Bliss looked to Sadie for direction. If this was what she foresaw, maybe she knew where things were headed. The woman was spreading her cards out in front of her and flipping a few of them over.
Now? She’s doing a reading now? Bliss was on her own. She stood on a chair and announced, “Patrons, I think it might be a good idea to leave and come back later.”
A few tourists got up and moved toward the front door, but one guy she’d seen a few times swiveled his stool toward her and said, “No way. We haven’t seen a good bar fight in months.”
“Months?” She walked up to Sadie and planted her hand on the table right over her cards. “Did he say this happens every few months?”
Sadie sighed. “Any time Ruxandra perceives a threat to her relationship with Anthony.”
“What relationship? I thought you said she was an old girlfriend… as in ex?”
Sadie rolled her eyes. “I’m afraid she and Anthony have different opinions on where they stand.”
Bliss covered her eyes with her order pad. “Oh, for the love of…”
The door burst open with Tory and Kurt holding the kicking, screaming blond by each of her arms and carrying her toward the back door. Bliss wanted to shout, Not that way! That’s where Angie went, but thought better of it.
If the woman thought she could catch up with Angie, she’d probably hunt her down and… Oh crap. The blond was making threats that involved Angie’s exsanguination. Bliss shuddered for her roommate.
Phil led the procession to the back door, and Bliss moved carefully so she could see what was happening but still duck behind the bar if she needed to. As soon as Phil opened the door, he stepped into the alley and looked both ways. “She’s safe,” he said, and walked back into the bar.
The two men holding Ruxandra swung her back and forth, chanting, “And a one, and a two, and a threee…” On three they launched her into the air and slammed the door behind her.
“Oh. My. God.” Bliss jogged to the bar. “Malcolm, aren’t you going to call the cops?”
Anthony rushed out of his office. “Do not call the police.”
Malcolm held up one hand. “I know the drill. You’ll handle it.”
The sound of pounding on the back door ensued, accompanied by more of Ruxandra’s high-pitched shouting. The guys held the emergency exit bar shut against a number of heavy pulls. At one point, Bliss heard a loud crack and was afraid the door had come off its hinges.
Anthony groaned and stared at the door. The two guys gave him sympathetic smiles, nodded to each other, then opened the door and rushed out. More of Ruxandra’s threats could be heard, but they were aimed at the guys. Thankfully, a few moments later the volume began to fade. It sounded as if the three of them were moving farther away.
Anthony returned to his office and slammed the door shut. Bliss could see him through the hole, pacing.
“Bliss, dear?” Sadie waved her over.
She approached the psychic half expecting a “See? I told you so,” but instead the older woman just smiled at her and said, “I think I’ll have that White Russian now.”
***
The fire station was experiencing a welcomed lull. The guys seemed relaxed. Kelly and Benjamin were watching TV. Bruno was on the computer. Drake pretended to read. He couldn’t concentrate on anything except what Zina might be up to next.
He had to call Bliss to make sure she was all right. Her shift was almost over, and he’d vowed to wait until it was. He checked his phone for the umpteenth time and finally it showed the time as eleven o’clock. He hit the speed-dial number for Bliss. Number three. He refused to make her number two, and the station had to be number one.
Several rings later, she picked up and he breathed a sigh of relief.
“Did I interrupt your cleanup duties?”
“Not really. We don’t actually do a lot after closing. I understand there’s a cleaning crew that comes in around midnight.”
Ah, yes… the “cleaning crew” consisting of two house brownies. “Nice gig. So, where are you now?”
“Just on my way out the door.”
“Is anyone with you?” He may have asked too quickly, but he had to know she was taking his appeal for an escort seriously.
After a brief hesitation she said, “Yeah. Anthony’s right here. Do you want to talk to him?”
He let out a deep breath and said, “No. I’m just glad you have a bodyguard.”
She was quiet again for a few moments.
“Bliss?”
“I’m here. Drake, are we going to have to do this much longer?”
“It depends on Zina.”
“Any sightings?”