just to be on the safe side. Making sure.
Doc’s here. He’s checking me internally. Says repairs are holding and mending better than last time.
Not Gideon, then. Who? What? Was someone in danger? Could it be Harvey? She wasn’t close to Harvey, but she knew him. She couldn’t very well text him. She’d broken off contact with him and didn’t want to start up with the police breathing down her neck. Still . . .
Why hadn’t Cindy texted her back? She nearly dropped a glass as she spun it around to place it on the bar, and that brought her up short. She was really agitated. It was nearly closing time. Cindy was most likely asleep. There was no reason to be panicking. But she was.
Gideon, is Javier around? What if it was Javier? She hadn’t even thought of him. He could be in trouble. He just seemed so invincible.
He was here with me when you called. He just left to look around.
Her phone vibrated, and she stepped back from the bar to take the time to look at the text from Cindy. It was long.
Called Larrsen and his partner. Lydia’s apartment broken into. Same with Sally’s. They destroyed furniture like in ours but didn’t take anything. The noise was reported, and two men were seen running from Sally’s apartment. They were both heavier set and wore those pullover beanie things with the eyes cut out. Two other men had been in Lydia’s apartment. They were seen running down the stairs. One was slender, pretty fit, the other looked older and a bit heavier, both wore masks covering their faces.
Rory let her breath out slowly. Her lungs burned for air. This was another blow she hadn’t been expecting, but she should have been. She and her friends were being targeted, but she couldn’t figure out why. Whoever had done this was searching for something. What? And why?
Not the worst. Jarrod Flawson’s body found. Stuffed in suitcase between machines in laundry room. The lady who found him was so hysterical they had to sedate her. He’d been there for some time. He’d been tortured and shot, the same as Dustin, except he was stuffed in the suitcase.
Rory had to work at keeping her body from panicking. All the signs were there. Numbness. Tingling. Dizziness. She signaled to Brad she needed to use her inhaler and would be right back. He nodded and stepped up to take her place.
Rory went to the break room and sank down into a chair, needing to get off her feet before she fell to the floor while she used her inhaler. No doubt Harvey was next if they could find him. Then her? Was Harvey right about framing him? Framing her?
Talk to me, Red. I can feel how upset you are.
She sent him the text from Cindy. She saw no reason not to share. He would know soon enough there had been another break-in. And another death.
Ask Cindy if this woman who found the body or the police confirmed who the suitcase belonged to.
Rory’s breath caught in her lungs. She hadn’t thought of that. It hadn’t occurred to her to even ask that question. Panic began to grip her all over again.
Just take slow, steady breaths. It’s my job to think of all the possibilities, sweetheart. What was the point of putting the body in the laundry room? Whoever killed him wanted him found. The suitcase was wedged between two machines. The killer knew that sooner or later someone was going to get curious and open it.
Rory forced her breathing to stay under control, but it took effort. Gideon made sense. She asked Cindy the question.
Black suitcase on rollers. Very expensive-looking, Cindy texted back. Shandra, the woman who found the suitcase, even has a photo of it.
Rory closed her eyes as relief poured through her. Not mine, Gideon. If the intention was to frame me, they didn’t use my suitcase. I have cheap but very adequate ones.
Are Lydia and Sally aware their apartments have been broken into?
She was very grateful Gideon changed the subject. I don’t think so. Not yet. Even with a new job, Lydia will have a difficult time replacing the contents of her apartment. She has renter’s insurance, but the money isn’t going to come in overnight. I’ve got money I saved to move that I’ll be able to help her with, but she’s very independent, and she won’t want to take it. She’ll be embarrassed, and it could ruin our friendship.
What if the money wasn’t specifically coming from you? Or just to her? You said your friend Sally lost everything as well. You did. So did Janice and Pam and Cindy. That’s all of you, right? We can set up something online to donate to, but also there in the apartment building and at the bar and in the harbor and at local restaurants. That would add up fast. We know a few people who are generous with contributions. Let me see what I can get started. If we have it in place immediately, all we need to do is figure out what to do for a couple of days for her and the others.
Gideon’s instant response was the reason she had fallen so fast and hard for him. There was no doubt in her mind that he would have something in the works by morning to ensure that money would be flowing toward fixing Lydia’s problem. Not just Lydia’s but all their problems. For all she knew, he might have already been doing that. It would be just like him.
