A Great Leap (First Draft) - Outer Realms Book 1

Chapter 9

The two officers walked away from the scene, following the path through the park up well worn stone stairs and past a row of townhouses then across a busy road to an old sandstone building on a sharp corner, jutting out from a block of buildings to meet at a wall just wide enough for the door. The door was open so Mikayla and Joel entered despite the sign proclaiming it to be closed.

Inside, the bar took up almost the entirety of the first floor with a couple of small, wooden tables. The wood floor was scuffed by untold years of feet, like much of the wood furniture in the place. At the far end of the room was an old fireplace stained black by soot and a tiny stage with an upright piano.

A uniformed officer stood just inside the door and Mikayla nodded politely as she passed. At the bar, sitting on dark wood stool was a scruffy-looking man in his twenties. He was resting his head in his hands but looked up as Mikayla and Joel entered, his face haggard.

"Thanks for helping out," Mikayla said, shaking the man's hand in introducing herself and Joel, "We keeping out from your bed?"

The man shrugged. "Not really. I'm waiting on a delivery. I'm Matt. Happy to help. You have questions about last night or something?"

"Was it a busy night?" Joel asked.

"I came in during the dinner rush," Matt answered, "It wasn't packed but it was still pretty busy. Settled down after nine, I think. It was just the usual mob after that."

"You recognised all the regulars? Can you remember any new faces?" Mikayla asked.

"We always have a few new faces," Matt answered, "Tourists and stuff. No one stood out. You were after some old bloke, yeah?"

Joel pulled out his phone, opened up a picture of their victim. "Do you remember seeing this man?"

Matt nodded. "Yeah, I sort of remember him. I don't remember when he came in but him and his mate were here till closing. I think they had food so they must have come in before half-past-nine."

"That's when the kitchen closes?" Matt nodded. "Do you remember what they were eating?"

Matt shrugged. "I didn't pay much attention. We had someone call in sick last night. I split my time between the bar and the restaurant. I might be able to find out for you."

"Do you remember anything about his mate?" Mikayla asked.

"Young guy," Matt answered, "My age maybe. White. Didn't stand out though."

"Thank you," Mikayla said, "Do you think you can dig up anything you can for us?"

"I'll have a look at the receipts. You got a name for the old guy?"

"Battaglia," Joel answered and Matt went to rummage around behind the bar.

"Young guy?" Mikayla asked quietly, "Might be a relative but why not mention that to his wife?"

"Could have been a date," Joel said.

"Maybe but it doesn't feel that way. Older guy cheating on his wife with another man... Where's the sneaking around and lying? Bailing on dinner at home at the last minute seems more like an emergency to me. This young man might be in the armed forces, might be a relative or a friend of a relative."

Matt returned with a piece of paper which he handed over. "I don't know what you need or what I'm allowed to give you but I wrote down everything I could find. Your man bought the food. His mate must of bought the drinks but don't have a name for you."

"Thanks a lot," Mikayla said, "Can you tell us what they ordered?"

"I guess," Matt answered, "They had a couple of beers and a couple of soft drinks between them over the night, stuffed mushrooms and garlic bread, and a garlic prawns. Actually, I do remember because I remember thinking that the young guy was a slow eater. The old guy did most of the eating. Must of been hungry. The young guy just picked at his food. Would have expected it to be the other way round so guess it stuck in my head."