UNINVITED

Chapter 23

    
      Murphy’s Inn reeked of liquor that immediately I stepped in, I wanted to step out. But before I could rethink it, Alec was already calling my name from a corner booth. He waved to me. “Hey, Elodie! Over here!”

     No turning back now. Swallowing hard, I walked over to their booth, passing by a number of people drinking and laughing. A lone man in a cheap shirt and jeans sat at the bar, nursing a bottle of beer.

     The tall man crouched over the pool table suddenly looked up at me and our eyes met. He smirked and I frowned. An old R&B song played in the background, hitting my ears so hard that I couldn’t take it. I hated the place already. Everyone except me seemed comfortable here.

     I claimed a seat across from the Bergers, sliding my purse toward the glass panel. Outside looked darker than I had seen when I drove here. I saw my Lexus through the glass window, parallel parked across the street. My eyes scanned the surroundings. There was no sight of the Bergers’ car. They probably came here on foot. Commuters walked down the pavement, tucking briefcases or handbags close to their body. The shopkeeper from across the street turned the OPEN sign to CLOSED. Two men spilled out from a restaurant, chatting.

     Shifting my eyes from outside, I glanced at the Bergers. Both held a bottle of beer in their hand and continuously sipped. A plastic pail of beer stared at my face. I was tempted to pick one, but I refrained.

     “How long have you guys been here?” I asked, looking around the bustling place.

     Amy took a long sip and then set the bottle aside. “Ten minutes... twelve.” She sighed. “You’re not late. At worst, I thought you wouldn’t come.”

     I arched a brow. “Why would you think that?”

     “Obvious. You don’t look like a bar girl and when Alec mentioned it at the supermarket, you didn’t look very interested.”

     I almost trembled. She had been studying me. Then my mind drifted to when I invited her over to the house. I had a sick feeling she was scrutinizing me. Was she? Unlikely. Besides, what would she gain from it? I was sure my expression had been obvious at the supermarket as she said.

     “If you don’t like the place, I don’t blame you,” Alec said, glancing around. “It’s not the best, but it’s the nearest.” He fingered the bucket in front of me. “Beer?”

     “I’m good. I’ve had enough to drink at the house.”

     “Just a bottle,” Amy chipped in. “What’s the point in coming to a bar without having a drink? And this isn’t a place to contemplate.”

     “I bet you. The noise is too much,” Alec said.

     “All right. I’ll just have a bottle.”

     I picked up the beer because of the influence. I didn’t come here to have fun or socialize with the Bergers. I wanted to have a word with Amy alone, but making it clear would make them suspicious. And I didn’t want them to see me as the lunatic sitting in a booth and just staring at them. One beer wouldn’t hurt. At least I’d have something to do while I waited for Alec to visit the restroom, which didn’t seem like happening anytime soon.

     I took a sip. I hated the taste, but I didn’t frown.

     They just looked at my face, then Alec said, “You good?”

     I bobbed my head. “Yes,” I lied. I hadn’t drunk beer in a while. Right now, my stomach churned so much that I wanted to puke.

     “Well,” Amy sighed, “you don’t look well. Maybe we should have chosen a restaurant instead?” She faced Alec.