Page 20 of Sleigh My Heart

“Hey guys, winning any today?” Michelle asked.

“Bill won a hundred.” The guy on the end stool said as he pointed to his buddy.

Early happy hour? Like at lunch, she’d guessed by his uniform shirt sporting the name Ernie in red letters. “Awesome. Do you know Cliff Garmen? I believe he’s a regular.”

“What did he do?” Bill asked.

“Nothing that we know of. We just have some questions.” Michelle leaned on the stool.

“Cliff works for me. I haven’t seen him in a few days. I just want to make sure he’s alright.” Nick slipped to the other stool and signaled Trudy to get the men another round on him.

“Maybe he finally took his old lady on that trip she’s been bugging him about.” Bill peeled back another pull tab. Not a winner.

“His wife?” Nick asked.

“No, they just shack up.” He didn’t look up from checking his pile.

“Would you have her name and address?” Michelle asked.

Bill glanced over his shoulder. No doubt having guilt over sharing a fellow bar patron’s personal business. “Don’t know the address of his song bird.”

“Her name is Margarita, but song bird is what he called her.” Ernie said. No such worries about spilling the beans.

“Do you remember anything else he might have talked about? His job or a project?” Nick flipped a bill on the bar when Trudy set the drinks down.

“I think he was working at the mall. That’s where he met his song bird.”

Bill threw a sharp glare at his friend.

“She works there?”

“Not sure.” Ernie must have got the hint. The two took a drink of their fresh beers and clammed up.

“One more question. Do you know Jonny Staniski?” Michelle watched the two guys’ faces for any sign of awareness. Nothing. Time to move on.

“Thanks, guys. If you think of anything else, please let me know.” Michelle wrote down their names, then handed them one of her cards.

Nick and Michelle stepped out into the cold air. She breathed deep.

Once they were both in the vehicle, Nick spoke. “Same old Trudy’s.”

She laughed. “Yeah. What do you think about this Margarita? Could she work in the mall?”

“We only deal with the overall mall security. I don’t have a list of every store employee, but I will make some calls. I know the store managers.”

“It’s a lead. I’ll drive by Billie Dee’s. Maybe we’ll get lucky and find some video of our guy’s van.” Michelle put the patrol car in drive and pulled out into traffic.

Nick scanned the street as they drove. His scent mixed with the heat from the vents. It was a potent cocktail.

She sucked in a quick breath, taking as much of his yummy smell as possible. With one finger, she tugged at her collar. All he was doing was sitting there and her mind was envisioning how he looked under that coat… and shirt.

Get a grip, girl. She rolled the window down an inch.

Nick glanced at her, then turned the heat down. “You, okay?”

“Yeah, my gear can get a little warm when I’m in the vehicle.” True, but it had nothing to do with tactical vests and belts today.

She turned onto the block. “You take the right side, and I’ll take the left.”