She wished things were different between them. She wanted, this once, to lean on his strength. It wasn’t as if she felt weak, just tired, exhausted from all the body blows.
That’s a good idea. Thank you for thinking of it.
I’ll get that started now.
In the middle of the night?
Can’t sleep. Haven’t been sleeping since I screwed things up with you. I keep going over it and what I should have done differently. But then I’m not even sure the things I’m thinking I should have done would have been right either. Never had a mother or father to show me the way. I guess those lessons count for something.
She felt his genuine regret. Rory put her inhaler away and rubbed at her lower lip. She didn’t know any more about relationships than he did. Who was she to judge? Since you’re going to be up anyway, and I am too after work, maybe you can fill me in on your childhood.
She found herself holding her breath. This was his opportunity. She’d cracked open the door. A crack only. She hoped he recognized that was all it was. He could take it or leave it.
Like you, I never talk about it because mine was a shit childhood.
I don’t remember my past. You do. She wasn’t going to push him. If he didn’t want that door to open any further, a part of her would be grateful. She wasn’t even certain what she would do if he told her personal things he never talked about to anyone. She was terrified to think about letting him back in.
Our place?
She stood up. Break was over. She had to get back to work, but her treacherous heart skipped a beat at his question. They had a special place. It was rather silly when he had his cool rooftop and she had hers. The little patio in the Koi Garden where they spent those first early morning hours just talking and laughing together. She treasured that time. The San Francisco fog had enclosed them, making her feel as if they were the only two people in the world. They talked about everything and nothing, yet she had fallen hard for him.
She should go back to the apartments and help Lydia, but she knew Lydia would stay with Cindy. Sally would be fine with Janice and Pam. She had no idea where she would be staying, but it didn’t matter, not if Gideon was really going to share something of himself with her. She wanted his childhood. Nothing else. Something of his that was private that he didn’t share, didn’t give to others. Something she could hold on to even if she never had him for herself.
See you there if you don’t change your mind. She gave him an out and abruptly broke off all contact with him.
Rory knew by now that Brad would be feeling desperate. Once more behind the bar, the customers were lined up several rows deep. She immediately took over her station, spotting Detective Larrsen entering as she stepped up, glanced quickly through the tickets and then took several orders at once. She went on autopilot fast, keeping her eye on Larrsen, knowing he was about to break the news to Sally and Lydia.
This was Lydia’s first day on the job, and the pressure on her was horrendous. If she blew her one chance with Brad, she could lose the high-paying job she needed. The tips alone were better than the money she made from her day job. She wasn’t just good; she had every appearance of being one of the better bartenders, who would be sought after if she kept at it.
Rory was able to get drinks out at a fast rate, moving the lines quickly, making the waitresses happy. She took care of the beer drinkers, mixed the cocktails fast, especially the ones that were the same, and then the whiskey drinkers. Next were those in the blenders.
She loved Kevin, her barback. He kept up with her with the ice, bitters and syrups. Each time she needed citrus, ice or a fresh keg, he had it immediately. She never had to ask. Her glasses were clean and replaced. She was always generous sharing her tips and was elated that Brad was just as fair with all his employees. He treated his barbacks as valuable members of the family he was trying to create. He’d had setbacks, losing two of his experienced bartenders, but he wanted his business to succeed, and he paid as much as he could to waitresses and barbacks, more so than other bars.
Larrsen finally reached Lydia. She looked to Brad, asking for a break. He nodded and took her position. Lydia allowed Larrsen and Sally to step behind the bar and accompany her to the break room. Rory knew what a body blow it had been to see her apartment torn to shreds. It was such a violation to know that someone had been in your personal space, that you weren’t safe.
Sally lived alone, just as Rory did. That really made a woman feel unsafe. Lydia had a child to protect. Ellen was only three. It must be devastating to think that you might not be able to keep your child safe. And then there was replacing your things. That was not an easy task.
Rory hadn’t had much. She moved around. But the others had many items they treasured, some of monetary value, but most were sentimental. Rory’s notebooks with her lyrics and her guitar were the most sentimental items she had. Fortunately, both had remained mostly intact.
She hustled even faster, trying to cover more customers so that if Lydia fell completely apart, Brad wouldn’t get too upset if she left. Rory would be able to explain to him after she closed the bar. Brad glanced at his watch a few times, but he was clearly aware Larrsen was a policeman, and he didn’t demand Lydia return when her break was over.
