“We’ll have to find out. But for now, fancy a pint at O’Malley’s?”
Dani walked into O’Malley’s on Michael’s arm almost like it was a real date. It had been a while since she’d been on one. The excitement bubbling up inside might be from his hand on her back as he guided her to the bar or the fact that she was investigating again.
No—scratch that. She was only supporting Michael’s investigation.
And fine. She could agree that Michael himself was the main draw for her.
She craned her neck to see over the group of men in mechanic coveralls in front of her. “I don’t see the Renegade Waste guys. Do you?”
“Not yet, but they might be in the back. No sign of Finn either.” Michael checked his phone while Dani looked around.
The forest-green walls and dark-wood accents gave the pub a European flair, but the American football on the big screens all around showed O’Malley’s true customer base. With the number of men in high-vis and reflective gear and steel-toed boots, this was not a business lounge kind of place. These were the working men and women of Renegade. Which made sense since the bar was situated outside the warehouse districts but not in the rougher neighborhoods of Southwold.
“Finn is running late.” Michael navigated around the coverall group and toward the back of the room.
Dani spotted Steve in his baggy jeans, sitting with three other guys at a high top. “There’s our boys.” She had to get close to Michael to be heard over the crowd.
He didn’t seem to mind and took the opportunity to kiss her cheek.
She could easily get used to this.
They walked up to their target. “Hey, it’s Steve, Ron, and Denny!” Dani grinned.
“Hey!” The three guys cheered. They must’ve been here a while, with all the empty glasses in the middle of their table.
“You remembered our bar. Pull up a chair!” Toothless Ron slapped Michael on the back, then nodded to the fourth man in their group. He wore a cowboy hat and chomped on a toothpick. “This is Cory.”
“Hey, Cory. I’m Michael. This is Dani.” He moved one of the barstools up to the table for her while he continued to stand. “What are you guys up to?”
“Just getting over our Monday.” Steve guzzled his drink.
“I’ll drink to that. This overtime is kicking my butt.” Denny clinked glasses with Steve and took a long draw.
“You’ve been working overtime?” Dani grabbed a handful of pretzels from the bowl in front of Cory.
Ron nodded. “That’s what happens when three guys on our shift don’t show. Everyone else has to pick up the slack. It was bad enough when it was just one guy, but now we’re covering for two more.”
“They just don’t show up?” Dani nibbled on a pretzel. “How rude.”
“And they don’t call in. It’s wrong.” Steve hitched up his jeans. “When I see McCord again, I’m gonna give him a piece of my mind.”
“Is he friends with the other no-shows?” Michael asked, looking like he wasn’t paying much attention as he watched the NFL Broncos’ highlights on the big screen behind Steve. It was all for show. Dani had to admit, he was good.
“Yeah. McCord and Wilson for sure. Don’t know about Angelo. He’s always more of a loner. Scary son of a gun though.” Ron shook his head and watched the screen. He pointed to it with his glass. “Saw that game in Denver. Sean Payton knows how to play offense.”
“No kidding.”
Dani let Michael chat football with Ron a bit. Cory sat on the other side of her.
“Aren’t you worried about the guys that didn’t show up?” she asked.
The cowboy balked. “If I didn’t need the time and a half so bad, maybe I’d care. As it is, I do my job and clock out.”
“So no one knows where they are? What if they’re sick?”
Cory huffed. “All three of them? At the same time? Doubt it. They probably found another job and didn’t bother to turn in a notice.”
“Did those guys ever come here after work with you?”
