Read Online Trouble Vision by Allison Kingsley - Free Book Online Page B

the greasy-looking food they had at the tavern, and last time we went you didn’t get to eat until really late, so I thought you might want something this time to like, soak up the beer.”
    Clara grinned. “Good thinking. Thanks! The beer’s on me tonight. Share this with me?”
    “I already ate.” Molly laid the carton on the counter. “You can eat it in the car while I drive us over there. I parked outside, so we’d better get going before I get ticketed.”
    She led the way out the door, and Clara flicked off the lights, shivering as a cold blast of wind whipped her face.
    Munching on the pizza as Molly drove a little too fast for comfort down the narrow streets, Clara hoped the evening would turn out to be less nerve-racking than their last visit. The tavern was on the outskirts of town, and had the dubious reputation of being a hotbed for trouble.
    According to what she’d heard, fistfights were common, and belligerent drunks had to be hustled out of there on a weekly basis. Having seen some of the customers that patronized the place, Clara could readily believe the rumors.
    She was relieved when she and Molly found an empty table in a corner by a window. Not exactly secluded but a lot less conspicuous than the table from their previous tavern trip. The familiar odor of beer and sweat seemed even more potent than last time. The wooden floor seemed to vibrate with the thump of bass guitars, and the garbled wave of voices rose in competition.
    The same server who had waited on them before strode over to the table, her tattooed arms bulging beneath the tight sleeves of her red T-shirt. Her bleached hair stood up in spikes all over her head. She looked as if she’d stuck her finger into a live electric socket.
    Clara ordered two beers, and the woman grunted something as she scribbled on a pad, then took off across the room to the bar.
    Molly giggled and raised her voice to be heard above the din. “I remember Stephanie calling her Miss America.” She slipped off her coat and draped it over the back of her chair. “Is she coming tonight?”
    “She said she’d try.” Clara took her coat off, taking a good look around the room. “Can you see Jason anywhere? Or Eddie Hatchett?”
    Molly shook her head. “If they’re here, they’ll be in the pool room at the back. I’ll have to go over there and take a look.”
    They were shouting to hear each other. Even then, Clara could barely catch Molly’s words. “Let’s wait until we’ve got our beer. Maybe we’ll get lucky and you’ll see them come out of there.”
    “That’s if they’re here at all.”
    “Just be careful, okay? From what I’ve seen of Eddie, he can be really vicious.”
    Molly gave her a weak grin. “I’m not worried about him, although he is pretty awful. It’s Jason. I just hope he doesn’t go all ballistic on me. He was really steamed when I broke up with him.”
    Clara felt bad for her. “I’m sorry, Molly. Maybe I shouldn’t have asked you to do this.”
    “No, it’s okay. It’s been a few months. He’s probably all over me by now.” Her face brightened. “There’s Stephanie!”
    Surprised to see her cousin, Clara waved to get her attention.
    Stephanie caught sight of them, jiggled her hand in response and hurried over to the table. “I don’t remember it being this noisy,” she yelled, sliding onto the empty chair. “I can’t hear myself think.”
    “You get used to it after a while.” Clara noticed the server battling her way through the tables toward them, a tray balanced on her hand. “Here comes our beer. You want beer or wine?”
    “Beer, I guess.” Stephanie looked around. “Any sign of Eddie Hatchett?”
    Clara shook her head.
    Molly got to her feet. “I’ll check out the pool room.”
    Clara got up, too. “I’ll come with you.”
    “No, it’ll be better if I go alone.”
    “I’ll wait for you at the door.”
    Again Molly shook her head. “I’ll be fine. Really. Just enjoy your beer and I’ll