Page 73 of D for Dead

After checking through half a dozen loose discs and coming to the conclusion her car was a mess, Fran finally found the one she was looking for and slotted it back into the case.

As she got out of the car there was another rustle from the bushes. A dark shape launched itself at her; she dropped both the CD and her car keys, and screamed.

* * *

Nadine skirted the building, realising the only other entrance was a fire door which was locked.

She debated for a moment. Was she going to enter the bar through the main door and cause a scene or slink back to the movie theatre with her tail between her legs? Option B would mean Troy had won; she drew a deep breath and made her way back to the front of the bar. She’d had enough of hanging around outside. Although the parking lot was well lit, it was still dark and there was hardly anyone about. Plus there were all these creepy bushes. Anyone could be lurking in them.

Pondering the thought as she took a step back towards the front of the building, she was startled as a firm hand grabbed her by the shoulder.

* * *

‘Bruno.’

The shape had paws on Fran’s shoulders and a wet slobbery tongue. Her hands felt fur.

‘Bruno!’ The voice came again, sharper, and the shape was pulled off her.

It’s just a freaking dog.

She picked herself up, heart racing, and found herself looking into the soulful eyes of a St Bernard. The owner, a woman who looked far too frail to be walking such a giant dog, started apologising profusely.

‘I’m so sorry. He’s normally so well behaved.’

‘It’s okay. Honestly, it’s okay.’

A little shaken from the encounter, but wanting to draw a line under it, Fran retrieved her CD and car keys, locked the car and made her way back to Leon.

* * *

Nadine swung around, startled.

‘What the hell are you doing here?’ she demanded.

‘No, Nadine. What the hell are you doing here?’ Troy looked angry, really angry. ‘I told you to leave it. Not to come here tonight.’ He grabbed his head with both hands, frustrated. ‘I can’t believe you would do this after today.’ He was almost shouting now.

This is what Nadine had wanted, wasn’t it; to get him involved in a real fight? She hadn’t expected him to be so mad.

‘Is there a problem?’

It was the bald-headed bouncer from the door. Troy glared at him, eyes flashing angrily. Nadine could see him fighting for control.

‘No problem. We were just leaving.’

* * *

Leon watched the fighting couple cross the parking lot, head down the street where they were no longer his problem, before returning to the door.

As he did, a low whistle came from the other side of the bar. He glanced towards the dark bushes, debating for a moment whether it came from within the premises or out on the street – maybe another dog walker.

The whistle came again.

Low, a little taunting and not the kind of whistle anyone made to a dog. Curiosity getting the better of him, he left his post and made his way round the side of the building towards where the noise had come from. There was no one there, just the dark outline of bushes, the silhouettes of the few cars parked round the back of the building. He could hear the faint hum of an engine running.

Leon took a couple of steps further into the blackness, allowing his eyes a moment to adjust in case there was someone hiding in the bushes. Satisfied he was alone, and figuring the whistling had to have come from the road, he turned to walk back to the main door.

Someone grabbed him from behind, gripping him in a headlock.