Page 1 of Shadow Touched

Chapter One

Leia walked through the backdoor of the barand into the kitchen, where she found the line cook serving upbowls of chili on the passthrough. The stench of burnt beanslingered through the air, and dirty dishes covered everyconceivable counter space. This was the norm for the Thursday NightChili Special. A bar full of drinking, farting old men whose glorydays were now told between burps. Keeping her sigh bottled up, shehurried to grab an apron and gloves before tackling the mound ofcaked-on food and grime.

“I’ve been counting down the minutes ‘tilyou got here.”

Leia looked over at Reggie, the cook, andgave a one shoulder shrug. “Sorry. Bus broke down and I had to hoofit here.”

“You ain’t the only one with transportationtrouble today,” Reggie said. “Phyllis lost her car keys and Alicecalled in sick.”

Leia raised an eyebrow. “Lost her car keys?Yeah, sure.”

Reggie flashed a smile through his bushymustache. “We all thought it.”

“And I just said it,” Leia finished.

She scrubbed pots and pans, placed it all ona rack before sliding it into the industrial dishwasher. Scaldinghot water would not only eat up the rest of the food left behind,but it would also sterilize the metal. It was almost closing so shebegan to gather all the items she would need to clean the bar afterhours. After chili night, every table would need a goodscrubbing.

Just then, the swinging door burst open andNancy stomped in, looking more than a little ragged. Hair stickingup in all direction. Mascara and eyeliner bleeding under the eyes.She pointed at Leia, red nail polish chipped on the tip.

“You,” she barked. “I need help outfront.”

Leia blinked, stunned. “What?”

Nancy jabbed a thumb over her shoulder. “Igot a bar full of men and I can’t fucking get their beer while I’mhanding out dishes of this fuck awful bowl of beans.”

“Hey,” Reggie protested.

Nancy only held up a hand to silence him.“No comment from the peanut gallery. I have no idea why your chiliis so popular. Have you ever tasted it?”

Leia blinked and pointed at herself. “Youwant me to serve?”

Nancy was a spitfire when the bar had allthe normal bartenders and servers, but two people short brought outher nasty side.

“Of course,” she snapped. “Who else would Ibe talking to?”

“Reggie—”

“Fuck Reggie.”

“Standing right here, bitch,” Reggie said,although there wasn’t any anger in his tone.

“Get your ass out here and help me,” Nancysaid, ignoring him.

“I don’t know how to pour beer,” Leia said abit desperately. “I was hired not to work withcustomers.”

Nancy narrowed her eyes, placed one hand onher hip, and glared at Leia. “Listen here, by the time I’ve been inhere chatting with y’all, the bar has probably been torn up. Iwouldn’t be surprised if it’s burning down right about now. So, getyour ass out there.”

“But … but…”

“Now!” Nancy reinforced her order loudly.“Go. Out. There.”

Feeling trapped and a bit overwhelmed, Leiareached up to make sure her bangs covered her forehead and halfwaydown her eyes. The sense of protection came in all different ways,and hers happened to be hiding in the darkness as much as possible.When she stepped from the shelter of the kitchen into the barsection, the enormity of what she was asked to do hit her at once.People were everywhere. Laughing, yelling, dancing. The cacophonyof it all made her jumpy, and the sickly-sweet stench of oldfermentation only added to her discomfort.

“Don’t just stand there!” yelled Clint, thebartender and owner. “Start serving them.”

Men yelled out their requests and threwmoney on the counter. Leia rolled up her sleeves and hurried overto the beer fridge. It was all she could do to keep up, but minuteafter minute she began to get faster. She knew where everything waskept since she stocked the bar every night, but working fast tosatisfy the impatient patrons added a whole different level ofstress.

****

---