Page 33 of I Will Ruin You

The man smiled. “Sorry, I don’t do autographs. Bought the place nine years ago. Worked in construction and wrecked my back, so I decided to try something different. Now, standing all day, my back’s worse than ever and I eat Advils like M&M’s. ”

“Nice spot,” Marta said.

“What happened to that poor girl, that’s not on me.”

“Didn’t say it was.”

“She only had four drinks last night, which was probably less than her usual. Can I get you something?”

“How about a Coke?”

“Nothing stronger?”

“I wish.”

Jim got her a drink and placed it in front of her, setting it perfectly on a paper coaster. “How may I be of further assistance to you today, Detective?”

“Cherise Fowler a regular?”

“Off and on. There was a time there, we didn’t see her for a few months. She’d gone to dry out or something. Fat lot of good that did. Booze wasn’t her biggest problem. Sometimes she was in here she was high, and when she was, I’d politely encourage her to leave. Once, she’s sitting over there and this kid walks in and asks her to come home.”

“Her daughter.”

“Yeah, sweet kid. Allison, I think her name was.” Jim frowned. “What’s happening to the kid? Didn’t get the sense there was a dad in the picture.”

“Gonna live with her aunt, I think.”

“Sad.”

“What time she come in last night?”

“About eight-thirty, I’d say.”

“She sit at the bar or one of the tables?”

“She sat right there.” He pointed to the stool next to Marta.

“Alone?”

“At first. She had a couple vodka shots, then played with her phone for a while. Couple guys came over, checking on her availability. I couldn’t swear to this, but I think she was making some money on the side by providing certain services. I don’t encourage that kind of thing. I don’t run that kind of place. We get families in here for the food. Chicken wings, pizza, mozzarella sticks. I got a half-decent cook in the back, so long as you like fried and greasy.”

“Sure.”

“But you know, when it gets a little later and the kids are tucked in their beds counting sheep, you get a different crowd. Some just want to sit and shoot the shit over a beer, and others are here hoping to find some companionship.”

“So, those two guys.”

“Right, them. She gave them the brush-off. Had the feeling maybe she was waiting for someone else, because she kept looking at the door all the time.”

“Someone show?”

“Yeah. Around ten. Woman.”

“A woman?” Marta wasn’t expecting that, somehow. “White? Black?”

“White, hundred and twenty pounds or so. Skinny, wiry. Forty, maybe. Thing is, she wasn’t here all that long. It was kind of busy then, so it wasn’t like I had my eye on them all the time.”

“She seem like a girlfriend?”