Page 38 of Rough

“How many people have cut their membership from the club since we stopped serving?” I asked, not really sure if I wanted the answer, but I had to know in order to figure out a way to work around it.

Carol’s face brightened a bit. “Not as many as you would assume, actually. Only about fifteen that I have canceled on record so far.”

I rubbed my temples. “That’s… promising, I suppose.”

We had almost a thousand members, so even though I hated to see the fifteen go, perhaps they would be back once word got around that we were serving alcohol again.

“I still haven’t heard any word from the investigator that is supposed to come by here,” Carol said with regret.

I nodded. “Yes, well, maybe I should give them a call myself. They told me that they were going to expedite my request to get the restoration of the liquor license in place, but of course who can believe what the city tells you.”

I groaned and rolled my eyes, prepared to return to the mile-high stack of paperwork on my desk when I received a call on the cell phone in my back pocket.

It was Felix. He was outside the club, asking to come in and discuss a few things.

“What a pleasant surprise,” I said with a wide grin as I opened the door to let him inside.

“I wanted to talk to you about something,” Felix said. His expression was serious.

“Sure.” I glanced over my shoulder. Carol had been watching us, but she scampered off in the opposite direction as soon as I looked at her.

I took Felix gently by the small of his back and beckoned him into the belly of the club. “Why don’t we, uh… go somewhere more private to talk?”

“I do have some information that you probably want to know about,” he said. “You know, before we get to any other stuff.” He whispered the rest of the sentence and looked a little sheepish.

I smiled. “That’s not a problem. We can go upstairs. I have a room there that overlooks Lake Michigan. It has the most scenic views of the city too. Windows galore.”

Felix looked grateful. “Yes, let’s do that.”

As I led him into the room a few short moments later, temporary contentment flooded me. There were a lot of reasons why I was going to fight to keep my club up and running, and this room was one of them. In fact, it was pretty high up on the list.

“Wow.” Felix’s eyes panned the room as he roamed deeper inside. His jaw dropped and his eyes flashed with impressed awe. “This room is incredible.”

“I told you.” I gave him a proud smile.

“This place is incredible,” Felix said.

“It tends to melt the pressures and cares of the world away,” I admitted.

Felix drifted over to the window. He glanced down, looking nostalgic and a little distracted.

“Did you say you had some information I might want to know about?” I asked. I stood next to him.

He glanced at me and his features went a shade darker. “Yes. I did a little digging into that Nelson guy.”

I couldn’t hide my surprise. “You did?”

“I did.” He nodded and gave me a cautious look. “I hope I didn’t step on any toes by doing that. It’s just… I wanted to help you.”

“It’s fine.” I nodded, coaxing him along. My heart pounded in anticipation. “I appreciate you looking out for me. At this point, I need all the help I can get.”

His face flooded with relief and he smiled, perking up a little. “Oh, good. I think that this info I snagged on him might help you… a lot.”

“Well, what are you waiting for then?” I grinned. “I don’t like being left in suspense.”

“Nelson is basically the equivalent of a modern-day robber baron. If he wants something, he doesn’t stop until he gets it. He’ll steamroll over anyone and everyone that gets in his way.”

“Do you have proof that he’s behind the fire marshal and the liquor license thing?” I asked, intrigued.

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