He reached for her hand at the same time she reached for his. They crashed into each other at first, but then their fingers wound through each other’s as they fell into step, walking side by side.
Inside, not much had changed. Eleven o’clock was still on the early end for Austin nightlife. He recognized the bartender and saw it as a good sign.
“What can I get you?” the bartender asked, tossing a pair of customized drink coasters onto the bar in front of them. They landed almost perfectly next to each other.
There were half a dozen folks huddled at the opposite end of the bar. A couple of the tables were full. And there were a few stragglers who’d sidled up to the bar. It was a manageable crowd for one bartender and a barback. The bartender resembled a blond Tom Cruise with a similar height and build.His resemblance to the famous actor was the reason Blaize remembered him.
“Can I ask a question while I decide?” Carys jumped right in.
“Shoot.” The bartender stepped a little closer and leaned in as Carys pulled out her phone.
“Any chance you recognize her?” She tilted the screen so he could see.
He backed away and put his hands in the air, palms out. His gaze bounced from Carys to Blaize and back. “I don’t want anything to do with whatever you two are up to.”
Based on his reaction, Blaize suspected the bartender thought this was an affair situation.
“It’s not what you think,” he said.
“Look, if you’re not here for a drink, then you don’t need me.”
“I’ll take a glass of merlot.”
Blaize almost smirked as he thought back to the hand towel. Of course she would take merlot. He made a mental note to buy a bottle for her to celebrate when this was all over and Rue was in good hands.
“Coming right up,” Blond Tom Cruise said.
He returned a few moments later with a clean glass and a bottle of wine.
“We’re trying to find information about her to locate her next of kin,” Blaize said.
“Are you cops?”
“Nothing like that,” Blaize said. “Carys works for CPS and wants to reunite Stephanie—that’s her name—with her daughter, if we can find her or her family.” He searched for a flicker of recognition when he mentioned the name.
No such luck.
“Okay, show me the picture again.”
Carys did.
He studied it for a long moment. “I’m sorry, guys. I’ve never seen this woman before in my life. Even without all the makeup, I don’t know who she could be.”
Blaize pulled out a twenty and set it on the bar as he stood up. “Thanks. We appreciate your time.”
“No problem,” Blond Tom Cruise said. “Wish I could be more of a help.”
After stepping outside, Carys asked, “Do you think he was lying?”
“No,” Blaize confirmed. “I watched for his reactions when I said her name and you showed him the picture. He was drawing a blank, unless he’s the best poker player in Texas, in which case he could make a lot more money on the circuit than slinging drinks.”
It was a dead end.
“Onto Chord Street,” he said.
“All right, then.” She reached for his hand, and he linked their fingers as they walked back to the Jeep.
Within a few minutes, they were on the road, navigating through the always rush-hour-like traffic Austin was infamous for. A ten-minute drive in most places could take thirty-five or longer in Texas’s capital. Bumper-to-bumper, horns honking, Austin had a rhythm of its own. Still weird. Just more crowded.
