Page 11 of Sage

"What do you need?" Hans asked in an annoyed tone.

"I brought you this." Charles handed him a box and as Hans opened it, he discovered Charles had brought him a new phone.

"What's the catch?" Hans was hesitant, unsure if he was willing to risk the fact that it could possibly be tapped. “Is this a gift to show your undying love?”

Charles scoffed at Han’s attempt at cracking a joke. "Seriously, no catch. I just figured that this would be one less thing you needed to be worried about," Charles assured him. "Besides, if Sage shows up how would you be able to notify me?"

Had Charles been watching the apartment last night? Hans still felt skeptical, but for now this would have to do. Once he had a way to transport himself around, he would add getting a new phone to his list of things to do. But first, the only thing on his mind washer.

"You're right man, thanks so much." Hans faked his way through the interaction before Charles announced he needed to leave. The two men shook hands before Charles went about his business.

Hans took the opportunity to finally take a shower and call his buddy about a car. He had to get prepared for his date with death at the Sunset Lounge.

Chapter Eight

The Sunset Lounge

The breeze ran through Hans’ hair as he drove to the Sunset Lounge in the new car he had purchased from his friend Ross earlier in the day.

Ross had once been a colleague of Hans’, and after his partner had gotten shot he left law enforcement completely to chase his new dream of becoming a mechanic.

The car wasn't anything fancy, but it was going to get him from point A to point B without too much attention which is all he really cared about.

Pulling into a parking spot, he looked at the car parked next to him. "Shit, but something like this would definitely grab a bunch of attention." He stood outside the lounge entrance and stared at the neons on the arrow that flashed toward the door. Hans took a deep breath and slowly released it out; the cooler air of the evening emitting like a cloud of smoke from between his lips.

It's now or never.

Hans pulled the door toward him and entered. The lounge was dimly lit, set up more like a speakeasy with comfy sofasand chairs for seating. A few booths lined one wall and there were chairs that rested at the bar. It was a romantic atmosphere regardless of the smell of cigars that wafted through the air, tickling his nose. The Sunset Lounge was the last in the area that still allowed smoking inside because of where it sat on the county line.

It had been years since Hans had been in this bar. The last time was when he and Alana had originally been together. He had never noticed the intricacies of the black and gold detailing against the red wallpapered walls which could be seen peeling in different spots.

Over the whispers of the night's crowd, a haunting tune danced its way to Hans' ear. Hypnotized, he turned and looked in the direction of where the sound was coming from. In the corner sat a baby grand piano. Some nights the lounge booked entertainment - a jazz band or pianist - and others they arranged for comedians to grace the presence of Acadia.

Tonight, a gorgeous woman sat at the piano bench. Her fingers danced across the ivory keys in an almost seductive manner.

Her hair was short and a deep shade of red. She was edgier than what normally caught his eye: her makeup was dark and she wore a bright shade of red lipstick that complimented her complexion. He wanted to turn away and search for the woman he had attempted to kill just a day earlier, but there was something aboutthiswoman that kept him hypnotized. As he allowed the music to guide him closer, his eyes searching the crowd for Sage, who was surely lurking in the shadows watching his every move.

Halfway between the entrance and the pianist, she looked up and their eyes met. When a familiar feeling came over him, a part of Hans was relieved that his plan had failed.

"Sage," he whispered as he continued walking towards her. The rest of the crowd disappeared and at that moment they were the only two in the room.

"Hey, stranger." Sage winked as her fingers continued to glide over the piano's keys. “It took you long enough.”

"I didn't know you could play the piano." Hans quickly changed the subject, unwilling to explain the back and forth battle he had going on in his mind up until the moment he had arrived.

"There's a lot about me that you don't know." Sage stuck out her tongue, taunting him.

"Fair enough." Hans ran his fingers through his hair as he took in the essence of the woman before him. He started taking note of the changes she had made in case he determined that he needed to update the report that Charles had filed. "You changed your hair."

Sage scoffed. "Well, you didn't exactly leave me a choice." The tone in her voice changed from sweet to serious.

Hans shook his head, realizing that Sage was already two steps ahead of him and the report that he had filed. "Well, you look great."

"Would you have still thought the same thing if I was dead?"

Fighting for the right words Hans was glad that their conversation was cut short.

"Good evening, sir. My name is James and I'll be the waiter taking care of you tonight. Can I get you anything to drink?" he inquired.

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