38. Aus
AUS
“Welcome to your new home, Aus!”
Rouge has just led me up a ramp of shimmering golden carpet to a revolving door. We walk through and I’m nearly blinded by the colors. The neon of Vegas has nothing on this.
“Everyone!” Rouge claps her hands. “I would like you to meet Aus Waverly. He will be serving as the Jade Sanctum disc jockey and will also be second in command when I’m not present.”
A group of people assembles around us. Two men, one spindly and fidgety and the other broad and dark, and a woman old enough to be my mother.
“These two men are our barkeeps of the East and the West. The Blackwood brothers.” Rouge gestures to the skinny one. “This is Kin, and this”—she turns to the other—“is Wick.”
I shake both of their hands. “Interesting names.”
Wick exhales sharply. “Funny coming from a guy named Aus.”
I narrow my eyes. Am I not this guy’s new boss? Shouldn’t he be speaking more respectfully? Maybe he’s joking.
I force a laugh. “It’s short for Austin. Are your names short for something?”
“Wickliffe.” He nods to his brother. “And Kinsley.”
I paste on a smile. “Your parents had more imagination than mine. Nice to meet you both.”
Rouge smiles. “Wick here is legend. He makes the most exquisite whiskey sours. And Kin makes a martini that’ll knock your socks off.”
I’ve heard that Aces Underground, Rouge’s main club, makes great drinks, so that means something.
The older woman cuts in front of the men and extends her hand. “And I’m Nora. Pleased to meet you, Aus.”
I shake her hand. It’s warm, soft.
Nora’s already my favorite.
Not that it’s much of a contest.
“Nora heads the bar of the North,” Rouge explains.
I narrow my eyes. “That’s East, West, and North. Is there a South?”
Rouge grins. “Of course, love. Nothing gets past you. Our barkeep of the South, Gloriana Goode, is busy this evening. One of her waitstaff will be taking over for her. But you’ll meet her soon enough. She’s a peach of a girl, a true Southern belle.”
“Gloriana’s bar serves wine, and I serve beer,” Nora says.
“If you serve beer, we’re going to be good friends.” I offer her a smile. This one is genuine.
“Wonderful to see you all getting along so swimmingly,” Rouge says. “If that’s it, I’ll be off.”
A high-pitched throat clear. We all turn toward Kin.
“Sorry,” he says timidly. “I just… What happened to—”
“The previous owner of the Jade Sanctum has moved on to greener pastures,” Rouge says. “She wishes you all the best.”
“It just… It s-seems kind of sudden for her to—”
“Kin! Don’t you have to get ready for the night? It’s Aus’s first evening with us. You’ll want to put your best foot forward for your new boss.”
The three bartenders scatter at her words. Damn, Rouge has some authority.
I turn to her. “Who were they talking about? Are you new as well?”
“The Jade Sanctum is a recent acquisition of mine. I’ve been running my family’s flagship club for years, ever since my father’s health deteriorated to the point where he could no longer handle things.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
She produces a handkerchief out of her cleavage and dabs an eye—though I’m not seeing any actual tears wetting it.
“It’s been difficult for all of us. But I’ve been expanding our umbrella.
Aces is membership only, but I wanted to open some clubs that operated off covers rather than membership fees. Trying something new.”
“I hope it works out.”
“You and me both.” She leans in, her voice lowered. “The previous owner—the woman the barkeeps were asking about—let this place fall into disrepair. I had no choice but to swoop in and save it in the nick of time.”
“How did you manage that?” I ask.
She stops, her lips twisting into a grin.
“With the help of a friend.”
I don’t buy for a second what Thea said about some kid walking around looking for work.
This is an apartment building. It’s not like we have lawns he could mow, walks he could shovel. My building managers take care of all that anyway. It’s included in my rent.
Based on the lack of color in her face, I’m guessing the person at the door was someone involved in Kin’s murder investigation. Thea’s carrying a manila envelope.
Why is she hiding it from me?
Probably wants to spare me from all this.
Which breaks my heart.
Because if she knew how much I love her, she wouldn’t for a second try to keep this from me.
Guilt twists the knife further. Because I haven’t been fully forthcoming with her either.
I haven’t told her about the woman I made disappear that night in Vegas.
Who I’m just learning had some previous connection to the Jade Sanctum.
Could she be—
No. There’s no way. Rouge said she was a friend. She was probably visiting the club, got a picture with her.
Right now I need to figure out who was at the door. It’s my house, after all. I have a right to know who rings my bell.
“I’m going to go see if I can grab that kid. For the TV mount.”
I have no TV to mount. But right now the truth is relative.
Before Thea can protest—I timed this when she was in the middle of a bite of our breakfast—I jump to my feet. Maybe the guy hasn’t left yet.
I curse as I get to my front window looking out onto the street. A man in a dark suit is walking toward a black car. Probably him.
Some guy from the CPD, I’d guess. A detective.
I run down the stairs and fly out the front door of my building, but before I cross the courtyard, the car is driving off.
Damn.
I’ll just turn around, go back upstairs, and ask Thea what’s in that envelope. Put this whole thing to bed before it spirals out of control.
“Excuse me? Are you Aus Waverly?”
A woman’s voice. A little bit of husk.
I turn around to tell her to get lost.
And my jaw drops.
Holy shit.
Holy fucking blood-moon shit.
It’s her.
The woman. From Vegas.
The one whose photo I just saw.
I blink several times, rub my eyes to make sure I’m not hallucinating.
But it’s her.
She’s aged a bit. A few new wrinkles in her forehead and around her eyes. A few scars carved through her face, most notably three scratch marks on her left cheek. Her shoulders are slightly slumped, but her countenance shows strength.
She looks like a woman who’s seen a lot.
She’s wearing the same color she was the night I met her. Green. An elegant emerald peacoat with matching khakis. Sparkly shoes the same color as the block of jade where I work.
I have no idea what to say. I rasp out a simple, “I’m Aus.”
She takes a step forward, her eyes softening. “Do you recognize me?”
I manage a small nod.
She smiles. Her face is kind.
“My name is Ausha Paisley. Do you have a few minutes to talk?”
Thank you for reading East! Aus and Thea’s story continues in West.