Her Scream in the Silence (Carly Moore #2) - Denise Grover Swank Page 0,100
wry grin. “Ruth decided if she was takin’ over, she was goin’ full tilt. She called Sugar up and fired her ass.”
Not that it wasn’t warranted, but I would have expected Ruth to at least have the decency to fire her face-to-face. Which didn’t bode well for her disposition this evening.
I shot a glance toward the dining room. “I take it Ruth’s still pissed?”
His eyebrows shot up and he gave me a pointed look that suggested it was a stupid question.
“Is she mad at me for closing the tavern this morning?”
“No, I told her it was Marco’s call, but she’s still not happy.”
I sucked in a breath. “Okay. Wish me luck.”
“Just remember she’s more bark than bite.”
“Tell that to Sugar,” I called out over my shoulder.
I walked out into the dining room and took a second to assess the situation. Three tables were filled with customers, and Ruth was behind the bar, filling a mug at the beer taps.
“I’m here,” I said, hurrying up to the counter. “What do you need me to do?”
Her gaze jerked up to mine. “I’ve taken all the drink orders and the food order for table three.”
“Got it.” I hurried off toward table eight, but I only made it a couple of steps.
“Carly,” she said.
I turned back to face her.
She started to say something, then stopped and started again. “I don’t know what’s goin’ on between you and Max, but we’ll get it straightened out.” Her eyes turned glassy. “I need you. Max does too. We’ll make it right.”
“Thanks, Ruth.”
It felt weird without Max there. I was used to him being off for a few hours at a time, but I’d never worked a full shift without him. We’d gotten a late start on the dinner shift, and I’d kept busy for several hours, then went right into the drinking crowd.
Jerry showed up at around eight and sat at the bar. I heard him ask Ruth why we were closed earlier, and she told him that Max had been under the weather but he’d encouraged us to carry on without him for the night. When a few customers asked me about Max’s absence, I told them the same story. Everyone seemed to buy it, and I couldn’t help thinking our lies were only enabling Max’s drinking.
I’d think that through later.
Bingham walked in at around nine, shockingly alone. He stood at the door for a moment, his gaze slowly tracking from Ruth at the bar to me at the other end of the room.
Was he casing the joint because he was up to no good? Had I pissed him off enough for him to want retaliation?
My heart was in my stomach, and I could barely focus on taking my order as I watched Bingham approach the bar to speak to Ruth.
Her eyes widened and then flicked to me. She said something to him, and he sauntered across the room and sat in a booth. He took a relaxed position, but his gaze was intense when it landed on me.
Ruth beckoned me over, and I finished taking my order before I headed to the bar and handed her my ticket.
She looked it over and started filling a beer. “Bingham wants to talk to you.”
Was he here about Lula?
She scanned the room, and I could tell she was tense from the set of her shoulders. “You haven’t had your break yet. I told him that I can spare you for ten minutes max.”
“A break?” I asked. “Have you taken a break? No. That’s because we’re too busy for either one of us to take a break.”
Her lips pressed into a thin line. “Are you in trouble with Bingham?”
“I don’t think so, but I did ask him about buying my junk car, and we couldn’t reach an agreement on price. Maybe that’s why he’s here.” Despite my argument with Max, I figured he was probably right about Ruth: it would probably be best if she didn’t know I was looking into Lula’s disappearance.
Confusion flickered in her eyes. “I thought Wyatt was takin’ care of your old car.”
“Yeah, well, I’m a strong, independent woman…and I decided it wouldn’t hurt to get on Bingham’s good side.”
“Still, it’s unusual to see him alone. He’s a pack animal—the alpha, sure, but a pack animal nonetheless. This is…weird. I don’t like it.” She set the drinks on the counter. “Max isn’t here, but Tiny’s in the back.”