Page 70 of D for Dead

No one had commented on Amy’s scratches. She had spent half an hour working with make-up to disguise them and wore her tawny brown hair loose around her face. If anyone did comment, she figured she’d blame Huckleberry.

Her bodyguard for the night was Hal Peterson, an older officer with sharp eyes and a serious disposition. He was a man of few words, which suited Amy fine. At least she didn’t feel obligated to make small talk with him.

While she waited tables, he sat at the bar sipping soda water and lime and watched her, watched everyone around her, his foot tapping against the bar stool in time to the in-house jazz band.

He took his job seriously, which made her feel safe.

She had just finished serving a table of regulars when she recognised Detective Angell and Special Agent Hickok entering the bar. Amy’s heartbeat quickened. Had there been another murder? She couldn’t think of any other reason why the two of them would be here. Ignoring the table of frat boys who were trying to catch her attention, she went over.

‘Is everything okay?’

Angell gave her a reassuring smile immediately picking up on her unease.

‘Yes, don’t worry. We figured Saturday night is busy, so it wouldn’t hurt to have a couple of extra pairs of eyes.’

‘Okay.’ It made sense and Amy did feel safer with a larger police presence.

‘How’s your cheek?’ Hickok asked, blatantly staring at where Nadine had scratched her.

So much for my make-up job.

‘Um, it’s okay. I put antiseptic cream on it to take out the sting.’

‘You can press charges, you know.’

‘Yeah, I know.’ Amy didn’t want the hassle. She had the impression pressing charges against Nadine would only provoke the woman. ‘I’d rather just forget about it.’

‘Your call.’ Hickok shrugged, nodding to Hal Peterson who was sliding off his bar stool and making his way over.

‘Detective Angell. Special Agent Hickok. There a problem?’

‘No problem. Figured it wouldn’t hurt to have a few extra bodies down here tonight. Everything okay so far?’

‘Yeah, no trouble; I’ve been keeping a close eye on the lady.’

‘Do you want drinks?’ Amy offered. ‘If you get a table, I’ll bring them over.’

She took their order of two beers to the bar.

‘More cops?’ Gage asked, raising his eyebrows. At Amy’s neutral expression, he added, ‘I remember the woman from your apartment, Ames.’

Amy glanced around.

‘Okay, well don’t publicise it. They’re here to keep an eye on things.’ She smiled sweetly at him as he fetched the bottles of beer, placed them on the tray. ‘Any chance these can go on the house?’

‘Okay,’ Gage agreed after a long moment, before pulling a face. ‘The things I do to keep you safe.’

Amy blew him a kiss of thanks and took the beers over to Angell and Hickok.

‘You notice anyone acting suspicious tonight?’ Hickok wanted to know.

‘No.’ Amy shook her head. She’d been keeping an eye out for suspicious behaviour. Nothing had struck her as out of the ordinary.

She took her tray back to the bar, caught Fran’s eye to let her know she was taking a bathroom break.

The restroom was down a corridor at the back of the bar and Amy made her way along the passage, noting for about the fifth time the overhead bulb was still flickering and needed replacing. She passed the fire escape, headed downstairs and through the door next to the cellar that led to the restroom, taking one of the two open stalls.

As she sat waiting to pee, the door creaked opened. Hearing footsteps, she waited for the sound of the other stall door to close.