He also just so happens to be my father.
But that’s not something Blu needs to know.
I guide us inside, lock the door behind me, and use the light on the attacker’s phone to illuminate us a path. The long hallway that houses two customer bathrooms as well as a supply closet ends at the bar’s side opening, which also happens to be the area where the light switch is stationed. Clicking them on allows me to put the phone away and continue to carry Consuelos in a less awkward nature. While the bar is rather small – one of the reasons they’re renovating – there’s still a sizeable distance from us to the front door where they’ll be breaching. Once I’ve gently placed her down in the middle of the black stool, I give her thigh a soft pat to indicate she’s in position. She taps the heels of her brightly colored sneakers together to communicate she confirms the communication, and I proceed with my preparations.
The advantages to having Consuelos here are obvious.
She’s more than capable of defending herself.
She’s agile.
Flexible.
Has amazing response times.
She can handle firearms and is well versed in close quarter combat – with and without weaponry.
She’s exactly the type of person youwantin the field having your six.
Plus, she’s not my woman.
I don’t have the weight of worry about having to keep her from getting hurt.
However, Idohave to have her six.
Which means drawing fireawayfrom her over to me since she’s not wearing a vest.
It also means avoiding firing inthatdirection.
Yeah, I’m an excellent marksman, but one misstep, one bumped elbow, or one poorly timed trigger pull could be the difference between a fellow agent walking out of here unscathed and having to get creative about cauterizing a wound.
It wouldn’t be the first time I’ve had to do that.
But much like stuffing a woman in the trunk of a car, it’s not something I’m hoping to have to do again.
Removing my CZ P10C from its holster is followed by sweeping what should be an already secure scene. Despite the fact no movement has been detected on the property, it’s still proper protocol to ensure that no one else is here.
The last thing we need is to be ambushed on our ambush.
Post traveling around the main seating area, I move to the right of the bar into another dark hallway. I flick the lights on, cautiously explore the defrosted cooler, visually survey the rather empty executive office on the opposite side and declare the entire situation to be clear out loud for both Blu and Consuelos as I re-holster my pistol.
Granting myself access to the bar from the open space near the hallway I most recently inspected is accompanied by grabbing items I’ll be using to create in the field tactical weapons needed to minimize firing Consuelos’s direction. I swipe a cocktail napkin. Scan the garnish area for the cayenne pepper I know they use for their “special” Bloody Mary recipe. Grab it and one of the Ziploc bags typically used to stash away prepped garnishes like mint. Near the dirty dishes area, I visually scour the shelves in search of the last two crucial ingredients, finding them both behind a few dry towels. Now, having worked my way to the opposite end – closer to where we first entered – I quickly get to work, measuring out the items and lining them up for easy assembly.
I’ve just finished adding vinegar to the baggie when Blu playfully states, “Wahl, party of five.”
It’s impossible not to roll my eyes especially considering I know exactly what he’s going to say next.
“Wahl, your table for five is ready.”
“Yeah, I heard you blow your horn, Blu.” Adjusting my grip on the object occurs before an instruction is given. “Provide me with tactical intel.”
“One moment, please. Let me check with the back regarding tonight’s happy hour menu.”
Part of me wants to ask if he’sreallygonna do this shit all night.
But this ain’t our first rodeo together.
I fuckingknowthat he is.