Sage looked up from breaking. “I told the Fox to go along while he still could. Take it from the old man, Miss Tessie, have fun while you’re young.”
Speaking of having fun, Karen took a break from the dance floor about the time I won the match against Avis and was negotiating a new match against Bobby.
I swept by her. “Bobby,” I whispered.
She caught on. She held up a twenty and bet it on the wannabe cowboy, and Melissa wasted no time in wagering her own money on me. “You should be ashamed of yourself,” she scolded Karen. “Betting against your friend.”
Karen said something about being loyal to her dance partner, and Bobby tipped his hat to her before handing it to Ethel.
Lo and behold, Bobby won the game. I reminded him that Melissa would like to play. While the two of them bickered about the details, I caught Karen’s eye and tilted my head toward Spencer.
We drifted over in his direction, but he didn’t even notice, since he was too busy watching Candy. She was still at the bar, deep in conversation with Mackenzie.
Karen stepped straight into his line of vision, and asked him point blank what a nice guy like him was doing in a place like the Wade On Inn.
“I like the music.”
“No, Spencer, I like the music.” She tapped his chest. “You don’t seem like the Wade On Inn type.”
“And these people do?” He waved toward the old ladies and Kevin.
“What are you doing here?” Karen asked again. “And don’t tell me it’s because of The Feeters.”
Okay, I just had to interrupt. “The Feeters?”
“Rupert and Bunny.” She pointed to the dance floor but kept her eye on Spencer. “I love their stuff.”
Karen and I stood in front of Spencer, arms folded, and pretended to comprise a formidable front.
He held up his hands in mock protest. “I just like it here, ladies. I like the company.”
Kevin Cooper guffawed. “What company you talking about?” he asked, and Spencer’s head snapped.
“All the company. I like everyone here.”
“Yeah, right.” Kevin took off his glasses to better smirk. “Your wife okay with that?”
Spencer hesitated and then spit it out. “Dixie and I are separated, if you must know.”
“She still footing your gambling bill?” Kevin asked, and I bit my lip. Why, oh why, was this cop provoking people? He was on the verge of blowing his cover, for Lord’s sake.
“Spence, honey.” Doreen tapped his bottom with her cane. “If Dixie ever cuts you off for good, you just call on me. Money, booze, sex? Name it and it’s yours.”
“Would you stop it with other women’s husbands, Doreen?” That was Ethel. She had decided to try on Bobby’s hat, and while everyone was busy laughing, Spencer escaped to the bar.
Chapter 13
Thank you, God, it was The Grateful Dead night at The Stone Fountain. We entered the bar just as Jerry Garcia was trucking home, back where he belonged.
I, too, would have felt at home, but Wilson was missing. I checked the booths, I checked the bar, I braced myself and checked the pool table. The good news? He wasn’t entwined with Tiffany thereupon. The bad news? He wasn’t there at all.
I declined a game with Kirby and took my seat at the bar between Candy and Karen. Lieutenant Densmore arrived just as Matthew’s new bartender Charlie located the Korbel.
“That goes on Captain Rye’s tab,” Russell instructed him.
“And where is Wilson?” I took my champagne from Charlie and turned to face the Lieutenant.
Russell backed up a step. “Umm,” he said.
I raised an eyebrow. “Umm?”
“Is Wilson okay?” Candy asked.
Russell backed up even further, his eyes darting back and forth between the three of us. “As far as I know?” he said finally.
“Well then, where is he?” Karen demanded. “I’m tired, Russell. I need to go home.”
Charlie came back with her Corona and started pouring. “You guys looking for Captain Rye?” Russell was waving at him, but bless his oblivious heart, Charlie kept
Speaking of having fun, Karen took a break from the dance floor about the time I won the match against Avis and was negotiating a new match against Bobby.
I swept by her. “Bobby,” I whispered.
She caught on. She held up a twenty and bet it on the wannabe cowboy, and Melissa wasted no time in wagering her own money on me. “You should be ashamed of yourself,” she scolded Karen. “Betting against your friend.”
Karen said something about being loyal to her dance partner, and Bobby tipped his hat to her before handing it to Ethel.
Lo and behold, Bobby won the game. I reminded him that Melissa would like to play. While the two of them bickered about the details, I caught Karen’s eye and tilted my head toward Spencer.
We drifted over in his direction, but he didn’t even notice, since he was too busy watching Candy. She was still at the bar, deep in conversation with Mackenzie.
Karen stepped straight into his line of vision, and asked him point blank what a nice guy like him was doing in a place like the Wade On Inn.
“I like the music.”
“No, Spencer, I like the music.” She tapped his chest. “You don’t seem like the Wade On Inn type.”
“And these people do?” He waved toward the old ladies and Kevin.
“What are you doing here?” Karen asked again. “And don’t tell me it’s because of The Feeters.”
Okay, I just had to interrupt. “The Feeters?”
“Rupert and Bunny.” She pointed to the dance floor but kept her eye on Spencer. “I love their stuff.”
Karen and I stood in front of Spencer, arms folded, and pretended to comprise a formidable front.
He held up his hands in mock protest. “I just like it here, ladies. I like the company.”
Kevin Cooper guffawed. “What company you talking about?” he asked, and Spencer’s head snapped.
“All the company. I like everyone here.”
“Yeah, right.” Kevin took off his glasses to better smirk. “Your wife okay with that?”
Spencer hesitated and then spit it out. “Dixie and I are separated, if you must know.”
“She still footing your gambling bill?” Kevin asked, and I bit my lip. Why, oh why, was this cop provoking people? He was on the verge of blowing his cover, for Lord’s sake.
“Spence, honey.” Doreen tapped his bottom with her cane. “If Dixie ever cuts you off for good, you just call on me. Money, booze, sex? Name it and it’s yours.”
“Would you stop it with other women’s husbands, Doreen?” That was Ethel. She had decided to try on Bobby’s hat, and while everyone was busy laughing, Spencer escaped to the bar.
Chapter 13
Thank you, God, it was The Grateful Dead night at The Stone Fountain. We entered the bar just as Jerry Garcia was trucking home, back where he belonged.
I, too, would have felt at home, but Wilson was missing. I checked the booths, I checked the bar, I braced myself and checked the pool table. The good news? He wasn’t entwined with Tiffany thereupon. The bad news? He wasn’t there at all.
I declined a game with Kirby and took my seat at the bar between Candy and Karen. Lieutenant Densmore arrived just as Matthew’s new bartender Charlie located the Korbel.
“That goes on Captain Rye’s tab,” Russell instructed him.
“And where is Wilson?” I took my champagne from Charlie and turned to face the Lieutenant.
Russell backed up a step. “Umm,” he said.
I raised an eyebrow. “Umm?”
“Is Wilson okay?” Candy asked.
Russell backed up even further, his eyes darting back and forth between the three of us. “As far as I know?” he said finally.
“Well then, where is he?” Karen demanded. “I’m tired, Russell. I need to go home.”
Charlie came back with her Corona and started pouring. “You guys looking for Captain Rye?” Russell was waving at him, but bless his oblivious heart, Charlie kept
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