Page 26 of A Bridge to Nowhereland

“He’s been a real bastard, trying to screw his ex out of support with the kids. The only reason he’s getting away with it is he’s got some dirt on her family she doesn’t want to get out. Apparently her father likes to cook books.” She didn’t stop tugging me until we were at the bar. “What do you want to drink?”

“I don’t care. Should you be talking about this so loudly?” The place was getting busier by the second.

“Nobody will hear what I say to you.”

My mouth was gaping open while I tried to determine exactly how crazy she was or if there was something odd surrounding these people too.

“This guy is going to drop dead in a week! Anybody here give a shit?” she yelled at the room, and no one turned to look at her. “See?” she said, and then yelled down to the bartender, “Two Jack and Cokes.”

The bartender, a cute guy in his twenties, stopped what he was doing and smiled in our direction as he made our drinks. He placed them in front of us, not asking for money or anything. It was almost like the boutique, but I’d assumed Cookie had some sort of tab. Did she have a tab here too?

“How do you know he’s going to die?” I asked. This knowledge might come back to haunt me, but if they were going to do something…

“Because it’s part of the business. Some things we get toknow. I don’t know how, but he’s a goner for sure, and this has to be fixed before he goes.” She was on her tiptoes, looking around the crowded bar. “Found him.” She picked up her drink, downing it in a few gulps. “Watch what I do. If it doesn’t work, give it a go afterward. Kaden wants to feel you out, so we’re going to put you on a real test drive.”

“You want me to try?” I backed up. “I think I should wait over there so I don’t get in your way.” I pointed to a corner by the front door and took a step in that direction.

She grabbed my arm, pulling me along with her again. For a small girl, she had a good grip on her.

“Stop looking so panicked. You’re not going to actually do anything. There were twenty tinkers who tried before me. Odds are, I’m going to fail, so youdefinitelywill.”

“You’re sure I won’t do anything?” If she was positive this would be a colossal failure, it only worked to my benefit. It was sort of a win-win. Do this, look like you were willing, and then look useless.

“I’m going to talk to him. That’s it. I’ll try to convince him to do the right thing. It’ll work or it won’t. Most likely it won’t. Okay?”

“That’s it? We’re just going to ask him to do the right thing?” None of this sounded that bad, or that mysterious. They were trying to get a guy to do right by his kids. How could that be nefarious?

“I guess you could say that. We have a way of talking to people that helps them. You’ll see.”

“Okay,” I said. She’d let go of my arm, and I yanked it away before she grabbed me again. “I can make it over there on my own.”

She tilted her head, taking a few steps and then making sure I was indeed capable of following.

“Danny? Is that you?” Cookie asked as we got close to the man.

Danny was wearing a suit and looked a bit out of place here. The way he was talking to the band that was about to play, my guess was he was either a manager or promoter.

Danny turned, squinting. “Do I know you?”

“We went to high school together. Don’t you remember?”

The guy was looking at her as if he had no clue. They definitely hadnotgone to school together. Cookie looked twenty-five, tops. This Danny guy looked like he was getting ready for his midlife crisis.

She laid her hand on his. “Me, you, and your wife Sabrina?”

He pulled back, glaring at where she’d touched him. If this was tinkering, I was glad I hadn’t shown an aptitude. I wished I was on the other side of the club right now, because Cookie was looking like a whack job or stalker. Probably both.

Maybe I could slip out of here real fast. I took a step back and then glanced at them, to see if my escape was possible. Were they even looking at me?

For some reason, the guy was staring at me, nearly transfixed. Cookie was looking back and forth between us. Yeah, there would be no escape.

Cookie stepped forward and grabbed my hand and his, forcing us to shake.

I went to take mine back, afraid I’d get the same disgusted glare, but he gripped me. He kept staring, fixating on me.

“Did I go to school with you? You look so…familiar.” He sounded almost dreamy.

Cookie smiled wide. She angled so he couldn’t see her as she mouthed,Say yes!

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