Page 1 of The Labyrinth
Chapter One
Marion glanced up atthe neon sign that read, THE GIN ROOM.She consulted her notes once more before entering.Soulful jazz tones greeted her, laying a swank undertone to the rich atmosphere.Warm lighting gave the room an intimate hug.It was the type of bar she could see herself visiting quite a lot, but she wasn’t there to drink and relax.As she waited for the bartender to come over, she got the sensation of being watched.She looked to her left, and the patrons sitting there quickly turned their heads away, as if embarrassed to be caught.She then looked to her right and the same thing happened.
“What can I get you?”he asked.
Marion startled.“Uh, vodka martini, please.”
“Coming right up.”
She could’ve sworn his eyes flashed with a greenish glow.The next instant it was gone.Marion decided she must have imagined it.While he moved away to make her drink, she pulled out a photo from her journal.Peter’s smiling face stared at her from the glossy finish, causing her heart to ache.They’d grown up together in a small, midwestern town where nothing exciting happened.She didn’t blame Peter for running as far away from there as possible, but when he stopped texting and calling her, she knew something was wrong.
“Here you go,” the bartender said as he set the martini down.
She handed over her credit card, then took a sip of her drink while he ran her card.He gave her an impersonal smile when he came back.
“Thanks,” she said, then held up Peter’s photo.“Do you remember this man?”
The bartender studied the picture.“No, sorry.I see too many people to remember a one-time visit.”
After he swiped her card and handed it back, Marion pushed more.“He said he liked this bar a lot.”
“You his wife or something?”
“No,” she replied.“A family friend.He hasn’t been in touch with me or them for a few weeks.”
The bartender took the photo and studied it carefully.Then, for one quick second, his gaze flickered to something behind her before returning to the picture.He shook his head.
“No, sorry.”
Marion had a strong feeling he wasn’t telling the truth.“Are you sure?Please.His family and I are worried.”
The bartender shrugged then moved away to serve customers.Irritation filled her, and she huffed as she looked around the bar.In the corner, a man watched her.Even sitting, Marion could tell he was a large man with broad shoulders.One arm was slung across the back of the booth while the other held a glass of something amber colored.
Was this who the bartender looked at?Maybe he was a regular.If so, he might have seen Peter.Walking over, she maintained eye contact and stopped in front of his table.
“Hi,” she said.“My name is Marion.”
One dark eyebrow rose.“Hello, Marion.I’m Deacon.”
This close, she could see the silver threading through his dark hair.He looked older than her, maybe fifteen years or so.His olive skin tone held a natural warmth, and his dark eyes had an intensity that caused butterflies to dance through her belly.She’d seen pretty men before, but his intensity was something else.
“Are you a regular here?”
“I am,” he said.
Marion held out Peter’s photo.“I’m searching for this man, and I was wondering if you’ve seen him.”
The man’s cool gaze settled on the picture then flickered back to her.“No.”
She blew out a pent-up breath.Like the bartender, this man gave off vibes that he wasn’t telling the whole truth.Or maybe she was just grasping at straws.
“Okay,” she replied.“Thanks.”
Holding Peter’s photo, she made her way around the bar, asking the patrons.All replied no.Frustration rolled over her in waves.Peter’s letters mentioned other places.Guess she’d have to canvas those places as well.When she looked back at Deacon, she discovered his gaze hadn’t left her, only now he had another man sitting with him talking and gesturing.When he followed Mr.Tall-Dark-and-Brooding’s sightline, he paused and frowned.
Deacon said something to him, swallowed the rest of his drink, and set the glass down before rising.Her first assessment had been accurate.He stood at least six foot five.Muscles upon muscles, but not in the gross steroid way.In the this-man-is-totally-hot-and-I’d-fuck-him-ten-ways-to-Sunday-and-back kind of way.Everything about him screamed danger.He left The Gin Room, as well as his guest, and never looked back.Marion hurried through the place and flew out the door, but when she hit the sidewalk, he had vanished.
A gut feeling told her Deacon knew something.She would have to stake out The Gin Room and await his return.
