Page 42 of Back in Black

Frowning in thought, Officer Sparks asked, “Was Drew Black supposed to be here? Did he have a meeting that someone knew about, and maybe he canceled?”

“Not that I’m aware of, but I don’t exactly keep tabs on that stuff.” Roger shrugged his shoulders. “My wife is Dean Conor’s sister.”

“My wife, too,” Gregor said. And when Sparks looked at him in confusion, he explained, “Roger’s wife is Cam, my wife is Jacki, and Havoc is their brother.”

The cop must’ve been a fan, because he knew Dean Conor’s fighting name of Havoc.

“Was Havoc here tonight?” He looked around the milling group of people with hope.

“He’s out of town doin’ a promo gig,” Gregor said.

With sudden perception, the cop looked at him anew. “You’re Gregor Marsh,the Maniac.”

“One and only.” Gregor winked at him.

“I’ll be damned.”

Brett could almost feel Roger’s palpable frustration as he gestured in explanation. “There are a lot of fighters that hang out here. You can’t take two steps without tripping over one. Dean came to visit, then he opened a gym, more fighters came to town, and my honky-tonk turned into more of a . . .”

“Fight club,” Gregor supplied.

“But still a honky-tonk, too,” Roger insisted.

Brett wondered what the hell it mattered. He turned to the cop. “I met with Drew here at the club the other day. Like Roger said, on a weekend. But far as I know, he does a lot of his business here. If he had a meeting tonight, I don’t know about it. But it’s possible.”

The officer took that in. “Anyone got his number?”

Roger shook his head, Gregor noticed Jacki waving at him and headed that way, so Brett found Drew’s card in his wallet. He read the number to Officer Sparks.

“What now?” Roger asked.

“We’ll have to sweep the place, make sure there isn’t a bomb before we let anyone back in.”

“Not rushing you or anything, but do you know how long that will take?”

“Two to four hours, give or take.” The officer looked around at the growing mob. “After the county sheriff’s department’s bomb-sniffing K-9 team clears the site, we’ll do a visual. They should be here soon.” He turned back to Roger. “Not sure how late you’re open during the week, but it might be a good idea to call it a night.”

“I assumed as much.” Roger withdrew a stack of vouchers from his pocket. “Do you need me anymore, or can I gather up my people to hand these out?”

“Don’t leave,” the officer told him, “but feel free to handle your guests.”

“Thanks.” Roger went off to gather up his employees and explain how vouchers would be given for free drinks, and for interrupted meals and games.

Brett searched for Audrey. Now that patrons from other nearby establishments had joined them to get the scoop, there had to be a couple hundred people or more hanging out. At least with the roadblocks, there wasn’t any traffic except for those leaving the area.

He found her sitting on the curb at the corner, a safe distance from the threat and the chaos, talking quietly with Millie.

Millie saw Brett first and jumped up, surprising him with an embrace. “Thank you again, Brett. I can’t believe I got stuck like that. Everyone was just so pushy and rushed.”

He looped an arm around her shoulders. “When they get scared, people forget manners and common sense all too quick.”

Audrey said nothing, and that worried Brett.

Inhaling, Millie launched into more speech. “Not you, though. It was pretty impressive how you just stopped the flow of human traffic. I almost got flattened, but people had to go around you, you were so immovable.”

He tipped his head at Audrey, wondering why she wouldn’t look at him. “I’m a little bit bigger than you, Millie. Makes it easier for me.”

“Your friend, Gregor, was wonderful, too. Very take-charge.”

---