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people had returned to their tables. Lynn was now seated across from Carol at a booth near the front wall. She had a fresh margarita in front of her, and there was an additional Mai Tai on the table. Waitresses were scurrying around, most of them carrying trays of drinks. |
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He spotted Cassy sitting with an arm around a sobbing woman, Chester Benton's widow. |
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He turned away and walked with Steve to the entryway. |
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A couple of chairs had been brought over. Men sat in them, facing the doors and the prone body of Bill. A meat cleaver rested on the lap of one of the men. He had a croissant in one hand, a martini in the other. The second man held a carving knife and a glass of red wine. The young parking attendant was glaring at his guards, but lying still, making no attempt to free himself from the belts that bound his hands and feet. |
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'Behaving himself?' John asked as he stepped in front of the guards. |
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'I guess he knows what'll happen if he doesn't,' said the man with the martini. |
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'Well, keep up the good . . .' |
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Someone knocked on wood. John snapped his head sideways and stared at the doors. The knocking came again. Not a rough pounding, but a rather polite rap of knuckles. |
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The skin prickled on the back of his neck. |
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'Oh, shit,' Steve muttered. |
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John looked around at the two seated men. The one with the knife had slopped red wine onto the front of |
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