Page 69 of D for Dead

Natalie opened the door, pleased to see him. They had been neighbours for a couple of years and she had a key to his place, taking Roxy out if he ever had to work late.

He recognised a few other tenants, Natalie’s current boyfriend, Dan, and one or two of her friends who had visited before. She pushed him in the direction of three girls who were standing in the kitchen caught up in conversation.

‘Jake, I want you to meet some good friends of mine, Kim, Melissa and Haley. Girls, this is my neighbour, Jake, who I was telling you about.’

Jake caught the knowing look the girls exchanged, understood now Natalie’s intention of getting him to the party had been to set him up. On the occasions they ran into each other, she would rag him about his love life, telling him he worked too hard and needed to meet a nice girl.

He swore she was in cahoots with his mother.

‘It’s good to meet you, Jake. Natalie has told us all about you.’ This was from Haley, easily the prettiest of the three, with dark hair and a toothpaste smile.

‘Has she now.’ Jake shot Natalie a look, letting her know he was onto her. While her interference mildly irritated him, he was also figuring what was the harm? They seemed nice enough girls. A couple of drinks and conversation would take his mind off Amy.

Natalie poured him some of the Jameson’s before leaving him with her friends, looking mighty pleased with her cupid effort.

For the next hour Jake found himself trapped in the kitchen as the three girls vied for his attention. Kim was the pushiest, using every opportunity to make physical contact and already proposing he take her out, while Melissa and Haley hung on his every word. They were three pleasant, attractive girls and any guy in his position would have been lapping up the attention, so why did he find himself bored, restless, his mind wandering?

Because you’re an idiot, Sullivan.

He stole a glance at his watch, disappointed it wasn’t as late as he thought.

‘You got somewhere else you need to be?’ Kim asked, running a finger down the front of his shirt.

Jake thought of Amy, working in the Velvet Lounge. Peterson was with her and he was a good cop. He would keep her safe. Still, it wouldn’t hurt to have a second pair of eyes. If the place was busy, it would be harder to keep tabs on her. He finished his whiskey, set the glass down and eased himself away from the counter.

‘There’s a work situation I have to check in on.’

All three girls looked disappointed. They knew he was a cop and in his line of work things cropped up.

‘Will you be coming back?’ That was from Kim again.

When he told her it was unlikely, she practically pouted, so he softened it to a maybe.

Coward. You know you’re not coming back.

Ignoring the unsubtle attempts to get his cell number, he excused himself, found Natalie to say goodbye and left the party.

He returned briefly to his apartment to grab his service revolver and car keys, then locked up and made his way downstairs, convincing himself his visit to the Velvet Lounge was going to be purely for professional reasons.

* * *

He watched the bar from a lot across the street. Although the Velvet Lounge had its own parking he couldn’t risk waiting there. The cops had already put a protection detail on Amy Gallaty and there was every possibility they would be watching this place tonight.

He appreciated it more when the stakes were high; it made pulling off the kill risky, but the results and the buzz were worth it.

He waited patiently, watched the patrons come and go, the bouncer guarding the door, one of the cocktail waitresses step outside on her break for a quick smoke. Glancing at his wristwatch he knew it would soon be time to make his move.

Just a short while longer.

He leaned forward, forearms resting on the steering wheel and continued to watch. The thrill was steadily building inside him, but he had to be patient.

Not long now.

22

The Velvet Lounge drew a good crowd on Saturdays and tonight was no exception.

Amy’s shift began at seven and she found it a blessed relief to throw her head into work, appreciating the return to normality after what had been an unsettling day. She was working the shift with two other waitresses, Fran, and one of the new girls, Chloe. As the three of them collected orders and served drinks, Gage and Tom mixed up cocktails.