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'Screw that. But I can't very well greet customers like this.' |
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'I don't think anyone would expect you to. Not after what happened.' |
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'I'm sort of the "acting manager" tonight.' |
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'This isn't exactly business as usual. Why don't you come over to our table and have a drink? Just relax until the cops show up and take that guy away. Somebody else can watch the door for you.' |
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'I don't know,' she said, still frowning. 'Yeah, OK.' |
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She started to get up. John stood quickly, took a gentle grip of her arm, and helped her to rise. When she straightened herself, she grimaced and bent over slightly and clamped her arms against the lower part of her ribcage. |
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'Maybe I should have those x-rays.' |
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Both the front doors flew open at once. The cluster of people blocked John's view, but not for long. With shouts and squeals, some dropped to the floor cowering and others scattered, fleeing toward the dining room or the cocktail bar at the other side of the restaurant. Some stayed to fight. |
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One man tumbled backward when a camera slammed the side of his head. The woman wielding it rushed after him, dropped her knees onto his chest as he struck the floor, and pounded his face. |
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John shoved Cassy toward the dining room. 'Get away from here!' he snapped. |
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Nobody was coming to the aid of the fallen man. The woman kept battering his face, holding her |
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