Page 55 of Kortlek

Rose smiles.

“Let’s go.’’

The bar is what you’d expect it to be. It has history; it’s not new. If the date isn’t a lie, it was built back in the seventies. It still holds that nostalgic air in it, which is why half of the people inside are Mom’s age, mid to late forties.

No one pays us any mind as we take a seat at the bar. Rose glances at me, and I nod. She’s quick to start mingling around. My eyes follow her for a while before I turn my attention to Blair and the bartender.

He gives us both a beer each, per Blair’s request, and she pays with a hundred-dollar bill. I sip on mine, silently observing everything. The yellow lights are dimmed, creating a rather cozy atmosphere. The music is loud, but not too loud. Chatter can still be heard, followed up with laughter.

“That’s too much for two beers, doll,’’ the bartender snorts, glancing at the hundred-dollar bill.

Blair smiles politely, but I can see the annoyance in her eyes at the use of the word. She doesn’t say anything, just pushes the bill toward him over the bar, batting her eyelashes.

“That’s for information.’’

The man raises one of his bushy brows but doesn’t take the bill quite yet. His eyes dart between Blair’s face and the money, contemplating his options. Eventually, he leans over, intrigued. I can tell he’s not being bribed for information often.

“Oh yeah?” He chuckles. “What kind of information?”

“I need to know anything you can offer about a man named Karl Brown.’’

Both of his brows rise to his receding hairline, and he leans back. Their conversation is interrupted by a woman ordering a drink. He fixes her up the drink, his eyes never leaving Blair’s. Once the woman’s out of earshot, he folds his arms in front of his chest.

“Not many people know that name around here,’’ his voice is filled with skepticism. “Why do you need to know about our boy Karl?”

The way he says ‘our boy’ sets the tone for the rest of the conversation. Blair doesn’t miss it, either. She’s smart, and she quickly adapts. Carefully, she looks at the bartender, whose name tag says Joe, and sips on her beer. She taps her index finger on the bar, building suspense and likely trying to come up with a believable lie.

“How much?” She asks.

“How much what?”

She chuckles. “How much for the information and to keep your mouth shut about it?”

He stops to think about the question. “Five hundred, and I get to ask a few questions of my own.’’

Blair nods. “Deal.’’

“So tell me,’’ he leans in again. “Why do you two pretty ladies need to know about Karl?”

He doesn’t look at me, but it makes me straighten up. Sure, Blair and I came together, but I’m sitting a little further away from her, trying to let her do the job alone. I didn’t expect he’d rope me into the conversation.

With a chuckle, I switch seats, sitting right next to Blair.

She takes charge of the conversation. “Let’s just say he owes us money.’’

Joe smirks and tilts his head to the side, inspecting both of us with a leery expression. His eyes dart between the two of us. Blair is more relaxed, unfaltering under the scrutinizing glare. Her head is held high, a faint smile on her otherwise stoic face.

“Alright, I’ll bite,’’ he clasps his hands together on the bar, amused by the situation. “Karl is a newcomer to the city, so to speak. He’s a very closed-off person and is always in the same crowd.’’

“Bad crowd?” Blair asks.

Joe nods. “Very bad. Don’t get me wrong, for the business? They’re great. But overall, I wouldn’t want my children around them, if you know what I mean.’’

Accepting the brief answer, Blair decides to poke the bear further and test just how much Joe is willing to say. She leans in, pushing a strand of her hair behind her ear, and looks him straight in the eyes, serious.

“That’s not information worth the money, Joe. Tell me more.’’

A low smirk forms on his face, and the corners of his eyes crinkle. “Smart girl,’’ he shakes his head. “For starters, he’s a quiet fella. From what I’ve heard around the bar, he had some major issues with some criminals a few years back, so he fled the city, and he’s returned now.’’

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