|
|
My whiskey glass was getting empty, the ice rattling as I put it back on the coaster. The bartender scurried over, ostensibly to offer me another drink although more likely worried that I would attempt to skip the joint without paying. The discreet name-badge affixed to his green-and-white striped waistcoat announced him to be Maddoes. I pulled a couple of bills from my pocket and placed them on the bar next to my glass. There was enough money to cover the drinks already ordered, and maybe enough for a third large one - or for a fairly decent tip. Instantly, a professionally-friendly grin suffused his face. "Who's your friend, pal?" he asked, nodding in the direction my client had taken a few minutes before, "Seems familiar, somehow." "Yeah, well, he's just got one of those faces," I replied laconically. "Uh-huh," the barkeep grunted, clearly unconvinced. I pulled out an only very slighty grubby business card, one which included the telephone number of my answering service, not the office number. I put the card on top of the bills next to my glass and pushed the whole lot over the bar. "Look," I said, leaning forward conspiratorially, "Sometimes I need to keep tabs on a few people. You see that guy in here again, you give me a call. Or for that matter anything else you think I might be interested in. Leave a message. It'll be worth your while." His grin widened, showing a large number of sharp yellow teeth. His hands moved so fast they practically blurred, and money and card disappeared in an instant. "You got it, bud." He winked and wandered off, not stopping at the cash till. I gave the cheque a final once-over to make sure the ink was dry and hadn't mysteriously faded away, folded it carefully and slipped it into one of the many capacious pockets of the long overcoat I habitually wear. Then I nodded again to the bartender, who was now chatting amicably with a couple of obvious regulars at the other end of the bar, drained my drink and put my hat on my head, tugging it down over my eyes. Time to go.
|
Part 2