Dark Realms(205)
“Look,” I pointed at the stage. “I wonder if they’re playing again?”
“The club would have charged us an arm-and-a-leg to get in,” she replied. “Venom doesn’t play for free.”
“I suppose. Too bad. We might have gotten information from them. About Melody.”
“Chances are we wouldn’t have been able to get close to the band even if they had been playing tonight. I’m sure their security is tight.”
“Yeah, I’m sure you’re right.”
A new hip-hop song began to play. “Come on,” hollered Susan as the volume increased. “Let’s get a drink.”
I followed her to the bar, still nervous that we were going to get caught and land in jail.
“Well hello there,” said a hot bartender with light brown hair, green eyes, and a lazy smile. “Looks like we have some fresh blood here this evening. Excellent. So, what’s it going to be, lovely ladies?”
Susan smiled. “I’ll have a Cosmopolitan.”
“Great choice,” he turned to me. “And what about you? Same?”
I shook my head and ordered a diet soda.
“Sure you don’t want to add a little rum for fun?” he asked, leaning forward with a twinkle in his eyes.
“No, that’s okay.”
“Suit yourself,” he replied, and then began mixing Susan’s drink.
“So, Brian,” said Susan, staring at his name tag. “I heard Venom was playing last night. Did they put on a good show?”
“It was phenomenal,” he said, shaking her martini in a silver decanter. “Too bad you missed it.”
“Why is their equipment still here?” I asked, nodding towards the stage. “Are they going to play again?”
A guy standing next to me, wearing a long black leather jacket, turned around. He had dark hair and eyes so blue, they looked like tinted contacts. “Sorry to interrupt,” he said. “They are actually playing a song tonight. Just one.”
“Really?” I asked, perking up.
“Yep,” replied the stranger. “It’s the club owner’s birthday and he’s going to sing ‘Happy Birthday’ to her.”
“That’s awesome,” I replied, handing Brian a twenty-dollar bill. “Does she know?”
“No,” he smirked. “So, keep it hush-hush or, I’ll have to kill you.”
Susan snorted. “Really, Ethan? You seriously think that old line is funny?”
My head whipped around. “You know him?” I mouthed.
“Susan, humor is not one of my strong-points, which is why I never attempt it.”
Brian burst out laughing. “Leave it to Ethan to try and freak out the ladies. Don’t listen to him, he loves messing with young girls.”
“So, I’ve heard,” replied Susan, taking a sip of her drink. She licked her lips and set the glass back on the bar. “I’d also heard that you left town, Ethan.”
He took a sip from what appeared to be a ‘Bloody Mary’. “Is that right. From who?”
“Nikki.”
His face softened. “Nikki... So, is she still working at the diner?”
Susan pushed her hair behind her ears. “I think you already know the answer to that.”
“You’re right. I do. Maybe I should pay her a visit,” he replied, tossing back the rest of his drink.
I hated tomato juice and watching him slam it down made me shudder.
“So, tell me… do you know where she is right now?” he asked, licking all of the red juice from his celery stick.
“I don’t know. She might be working,” replied Susan, watching him closely. “Enjoy your drink much?”
He dropped the celery back into the glass and then shoved it towards Brian. “More than you know. Brian, I’m taking off. Tell Faye I’ll be back later if she asks.”
“She’s gonna be pissed when she finds out that you flew the coop on her birthday,” replied Brian.
He smiled cockily. “She could never stay mad at me.”
“Famous last words,” he replied.
Ethan smirked. “I’m seriously not worried.”
“Right,” said Brian.
“Excuse me… Ethan? Uh, when is Slade supposed to sing?” I asked, as he turned to leave.
He turned around to face us again. “About ten minutes from now. Remember what I said- don’t tell anyone. It’s a surprise.”
“I won’t tell,” I replied.
He stared at me for a minute and then reached into his pocket. “Here,” he said, writing something on the back of a card. “Bring this free pass upstairs to the V.I.P. room after he’s done. You can meet the band.”