Page 126 of Highball Rush
“The thing about moonshine truth serum, it hits you fast,” I said. “Makes you go all woozy for a minute. He’ll be busy trying to figure out why his eyes won’t focus, and then he’ll feel great.”
“Nicolette on board?” Jameson asked.
I gave him the side-eye. “Do you even need to ask?”
“Guess not.” Jameson raised his beer to Nicolette, who stood behind the bar. She gave him a solemn nod.
“What do you need us to do?” Bowie asked.
“Backup mostly, in case this goes south,” I said.
“All right,” Bowie said. “Let’s do this.”
Customers trickled in and we spread out, filling them in on the plan. We didn’t want any accidental bar brawls or other interruptions tonight.
Then, all we could do was wait.
I sat with Jameson at the table in back, bouncing my leg, unable to keep still. Bowie, Dev, and Jonah nursed beers at the bar, making sure to leave a few stools open. George stayed farther back. Music played in the background and the mood in here was subdued. Tense.
My edges felt sharp, but I was focused. I knew I couldn’t let my temper get the best of me tonight. Flying off the handle and breaking the guy’s face wasn’t going to get us the answers we needed.
I’d keep my shit together for Callie. I could do it for her.
Finally, Lee Williams wandered in, crooked nose and all. Took a seat at the bar, just like we’d hoped. His clothes were plain—a shirt and brown pants—and I didn’t see a bulge at his waistband. Hopefully he wasn’t packing heat tonight.
I waited to give Nicolette the signal. Let him order a beer and sit with it for a while. Didn’t want to make him suspicious before we’d had a chance to get the moonshine down his throat.
Jameson met my eyes and we nodded to each other. It was time. I caught Nicolette’s attention and gave her a nod.
“Hey, y’all.” She lined up shot glasses and started pouring. Damn, I hoped she’d keep them straight and give Lee Williams the right one. “You know what today is—Moonshine Day! That means shots of the Lookout’s finest, on the house.”
Cheers rose up from the patrons and her customers went to the bar to collect their shots.
Nicolette pushed a shot glass at Lee. I held my breath, too far away to hear if he said anything to her. People around him downed their shots and set their glasses on the bar, thanking Nicolette.
Come on, you piece of shit. Drink it.
He lifted the shot glass to Nicolette, then tossed it back in one swallow. And then, badass bartender that she was, she grinned and poured him another. He drank that one, too.
Jameson twitched.
“Wait for it,” I said, my voice low, eyes locked on Lee.
Nicolette started cleaning up the shot glasses. Bowie took up a spot at the end of the bar, leaning against it like he didn’t have a care in the world. Jonah and Devlin went back to their stools, looking tense.
Lee tilted to the side, almost falling off his stool. Bracing himself on the bar, he struggled to keep his seat. He straightened, but shook his head and started rubbing his eyes.
“Now,” I said quietly.
I stood and wandered to the bar, taking the empty stool next to Lee. Jameson hung back, ready to detour anyone who might try to get too close. Jonah and Devlin were on Lee’s other side, and Nicolette kept on with what she was doing.
Nothing unusual here.
“Holy shit,” Lee muttered, still trying to shake off the initial dizzying rush of the moonshine.
I leaned forward, elbows on the bar, keeping my face forward. “Potent stuff.”
“Jesus fuck,” he said. “What the hell was that?”
