If I Should Die_ A Novel of Suspense - Allison Brennan [66]
“The Jameson will be fine,” Callahan said.
She splashed a shot into the glass, then strode back across the bar to her security.
Callahan nodded at Tim. “Things okay out at your place today?”
“Other than some prick taking potshots at my friend,” Tim said. Now that he was into the game, Tim was doing well, Sean thought. He let Tim run with the conversation.
“I didn’t know,” Callahan said. “I was in Montreal all day. Just got back.”
“No one was hurt,” Tim continued, “but I was thinking about what you told Adam last night. Maybe it would be best if we postponed the opening. I don’t know who’s screwing with me, but I can’t take the responsibility of protecting my guests from some gun-toting lunatic. Adam is really torn up about it.”
“He has his heart set,” Callahan agreed, “but it’s not forever. I’m sure things will get all smoothed over. And I’m happy to help with that over the next year.”
“Thanks, Jon. I appreciate it.”
Sean was missing a big piece of the puzzle. He watched the crowd. Everyone was focused on Jon and Bobbie, as if they were waiting for something to happen.
Sean decided to add fuel to the fire. “I didn’t think this town was big enough for two bartenders. Reggie was cute and all, but the redhead is cuter,” he said with a wink.
“Reggie deserves some time off,” Jon said. “I didn’t know when I’d be back from Montreal.”
Sean hadn’t expected that answer. Obviously, Jon hadn’t known Bobbie was going to be here. He observed the way his eyes watched her in the mirror behind the bar. Was this a turf war? Over a town of fewer than four hundred people?
Sean glanced around the bar again. No one was ordering anything, food or drink. Trina stood at a table in the far corner with two older men and an even older woman. Conversation was virtually nonexistent. The band was still out on break.
“Any news about the body in the mine?” Jon asked suddenly.
“Not that I know,” Sean said.
“Did you check the missing persons in the area?”
“Yes, we looked through them. No one matched.”
“I didn’t know you saw the body,” Jon said. “Didn’t you say it was your girlfriend who found her? What an awful experience for such a sweet girl.”
Sean didn’t deny having seen the body, though Deputy Weddle and the Fire and Rescue guys knew that only Lucy had seen it. Sean’s protective instincts kicked in. Was Lucy in danger because she was the only person to have seen Agent Sheffield?
He discreetly sent Lucy a text message to check in and make sure she was all right while telling Jon, “Yeah, but Lucy’s tough. She works at a morgue.”
“Still, that must have been a shock.”
“I think it was more of a shock that the body disappeared,” Sean said. He watched Bobbie in his peripheral vision. Her head was turned away from them, toward the bodyguard, but her body language—the way her feet were pointed, her hair tucked behind her ear and her body turned just a bit too much in his direction—told Sean she was listening intently.
“How long are you staying on?” Jon asked casually. Too casually. Bobbie was definitely listening for the answer.
Sean shrugged. Bobbie looked over her shoulder, ostensibly to inspect her patrons’ beers, but she made no attempt to refill their empty mugs.
Sean glanced at Tim. “It hasn’t been much of a vacation, wouldn’t you say?”
“Sorry about that.”
Sean shook his head. “No worries. Lucy and I were talking about sticking around for a few days. Try to relax, give my leg a couple more days to get back full mobility. And I promised Deputy Weddle we’d be available for questions whenever the detective assigned to the arson comes around. I’ve never seen such disinterested police before.”
“Odd,” Jon said. “They are usually so responsive.”
Bobbie sauntered over. “Can I get you boys refills?”
She wanted to talk. Sean didn’t want another beer, but he nodded. “Thanks—Bobbie, right?”
She grinned. “That’s right, sugar.” She poured two more drafts for him and Tim. She glanced at Jon, and he held up his glass. She grabbed a bottle off the shelf and poured two fingers while glaring at Jon.
Sean had a sudden idea. He and Tim