Page 8 of The Thief

A slender bartender with long grey hair and a leather vest watched me from across the bar. He stroked his grey goatee, light glinting off the silver rings on his fingers. “Lost, honey?”

“Not as lost as you, by the looks of things.” I set my small purse on the bar and tried not to laugh at the saddle barstools. Three men were sitting in them, nursing their drinks.

“Are you Calvin?”

“I am,” the bartender said. “What can I get you?”

“A job.”

Calvin wiped the counter with a clean rag. “That’s not on the menu.”

I read the sign above the alcohol bottles that listed flat rates for the beer and alcohol, which also included a house special. “There’s not a whole lot on that menu. I can help you with that. Looks like you’re the only one managing this establishment. One man can’t worry about minor details like drink specials, snacks, cleaning, or decor.”

“Decor,” he said with a chuckle.

One of the patrons looked up from his glass. “I told you we need snacks. You see? She gets it.”

Calvin glowered at him.

I smiled at Calvin’s hair. Up close, it was fifty shades of grey, but I would never say that out loud, as he might not get the reference, let alone find it amusing.

I hopped on a saddle to be more at his level. “My name is Mercy Breedlove, and I’m the answer to all your problems. Not only will I deliver drinks and keep this place immaculate, but I’ll increase your revenue.”

That caught his attention.

Calvin folded his arms over the bar and gave me a contemptuous look. “And how do you propose to do that?”

“First of all,” I said quietly, “you’re underpricing your drinks. I suppose you think you need to compete with that club down the road, but that’s a different crowd. People come here for other reasons, and it ain’t the drinks.”

His eyebrows knitted. “And what reasons are those?”

“Have you been to Dragonfly’s? It’s nice for a special evening or hooking up, but you can’t have a decent conversation with all the noise. The music in one room is so loud that you can’t think straight. People come here to have a good time and catch up with friends. It’s cozy, and nobody has to worry about fixin’ their hair or puttin’ on a tie. If you had a little help, you’d have more time to invest in business matters.”

He raked me over with his eyes and zeroed in on my chest. “You’re not exactly what draws men in.”

I snorted. “And neither are you with that stringy hair that hasn’t been washed since the pandemic. I only see men in here, so you need to think of how to draw in the women. You’re cutting your revenue in half by making this into a man cave. I get along with everyone. I once befriended an original Viking who wore a bone necklace made from his enemies. Can’t make it up.”

One man cackled. “I like her, Calvin. If you don’t hire her, you’re as dumb as you look.”

Calvin snapped his fingers at him. “That’s your last beer today.”

The man gave him an indignant look before downing his beverage and storming out.

Boy, does this place need my help.

I leaned in closer and lowered my voice. “Look, I get it. A stranger walks into your place of business and talks about how they can fix things—of course you’re gonna feel insulted. Maybe you’re always this gruff, but I have a feeling it’s stress from doing everything yourself. If you’re the only one cleaning the bathrooms, I don’t blame you for being grumpy. This bar is amazing and has potential for growth. I’m a hard worker. All I’m askin’ is that you pay me what’s fair. I’ll earn the rest in tips.”

He canted his head, his steely eyes filled with derision. “Look around. Do they look like men who tip? Because they sure as shit don’t tip me.”

A smile flirted around the corners of my mouth. “You’d be surprised by what people will do to show their appreciation. Some of these folks don’t just want a beer; they want a friend. They want a place where someone’s nice to them.”

“If they want nice, they can get it at home.”

“Not if they have domestic troubles or stress at work. Maybe some of them come here to get away from all the negativity or loneliness. But they might actually look forward to coming in more often if there’s a friendly face—someone who asks about their day and laughs at their jokes. I’m a people person.” I studied his face, and he was definitely taking it all in. “But you need to raise your prices and put more cocktails on the menu. It also wouldn’t hurt to serve free drinks to the ladies one night a week. Not forever, just long enough to get them in here. You can run different specials down the road. Over at Dragonfly’s, it’s half-price on certain days. We can do better. That’ll bring in women who seem to avoid this place like the plague.”

Calvin stroked his grey goatee and sighed. His silver rings were a mix of wings and skulls, and if I’d met him on the street, I would think he was part of a motorcycle club. He stared at me for a spell before straightening, his palms braced against the bar. “The last worker I hired came in late.”

Relief sank in when I realized he was considering it. “I’m dependable, but I can’t work nights because of pack commitments. By the looks of things, you could stand to drum up business during the day. Also, don’t ask me to dress in anything skimpy if you aren’t willing to wear the same thing. I prefer my capris, and sneakers are easier on my feet when I’m standing all day. I promise I won’t look sloppy.”

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