Chapter Seventeen
Watching Honey and Mel leave had Luke grinding his teeth all the way back into Nudies. He hated that he had to return when all he wanted to do was follow them. He imagined catching up with the curly-headed witch and making her listen… blasted, stubborn, cantankerous female.
But he also knew that the sooner he found out the name to the gang selling the bad drugs, the sooner his job would be done. He’d be able to go back to his real life and approach Honey properly.
Stopping in his tracks, his brain pounded a question that needed an answer. Is that what you really want?
The fuck do I know.
Before he could change his mind, his workaholic tendencies kicked in, and he politely began pushing away from the fans suddenly crowding around. Returning, he found that the woman he’d left waiting had disappeared. He asked the others at her table about where she had gotten to, and they all pointed toward the bar.
Following, he sidled up next to her and asked, “Hey sugar, can I buy you a drink?”
“Oh, there you are. I’ve been waiting for you. And I don’t take kindly to waiting on no man.” The woman who’d bathed in perfume fumbled with her drink.
“Sorry, Wendi. I’m here now.” Damned if he’d look her in the eye.
The sour stare he got from Lindy behind the bar set him back, but he couldn’t let it interfere with this performance. He placed the order for two tequila shots and beers to follow and took his new friend to a corner table furthest from the stage where they could have some privacy.
She leaned into his space, and he saw the evidence of drugs in her dilated, pinpointed pupils. “Remember what we were talking about yesterday when we met?” He kept his voice cajoling.
“Sure do, sugar. You still wanting a bit of relief while performing?”
“Like I told you, it’s wearing me down having to get up there every night. But paying off my ex’s alimony is expensive, and I can’t afford the store-bought stuff. You know what I mean?”
“Of course. I had to give up the pricey shit a while ago. But I got a friend who gives me a little something extra if I bring in new clients.” Bending forward, her exposed bustline meant to draw the eye just seemed pathetic. He looked up at the streaked blonde frizz that she’d teased into a mess. Tied back, it revealed the inches of roots not covered. Then he caught her eye again, trying to appear needy. “Think he’d make the same deal for me?”
“Don’t know.”
Suddenly, he saw irritability crawl over her expression, and her mood changed. She started a new sentence but slurred her words and her eyes had trouble focusing. He couldn’t tell if it was the shot of booze affecting her or if she needed a hit. Before he could make up his mind, she stumbled to her feet, picked up her purse and headed to the ladies’ room.
While he waited for her, he crouched over his still-full bottle of beer and reviewed the last few hours. The best part, other than the time he spent with Honey in the room behind the bar had to be on stage with Hamilton. Even Jess had thawed in his welcome of the man.
His old mentor had purposely come in to wish him a happy birthday. And Luke truthfully admitted that his showing up was the best present he could have given him.
Sharing the stage with his friend had meant the world. Hell, they hadn’t played dueling guitars for eons. Took him back to when as a young buck, he thought he could out-talent his teacher only to be proven wrong.
To this day, old Ham could play him under the table. He was a God-given genius. Whereas Luke had been taught by the best, sure, but Ham only had to hear music, and he’d replay it perfectly every time. A person had to be born with that knowledge instilled and thankfully Ham had found he had it early in life. It made him a happy man. Not successful in the commercial ways, sure… but up on a stage performing for the appreciative folks meant the world to him.
Before Luke could reminisce further, he heard a commotion coming from the ladies’ room. A woman ran out screaming for anyone who had Naloxone. He jumped up but Jess beat him to it. He’d rushed out from behind the bar, pushed into the room ahead of Luke, and administered the nasal spray to Wendi like a pro.
Christ, now what? Would the blonde still be willing to give him the information on the guy who almost killed her?
Linda sidled up beside him. “You know that’s the second time we’ve had to revive Wendi. She’s spiraling bad these last few weeks.”
“No, I didn’t know that. She’s a-a friend from a while back. We were just catching up.” He stood watching, rather than taking charge.
“Hey, you don’t have to explain your relationship to me.” Her eyes were less condemning but still held censure.
“No. Really. I was trying to contact an old acquaintance we both hung out with before she hit the skids. Now I doubt she’ll be able to give me his number.”
Linda sagged as if releasing a load of doubt. “Oh, then I’m sorry for your friend. Looks like she’ll be okay now. Jess knows what he’s doing. He’ll help her.”
Luke’s tone hardened. “She’s another in a long line of people I’ve heard about recently that used shit that almost killed them. Must be a bad batch out there spiked with fentanyl.”
“Wouldn’t know. But Zed better watch his ass, or he’ll be next. You remember him, the one who used to sing with Matt? I liked him before he began his downward spiral.” She poked his arm, “The gang is going to start the next set. They’re waving you over.”
“Okay. Good idea. Get the folks back enjoying the evening. Are you going to call an ambulance?”
“Don’t know. We used to, but not lately. Now that we have a stock of Naloxone behind the bar and administer it like the paramedics, most addicts refuse to go to the hospital. If Wendi comes out of the overdose okay, Jess will give her the choice.” She pointed to what was happening and added, “See… she’s refusing to let him call 911. They watched as Jess helped the weak woman to her feet and led her to the back behind the bar.
“He’ll let her hang there for a while until she feels better. Usually only takes a short while but the boss gave instructions that we need to check on them until they leave.”
Luke grinned at Linda. “Bet you never imagined bartending would cover doctoring as well as being a part-time shrink.”
“Hell, no. There’s never a dull moment. Take my new friend Honey for instance, she’s one big surprise. Got me working as a P.I.”
Luke stopped dead and turned back, facing a woman who seemed to expect him to do so. “What’s this about Honey?”
“Oh, baby. That girl’s involved with a twenty-year old murder, and I’m helping her get some answers. Oh, oh, Matt’s waving you over again, and he looks pissed. You better go.” Linda left him standing there, his mind whirling so hard the room spun. All he wanted to do was follow her and beg for more information like a hungry dog performing for a treat.
But he couldn’t. They had jobs to do. “Okay, talk later.”
Luke returned to the stage, picked up his guitar, and began playing background music for Cissy. When he heard Boney trying to cover his lyrics he winced and saw the pleading in Matt’s eyes. He opened his mouth and the words flowed as if his mind wasn’t focused on a blonde beauty who he’d just found out had problems of her own.