Chapter 26

18 5 0
                                    

Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.


The speakers were blaring out a rendition of Proud Mary that had bodies colliding together on the dance floor as people, emboldened by alcohol, became more enthusiastic.

Ash sat at the bar nursing a soda and struggling to keep the smile off her face as she spied her sister talking to another girl of a similar age. As the girls' heads inched closer during their conversation, Ash almost combusted with joy.

'Top up, honey?' The bartender asked, his midnight blue eyeshadow glittering in the overhead light.

'Thanks, can I get an order of nachos as well?'

'Sure thing,' he said, filling up her glass with one hand and typing her order into the computer with his other. 'All the toppings?'

'Is there any other way to have nachos?' She grinned.

'Not in my books, honey.' He grinned back and placed her glass in front of her before moving down the bar to serve the other people waiting.

She raised her glass, but before it touched her lips, there was a tingling in the back of her scalp.

'Hiya, Deputy,' she said, not bothering to turn around.

The Deputy took the vacant seat next to her. 'Guess there's not much use sneaking up on a psychic,' he said.

'You and Jess give me too much credit. I'm not omnipresent.'

'Feels that way.' He signalled for the barman.

'What can I get you?' The man winked, and Ash stifled a laugh.

In a short-sleeved shirt and a pair of striped linen trousers, the Deputy was attracting a few eyes, not least the barman's.

'Just water.'

'Sparkling or still?' The barman batted his eyes and this time Ash couldn't hide her grin.

'Still is fine,' he choked.

'Coming right up.'

'You seem to be having some difficulties blending in tonight. Even with your uniform gone,' she said after the barman had deposited his drink and left.

The Deputy grumbled under his breath. 'I'm supposed to be undercover.'

'You kind of suck at it.'

'This isn't the typical place I tail people to.'

'Technically, the two other officers tailed us here.'

'And they were supposed to do that discretely,' he muttered.

'They really need to do a refresher course. They practically tailgated me the entire way here.'

The Deputy hung his head. 'Why'd you even come here? You must realise how this looks. The first place you head to after getting out is a bar.'

Beyond The VeilWhere stories live. Discover now