Page 59 of Between the Lies

Nina cast her an awkward smile. ‘Sorry, I?—’

‘Nina!’ she squealed, rushing round the counter and all but hurling herself at Nina. Their hug ended as quickly as it had begun, and the woman dropped onto a stool next to Nina. ‘I can’t believe it’s you.’

How did this random woman know her? Nina’s heart began to strum a little faster.

‘Where’s your beau?’ Billy asked, replacing the glass he’d been cleaning with another one.

‘He’s not my beau,’ Nina spat with some force.

The woman next to her straightened, her startled expression morphing into a smirk. ‘Who else carries a picture of a woman in their wallet? He’s smitten.’

So this woman had seen Robert’s wallet? Nina felt her cheeks warm. Thank God for the darkness in here – and her warm-toned skin.

Nina crossed her arms. ‘I was actually wanting to talk to Billy alone.’

‘We can discuss this in front of her,’ Billy said, dropping his cloth on the counter. ‘Would you like a drink?’

And muddle her already slow brain? Nina shook her head.

When Billy poured himself a pint and took a sip, the woman next to Nina pouted. ‘What about me?’

Billy glanced at his watch, then flashed the dial at the woman. ‘You’ve got classes, remember?’

‘Not if she has something to tell us.’ The blonde stuck out her hand. ‘I’m Daisy. I’m one of Robert’s regulars.’

Nina shook the young woman’s hand, wondering what the hell that meant.

Billy wasn’t impressed with Daisy, though. ‘Robert helped Daisy get into uni. He looks out for us. That’s what she meant.’

‘He paid for it,’ Daisy said then shook her head. ‘That man is something else.’

Paid for uni? ‘He must see something in you.’

Daisy shrugged. ‘Aye, he does. Although most days I can’t find a shred of smarts up here.’ Daisy tapped her head.

‘Don’t let her fool ya. She’s got a mind that’ll give ya whiplash,’ Billy grumbled under his breath. ‘But she hasnae been able to focus lately.’

Daisy nodded. ‘Robert’s got us all worried. He’s not answering our calls, not acting like himself…’

‘Aye.’ Billy nodded. ‘Though that day when yous came here, I thought he was finally starting to move on.’

‘He’s just lost his wife,’ Nina said. Neither Billy nor Daisy needed to know what had happened the other night. And Nina didn’t need to recall their activities either. ‘He’s not going to be dancing in the streets, is he?’

‘No.’ Billy set another clean glass down. ‘He wouldn’t even do that if he was a hunner fucking sheets to the wind. The man’s a good bastard. Too good a bastard…’

One of the good ones– that’s what Billy had called Robert the other day. And she’d agreed, despite his treatment of her. And after what Robert had done for Daisy, that couldn’t be contested. ‘He, well, he likes to help others.’

Daisy raised a hand to stop Billy from speaking up. ‘So why aren’t you together?’

‘As I said, he’s still mourning his wife.’

‘But you’re interested in him, aren’t you?’ Daisy prodded.

Good question indeed. Nina had come here with a particular goal. Yet once again, Robert had derailed her plans, her life. ‘I’m interested in knowing more about his wife. The police think I killed her.’

Daisy jumped off the stool and headed to the front door. She flicked the latch close. ‘I don’t want anyone interrupting our wee discussion.’

Nina should’ve been wary of being trapped in enclosed spaces with people she didn’t know. But for some reason, she felt more comfortable here than she had with three cops in her flat.

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