Page 8 of Cruel Cravings

He’s reserved us a table near the front where the stage is located. I pause a second to admire the sleek grand pianos facing each other, knowing this is where my sister often played. From what I could find, she worked briefly at this bar, participating in the live duels.

It seems my sister had many jobs over a short period of time.

“Look, let’s get the awkward things out of the way first,” Winston says once we’re seated. “It’s true that I fired your sister, but that’s because nobody was reading the obituaries section anymore. It was nothing personal to her, but it’s not like she was easy to work with. Sometimes she had a real stick up her ass.”

“I see…” I trail off, curling my fingers around the tiny straw in the complimentary water we’ve been served.

“At the last work Christmas party, I got drunk and made a pass. But it wasn’t a big deal. I just had a little too much to drink.”

“And you follow her on Cyber Fans?”

“She’s a former employee. Is that against the law?”

No.

But it says more about you than you realize.

I shake my head and add another fake smile. “Of course not. I just want to get the truth out there about my sister.”

“Fair, fair. And who knows? If this interview goes well… I can find something for you at the paper. A steady job if you need one.”

He gives me a wink that sends a sharp shiver down my spine—and not in a good way.

“So, you said she’s alive,” he goes on. “Where is she? Is she in hiding?”

“I’m not comfortable answering that just yet.”

“Oh… kay. Why is she not coming forward at least to put an end to what police believe? She could put a stop to the speculation.”

“Maybe she doesn’t want to,” I snap. I snatch the drinks menu off the table and pretend to study it.

He pushes his glasses up the bridge of his nose and gives off a laugh. “I see Lyra’s little feistiness runs in the family. That’s okay, I can handle a little spice. If anything, I prefer it.”

He leans closer despite my silence and the fact that I’ve busied myself staring down at the menu.

“Maybe let’s turn the temperature down on this topic,” he says. “So tell me about yourself, Jacqueline. Age? School? Job? A boyfriend? Or maybe too many boyfriends?”

He releases a howl of laughter, pleased with his own humor.

I set down the laminated menu and remind myself why I’ve come out tonight. I hadn’t planned on meeting up with any ofthe men from my sister’s Cyber Fans account, but I’d agreed to Winston’s invitation to get answers.

I’d decided to show up for my sister.

“Jacqueline?”

Winston’s voice pulls me back. He’s leaning forward, a sly grin spread across his face. “I think it’s time we order some real drinks. Something with some alcohol. You need to relax a little.”

I roll back my shoulders and give a nod. “Sure, drinks might help.”

“You know, the real reason I followed Lyra on Cyber Fans was because I heard she was affordable. The prices she would charge for meet ups and other extras with her subscribers. We could talk about a price for this,” he says, gesturing between us. He pulls out a sleek black key card with the logo of the Winchester Hotel. “Call it wishful thinking, but I had already made arrangements when she agreed to meet tonight. I’m willing to pay for the entire night.”

“The entire… what?”

It’s happening again.

Another freeze up. I find myself stuck, incapable of saying anything else. My body’s gone still while my heart pounds inside my chest and there’s a twinge deep inside me. Something unknown but familiar at the same time is clawing away, fighting to be set free.

“Drinks first,” Winston says as if it’ll make me relax. He motions for the waitress nearby to come our way. “Tonight’ll be good. We’ll talk and who knows? Maybe more can come of it.”

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