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“Or maybe they’re the owner of one. I could confirm Bert’s account.”
He stopped the truck and opened the driver’s side door. “See, Clay? Contribution. Think about it.”
I couldn’t get out of the truck fast enough. “Thanks for the lift.”
CHAPTER 5
Monk’swas the local bar favored by humans and shifters. It was often referred to as a dive bar, a description with which I wholeheartedly agreed. The outside looked like it was being held together by the power of duct tape and the collective will of its beer-guzzling patrons. The interior didn’t try much harder. Half the stools were broken, and the seats on the other half had the appearance of a well-worn teddy bear.
The music was loud, but the drinkers were louder. If I strained to listen, I could hear the faint sound of “Start Me Up” by the Rolling Stones.
I skirted a yellow ‘Caution: Wet Floor’ sign as I made my way to the busy counter. The inclement weather seemed to have no effect on the social butterflies, or more accurately, barflies; Monk’s was bursting at the seams. I felt like Play-Doh being pushed through the grinder as I squeezed between two burgeoning beer bellies to reach the counter.
“I heard he tried to win himself a free 72-ounce steak and pushed himself too far,” the belly to my left was in the midst of telling his companion.
“I feel sorry for Jackie,” his companion said. “According toher sister, the cleanup was the nastiest thing she’d ever seen, and she’s an ER nurse.”
My stomach turned as my imagination joined the conversation.
“More people die of obesity than hunger,” the companion continued. “Bet you thought malnutrition would be the real killer but nope.”
“I call bullshit on that. Cite your sources, Hank.”
Hank pulled a face. “Try opening a book once in a while instead of reaching for the remote. Books are heavier, give your arms a better workout.”
The bartender finally spotted me and made his way over. “What can I get you?”
A different conversation was my first thought, but I opted for whatever was on tap. “Surprisingly busy tonight,” I remarked.
“You should see us during a real blizzard. You’d think we were giving away free sleds.”
Monk’s was a reasonable distance from downtown Fairhaven. Then again, the roads between here and there didn’t experience a high volume of traffic, and many residents drove all-terrain vehicles.
My gaze snagged on Officer Leo Kilkenny at the opposite end of the bar. Officer Leo was even newer to Fairhaven than I was. He replaced a cop who’d been killed by a culebrón summoned by the overly ambitious Bridger witches. So far, he seemed friendly and sweet for a guy with a gun. He noticed me and lifted his pint in greeting. I frowned as I studied the woman next to him. It took me a second to place the tattooed woman from the Devil’s Playground, the one who’d raised a glass of champagne to me during the fight. I wondered whether she was the same woman with whom he’d been spotted by Chief Garcia’s friend.
Officer Leo motioned for me to join them. I pretendednot to notice, but a shrill whistle and the call of my name from across the bar made it impossible to ignore.
I carried my beer to the other end of the long counter, sipping it as I walked so as not to spill any. In a place like this, you spill a couple drops on the wrong pair of boots and you’d find yourself outside, facedown in the snow. I made it safely to my destination with three-quarters of my beer still in the cup.
“Good to see you again, Officer Leo.”
“Lady Lorelei of the Castle.” He performed a mock bow. “Staying warm, I hope.”
“That’s what the beer is for.” I inclined my head. “Wasn’t there a woman standing next to you a minute ago?”
“She went to the bathroom. Her name’s Addy.”
“She’s pretty.”
His smile broadened. “I know, right? I met her here last week. We’ve hung out a few times since then.”
“Is she new in town?”
“Might be soon. She’s been interviewing for jobs in the city and wants that small-town feel if she relocates to the area.”
“In that case, she can’t do better than Fairhaven.”
“That’s what I told her. I know I’m still new here, but this place already feels like home.” He chugged his beer. “I’ll introduce you when she comes back. I bet you two would hit it off.”
