Free Game Over! (Parker & Knight Book 3) by Donald Wells Page A

Timothy Hearn, had gone to considerable expense in renovating.
    The inside of the bar had been gutted and remodeled. The new seating arrangements were designed to accommodate more patrons, yet also left room for a small dance floor near the new bar.
    Modern lighting and flat screen televisions gave the place a more contemporary look and even the menu has been upgraded. In addition, the old bandstand in the rear has been renewed and is a huge part of the opening’s success.
    Four bands were hired to provide live music, all of them were local, and to Rick Parker’s untrained, but appreciative ear, the bands sounded good.
    He was working, as was his girlfriend, Heather Jones. Parker had decided to work overtime when he learned that she had to wait tables. He wasn’t there as a detective tonight, but as just another cop.
    He was dressed casually, jeans and a black T-shirt that had the word POLICE written on the back in bright yellow. His gun sat in a holster over his right hip and his badge was displayed on his belt.
    Heather, on the other hand, was dressed in far less, as the new waitress costumes were much like the old ones, shorts and a top; however, Hearn’s choice of tops had plunging necklines and revealed a generous portion of cleavage.
    Parker saw her and the other waitresses make frequent adjustments after they made any movement that required bending over, such as every time they delivered a meal to a table.
    As if she were reading his mind, Heather joined him by the end of the bar and pointed at herself.
    “Do I look like a floozy, because I feel like one,”
    “I wouldn’t arrest you if I saw you loitering on a street corner, but that outfit does lack modesty.”
    “I hate it, we all do, but I have to say, the tips are fantastic.”
    “Are you still looking for other work?”
    “Yes and no, I could get a job at the diner near my house tomorrow, but I’ll make as much here on the weekend than I would there all week, and medical school is expensive. There’s no way I’m going to let my mom pay for everything.”
    Parker looked at her and sighed.
    “I understand the finances, but I hate that outfit, and don’t think that I didn’t see that guy pawing at you before.”
    “I handled it.”
    “I know; I saw that too, it’s why I didn’t butt in.”
    Heather leaned closer.
    “How would you like to paw me after work?”
    “Absolutely, but I thought you were going home?”
    “I changed my mind, and besides, half my stuff is at your place anyway.”
    A loud noise rose from the crowd clustered by the bar, and Parker looked in that direction.
    “It looks like a fight.”
    He rushed over and saw two large men in their twenties circling each other; one of them had a bloody nose, while the other man had an eye that was quickly swelling shut.
    “Break it up guys and go home before you get into real trouble. I’ll even walk you out.”
    The two men turned to face him and he realized two things at the same time. One, the men were brothers, locals who ran a gas station he sometimes stopped at, and two, they were both drunk,
    The brother with the busted nose, the taller of the two, raised his fists and yelled.
    “You can’t tell us when to go home, who the hell do you think you are?”
    His brother forgot about their fight as well, he also turned his wrath on Parker.
    “Let’s kick his ass, Billy.”
    The man lunged at him and Parker stood still, but as the man grabbed his shirt with both hands, Parker shot a knee up into his gut. The hands left his shirt and the man began retching as he doubled over.
    The tall one, the brother named Billy, throw a left hook aimed at Parker’s head. Parker leaned back to let the drunken blow fly past, and then sent a quick right jab to the man’s chin. The man fell to the floor, dazed, and landed beside his brother, who was in the process of throwing up.
    Two cops in uniform rushed over, to make their way through the crowd watching the show. When they made it to the scene,