Page 41 of Back in Black

His brain cramped at the thought of a bomb.Why?Did someone have a grudge against Roger or the patrons of the bar? “Not a problem.”

“I tried,” Millie told him, embarrassed, “but I couldn’t get out of there. What happened, anyway? Why is everyone—?”

“Bomb threat, I’m told.” Maybe Gregor had misunderstood. “But I don’t know for sure.” He got Millie over to Audrey and started back for the club.

Audrey grabbed for him. “Where are you going?”

“If Millie got stuck, maybe someone else did, too. If Roger tries to check every nook and cranny himself, he’ll never get out of there.”

Jacki called after him, saying, “It’s probably a hoax, but just in case, none of you should play hero. Tell Gregor I said to get out of there, and fast.”

Brett sent her an affirmative wave and jogged back. Inside the building, he saw Gregor scouring the rooms upstairs, Roger downstairs.

“What can I do?”

Frazzled and furious, Roger glanced at him with suspicion. “Who the hell are you?”

From upstairs, Gregor yelled, “Brett Bullman. He’s a fighter.”

Roger hesitated only a moment before nodding. “Thanks. We’re about done in here, but if you could get people to clear the front door and at least go across the street until the cops show up, that’d be great.” He started to walk away, then added, “Brett? Use force if you have to. Just get them away from here.”

“You got it.” Brett headed back out. Sirens sounded in the distance. Only about fifteen minutes had passed, but it felt like an hour. As he started people moving, he glanced across the street at Audrey. She, Millie, and Jacki were directing people, encouraging them toward less chitchat and more action.

Something close to pride unfurled inside Brett. Audrey had a good head on her shoulders, and now that she’d gotten her bearings, she reacted with cool control. Other women were huddled together, some gabbing too loudly, a few crying, one lamenting a broken heal on her sandal.

But Audrey took charge.

Roger and Gregor joined Brett on the perimeter just as the police arrived. The officer in charge instructed the others to turn off their radios because radio frequencies could be used to trigger a bomb.

Agog over that information, Gregor looked at Brett and whistled.

Uniformed cops started pushing everyone back even more while other cops shut down the street one block up both ways. The guy in charge joined them. Roger greeted him with an extended hand, introducing himself as the owner of the club.

“Officer Sparks.” He surveyed the area. “Tell me what happened.”

Gregor looked at Brett again and mouthed the name:Sparks?

Brett shrugged; that was irony for you. A guy named Sparks investigating a bomb threat. Not that there was anything remotely humorous about this situation.

Roger paid no attention to the man’s name at all. “My bartender got the call and forwarded it to me in my office. I was just about to head home—” As if struck, Roger pressed a fist to his forehead. “I have to call my wife to let her know why I’m late, damn it. She was waiting on me. If she hears about this—”

Gregor said, “I’ll call her, Rog,” and he already had his cell phone out, using his thumb to press in numbers.

“Thanks.” Roger closed his eyes a moment. “Make sure she knows everyone is fine.”

Nodding, Gregor turned his back on them to speak quietly to Roger’s wife.

Brett could only imagine what Roger felt. He’d not only had a scare, and had his business threatened, but he held responsibility for over a hundred people who’d been inside. Right now, some of the people were grumbling about a wasted meal or a drink they didn’t get to finish.

Roger would lose money on this, as well as credibility.

Furious with the situation, Roger brought himself back around. “It was a man, and he said that the place was set to blow, that a bomb had been hidden here with the intent of killing Drew Black and as many fighters as possible.”

Brett went still. Oh, hell. This was about Drew?

Gregor closed his cell with a whistle.

Running a hand through his hair, Roger cursed. “I asked the bastard where the bomb was, but he told me to clear the place or a lot of people would die, then he hung up.” His hands curled into fists. “I haven’t even seen Drew here tonight. Hell, most of the fighters show up on the weekend, not during the week, so it couldn’t have been anyone real familiar with my clientele.”

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