Manaconda 2: The Second Coming(2)

“Well, store manager—”

“Assistant.”

Remy lifted a brow. “Got it. Your name?”

“Levi, Levi Bauer.” He pushed up his dark-rimmed glasses. “They wrecked the entire stage. Just look at it.” His voice got higher with each successive word until his voice actually cracked.

Bats tried to break away again. Hunter snarled from the floor.

“This really isn’t necessary, is it?” I asked.

Steroids grunted. “He’s a bit unruly, sir.”

Remy tucked his thumb into his belt. “Not like you to hang out with troublemakers, Ken.”

“He can call you Ken!” Hunter spluttered.

I ignored Hunter. “Tensions have been running a little high between Reed and Hunter. I’m sure if we just separated them, we could get a straight answer.”

Remy scratched his head. “All right, Connolly. Let him up.”

“Are you sure, sir?”

Remy nodded.

Steroids hauled Hunter up by his arm. The young cop was as wide as Hunter, but not nearly as tall.

Bats stood and Remy shoved him back down on the dais. “All right. That’s enough.”

Behind us, Victoria was still wailing.

“Oh my God, will you just shut up!”

Hunter’s eyebrows shot up, and Remy pressed his lips together hard enough they went white. God, that was so not my inside voice.

Victoria just wailed louder. Sweet Georgia, what was wrong with that woman? The whole room knew they were wails without tears. Heaven forbid her perfect face get smudged with real ones.

Both Bats and Hunter looked at her in disgust.

That was something at least.

“Please tell me this isn’t a jealousy thing,” Remy said.

“No,” Hunter roared.

“Oh, really?” I tilted my head and walked over to Hunter. “What exactly would you call it?” I stood in front of him, dropping my voice. “I’d love to know.”

His gray eyes were positively arctic. “She’s looking for attention.”

“And look at that, she’s getting it,” I said through clenched molars. “Just look at all the phones and cameras.”

Hunter straightened to his full height. He was dressed in street clothes instead of his usual stage gear—a faded Eagles T-shirt and battered jeans with strings fraying at his knees.

His eyes went cool and flat. He stared straight ahead, not at me, not at Bats, not even the room as a whole. With his arms pinned behind his back, his chest seemed massive. And the tattoo sleeve on his arm emphasized the dangerous edge to him.

I huffed out a breath. So not helping.

I pulled out my phone and dialed Indie.

“I’m on my way,” she barked into the phone when it connected.

“Where are you?”

“Across town. I was checking out a venue they are going to play tomorrow night.”

I glanced over at Bats, who had a mutinous set to his jaw and shoulders. He was vibrating with anger, and like Hunter, his arms were bulging against the cuffs.

The manager was ranting on about the state of the stage. From what I could tell, only their instruments had any damage. I recognized the rugs that they used at many of their shows.

“All right, I’ll see what I can do.”

“Thanks, Kennedy.”

The fact that Indie actually sounded grateful I was there made at least one part of this clusterfuck easier to deal with.

I dropped my phone into my bag and marched over to Remy. “Excuse me.”

“I expect restitution for all of this,” the manager said.

“For what, exactly?” I asked.

“Look at that stage.”

“I am.” I folded my arms. “From what I can see, there is no damage to your property. Unless, of course, they were using your instruments.” I looked around the room. “From what I can see, this is strictly music and memorabilia that is sold in this store. Am I correct?”

Hunter’s shoulders eased.

“Well, yes.”

“On behalf of the band, I’d like to apologize for the excitement, but I don’t think anyone was hurt. Well, unless you count Mr. Wyatt’s drum kit and a few guitars. Again, that would be their property. So, I can’t see any reason to arrest them.”

“Causing a public nuisance,” Levi shrieked.

I turned to Remy. “Can he do that?”

Remy bit the inside of his cheek. “Sure, we can do that if he really wants to. I’ll have to call it in, of course. Then there’s paperwork and we’ll have to take statements from everyone here. We can probably get that done in about four or five hours. No big deal.”

“Five hours?” Levi croaked.

Remy nodded. “There’s gotta be over a hundred people over there, plus the staff, and of course, everyone here. Then I’d need to see all your permits, of course. Are you zoned for concerts?”