Page 11 of Demons and Debts
‘Actually we’re here to talk to you about the body that was found this afternoon.’
My mouth falls open. ‘Me? Really?’
His eyes narrow a little and I’m kinda stoked I notice the cue. Better social skills, here I come!
‘Your boss said you were working the late shift last night. You know anything about what happened?’
‘Uh, just what I heard when I came in tonight. Sarge from the kitchen found some dude in the dumpster earlier.’ I grimace. ‘Heard his eyes were missing.Sohorrifying.’
At least I don’t have to pretend the revulsion I feel at thatjuicylittle detail.
‘You see anything out of the ordinary last night? Around eight or nine?’
I make a show of thinking. ‘No, not really. Had a group of college guys who like to come in sometimes and mess around, but they weren’t here long. Other than that, some regulars. Oh!’ I wrinkle my forehead. ‘There was some biker guy.’
I point to the table where Dreyson was sitting last night. If they spoke to Chuck, they already know he was in here and that I served him. If I don’t say anything, it’ll look suspicious. Thankfully there’s nothing tying me to the Iron Incubi except that he sat in my section.
‘He only got a soda and while I was dealing with the other tables, he slipped out without paying his check.’
‘You didn’t report it?’
I shrug. ‘People do that once in awhile and it was just a drink, so … I’m sorry I can’t be more helpful. I didn’t see anything when I left last night, didn’t hear anything. It seemed like just a typical night to me.’
The female looks satisfied as they stand up, but the male towers over me, trying to intimidate me. Fuck, he’s tall. I give the officer what I know from experience a supe like him wants, stepping away from him with fear in my eyes, not challenging him at all, and that’s enough for him to relax a little.
‘Knock it off, Lewski,’ his partner says with a hint of amusement.
‘Where do you live in case we need to talk to you again?’ she asks me.
‘Uh, just over on Bleaker.’You know, the side of town for the dirt-poor human folk.‘Complex 5343, Apartment 22a.’
They leave the table, the male pushing past me. ‘Don’t leave town.’
‘Oh, I won’t, Officer.’’Til I’m done my shift and get what Chuck owes me anyway.
I give him a friendly smile even though I’d love to kick him right in the nuts for being one ofthosesupe cops, the kind who give the good ones a bad name.
‘I’m almost always either there or here if you need to ask me anymore questions,’ I reply cheerfully as they leave, and I can almost hear his annoyed growl.
After the officers go, everything returns to normal, and I spend the rest of the night planning how I’m leaving town and what I’m taking with me. It’s almost midnight when the door opens and my least favorite group of dicks saunters in.
‘Plain Jane!’ one of them hollers in a stupidly deep tone and I frown as I glance at Chuck.
I was literally about to lock the doors and the fucker knows it, but he shrugs and slides the keys across the counter towards me. That’s Chuck speak for, ‘I’m leaving. Lock up when you’re done licking the rich boys’ boots for no extra pay.’
‘I literally found abodyearlier,’ Sarge complains from the kitchen.
Chuck rolls his eyes. ‘Ain’t the first one you seen. Won’t be the last. You don’t like it? Good luck finding a new job with your record.’
Sarge mutters something I don’t catch and then gives me a commiserating look from behind the grill in the kitchen as he fires it back up, flipping the boss the bird as Chuck turns his back.
‘Gonna seat us, or what?’ one of the frat dicks asks.
Another one chuckles. ‘Careful, honey. You gotta earn your tip from Stacker tonight. No more freebies.’
They all snigger.
So Blondie has a name.
