Page 4 of The Devil's Advocate

Skylar collected the last of the glasses and Ryan made a discreet suggestion to the two customers in front of him, on bar stools, that it was about time he closed up.

They were large men. One tall, one average height, but every one of their limbs were thick with muscle.

Two cops. Both in plain clothes, off duty.

The tall one was Deputy Leonard. He had red hair, a moustache and an attitude. Especially when it came to Andy. The other was Deputy Shipley. He had small, dark eyes that seemed to catch the light at strange angles – almost like there was a fire behind his eyeballs that could occasionally be glimpsed. He wasn’t as hotheaded as Leonard, but Skylar suspected he was more dangerous.

They were regulars and they always sat up front on bar stools so they didn’t have to tip the waitress. Ryan didn’t share any bar tips. What was on the tables was for Skylar and Andy, whatever green got slapped on the bar was for him.

‘Hey, Sky, your old man still work at the plant?’ asked Leonard.

He called her Sky. No one else did, but she smiled and answered like always.

‘Sure does,’ she said.

‘Hard times for a lot of folks,’ said Shipley, and then they returned to their own conversation. Skylar loaded the dishwasher as Tom gathered up his papers, settled his tab and strode out the front door. Ryan started turning off the lights, and then Shipley and Leonard got the message and left. They cleaned up the bar, and then Ryan told Skylar and Andy they could go.

They left together, stepping into the warmth of the evening at around twelve-fifteen. She waved goodnight to Andy as he started his long walk home. Her phone buzzed. A text message.

A reply from Tori that said,What party?

Raking her fingers through her hair, Skylar swore. She took a screenshot of Tori’s message, and was about to send it to Gary with aWTF? You lied about a party?when her phone rang. It was Tori. She answered the call.

‘Oh my God, I’m so sorry. Please come over, I’ve messed up,’ said Tori, over loud rock music in the background.

‘What the hell’s going on? Gary has been pressuring me for weeks to go this big party at your house.’

‘Yeah, just come over,’ she said, hesitantly.

Skylar had been friends with Tori before she’d even met Gary. She knew her well, and could tell when she was holding back.

‘What’s going on? Tell me, right now or I’m going to call Gary and—’

Tori cut her off.

‘I’m in Buddy’s Bar. Gary is at my house. Alone. You need to go—’

‘Tell me what the hell is happening or I’m—’

‘He’s bought a ring,’ said Tori.

Skylar’s hand covered her mouth just as she gasped a lungful of air and her fingers shut her lips tightly, as if she dare not let a single breath escape. She stayed like that for a moment.

‘I’m sorry, I messed up so bad. Please just go over there now. He’s waiting to surprise you. So act goddamnedsurprisedand don’t tell him I told you.’

‘I can’t believe he did this …’

‘He’s been planning it for weeks. It’s five years to the day since you met him. At my house. He wanted to make it special.’

There was warmth in Tori’s voice now and Skylar felt the tears welling up in her eyes, her joy erupting through her stomach, moving up to cloy at her throat. She and Gary had an anniversary – marked by their first date. She hadn’t even remembered when they first met, but it was incredibly sweet that he had, and that he’d gone to all this trouble.

‘We’re going to be sisters,’ said Skylar. ‘Like, for real.’

‘This means you’re gonna say yes !’ said Tori.

‘Of course I’m going to say yes.’

They talked a little more, then Skylar hung up the call. She had to go and meet Gary and she could hardly contain her excitement.