Page 21 of Grave Danger
“What’re you drinking?” asked Theo, wiping down the bar top.
Even when empty, Cy’s Place oozed that certain vibe of a jazz-loving crowd. Creaky wood floors, redbrick walls, and high ceilings were the perfect bones for Theo’s club. Art nouveau chandeliers cast just the right mood lighting. Crowded café tables fronted a small stage for live music.
Cy’s Place was special for Jack, and not just because it was the club Theo had told his lawyer he would own someday, if ever he got off death row. At the grand opening, on a pair of barstools that drew closer together as the night wore on, sparks had begun to fly for Jack and FBI agent Andie Henning. They’d talked and laughed till 2:00 a.m., listening to Theo’s Uncle Cy give them a taste of Miami’s old Overtown Village through his saxophone. A few months later, beneath a banner announcingthe second anniversary of jack’s 39th birthday, Jack had popped the question.
It seemed like yesterday; it seemed like so long ago.
“Just water,” said Jack.
Theo reached for a water glass, and Jack popped a question of a different sort.
“Dude, did you forget to tell me about a little encounter you had with Zahra’s ex-husband this weekend?”
Theo placed the water glass on a coaster and smiled thinly. “I don’t think Farid will be bothering you anymore.”
“Damn it,” Jack said, groaning. “Your little stunt blew up in front of the judge this morning. Please tell me you didn’t hunt this guy down.”
“Nope. He came by the club last night. Sat right where you are and drank a glass of mango juice, neat.”
“Came here why? And how’d you even know it was him?”
“He introduced himself. And obviously he didn’t come for the mango juice.”
Jack drank his water. “What did he say?”
“He said he knew someone jumped you outside your office, and he knew I was Zahra’s bodyguard. How he knew all those things I don’t know.”
Jack had told no one but the State Department, which sent his mind racing. But he brought himself back to Theo.
“Why would he tell you that?”
Theo shrugged. “I assumed it was his way of saying he knows everything. His way of intimidating Zahra and making her feel like she’ll never be safe—he can always find her. I just kept the whole thing to myself so she didn’t get all freaked out.”
“Are you saying that was the end of the matter?”
“Well, not exactly. When he got up and went to the men’s room, I followed him.”
“Into the men’s room?”
“Yeah. I kinda locked the door.”
“Oh boy,” said Jack. “Do I want to hear this?”
“I set him straight.”
“Theo, what did you do?”
“Didn’t have to do nothin’. He was scared shitless.”
“What’d you say to him?”
“I told him there’s two things I hate more than anything in this world: men who abuse their wives and kids, and men who show up at my best friend’s law office and threaten him. Then he just started blabbering.”
“Blabbering what?”
“He said he didn’t come into my club to intimidate Zahra or anybody else. Said he never abused Ava, Zahra, or his daughter. He even denied he roughed you up outside your office.”
“Of course he denied it,” said Jack. “Abusers always do.”