Page 84 of Desperate Justice
Rafe approached the clerk. “We’re looking for this woman. Diana Lexington.” He held up his cell phone photo of Diana Allison had texted.
The clerk barely glanced at the photo before shaking his head. “Haven’t seen her.”
“You didn’t even look.” Allison’s temper shot up. “Look again, chump.”
Ignoring her, his attention dropped back to his phone. Sounds of a video game ensued.
Enough of this crap.Allison hoisted herself up and vaulted over the counter. She grabbed the startled clerk by his starched lapels. “Listen, you asshole. It’s my sister. She’s missing and I’m losing patience. Take another look before I break your cell phone in half and maybe your fingers in the process.”
Squeaking, the clerk looked at the photo she had on her phone.
“N-no. S-sorry. Haven’t seen her. There’s been...a lot of people coming and going! I got on shift a short while ago. I can’t be expected to memorize their faces.”
Allison grabbed the man’s cell phone and tossed it onto the counter. Her fingers wrapped around his. “Look at your register. She’s from Florida. Her name is Diana. Did she check in last night?”
“I can’t do that.”
Allison tightened the pressure on the man’s hand. “Oh?”
He squealed and threw Rafe a helpless glance. “Please, I didn’t do anything. Get her off me.”
Rafe looked amused. “Sorry, buddy. Once she gets started, it’s hard to stop her. I suggest you cooperate.”
With his free left hand, the clerk accessed the computer registry and scrolled through it. “No Dianas here. Most of our guests are men.”
“Ally,” Rafe said softly. “Let him go.”
With some disgust, mainly for herself for losing it, she released his hand and returned his phone. “Here. Sorry.”
The mumbled apology didn’t wipe the scared look off the clerk’s face as they walked out. She gazed up and down the street.
“Di, where are you?”
Rafe looked into her eyes, his resolve unwavering. “We’ll do everything we can to find her, Allison. I promise.”
But hours later, the search proved fruitless. At the last bar past the edge of town and down a side road, Allison knew Diana wouldn’t have been here. The Dive Bar was run-down, with a neon sign with therblinking. Grime coated the windows. They trudged inside. Her nose wrinkled at the smell of cigar smoke, beer and something unpleasant.
Rafe slid onto an empty bar stool and beckoned her to join him.
“I’ll be right back,” he murmured and headed to the restrooms.
It was barely past eleven. By the time Rafe emerged from the bathroom, a man with a crew cut and a friendly smile came out of the kitchen and stood behind the bar.
“Can I help you? Lunch isn’t served until twelve thirty, but the beer is always on tap and icy cold.”
Though he appeared relaxed, Allison sensed a different vibe coming off Rafe. She decided to let him do all the talking.
“Two cold beers,” Rafe told him and pointed to a popular domestic brand on tap. “What’s your name, friend?”
“Andy. I own the place. Reason why lunch isn’t served for a while. Most of my staff got trashed last night. I’m the only one who made it to work.”
When the beer was served, Rafe raised his glass. “To your sister and her intended. May they have a happy life together.”
Dutifully she clinked glasses, wondering what the hell he planned.
“A wedding, huh?” The bartender wiped down the counter in front of them with a rag that seemed dirtier than the counter. “So you’re not here for the Teddy Bear Run?”
“It’s serving double duty,” Rafe said. “Though I suspect the bride may be upset at the motorcycle rally getting all the attention. She’s a bit of a drama queen. She got a little drunk last night and didn’t make it home yet. Any chance she was here last night?”
