Free NorthWest (John Hazard - Book II) by JH Glaze Page B

continuing, “When I walked in the door no one was in the main area of the bar, but I heard voices in a room kind of off to the back. I didn’t think they were yelling. I just thought they were talking loudly, you know, how people do when they’re in a group. When I got to the doorway, it was like everything happened so fast but took so long to end.”
    She rubbed her eyes and the bridge of her nose. The stress was taking its toll. “I saw maybe six or seven guys, several of them dressed in dark suits. One of them was on his knees on the floor and he was wailing and saying something like, ‘you don’t have to do this, I have kids, man, I’ll pay it back.’ ” She paused and swallowed hard.
    “Then there was a loud cracking pop and his brains sprayed out the front of his head onto the floor and he fell forward into that mess. That’s when I saw the gun in the hand of one of the two guys standing behind him. Then, before I could stop myself, I screamed…”
    “Oh shit!” John finished her sentence for her.
    “Yeah. How did you know that’s what I said?”
    “Well, I’ve been around death more times than I care to say. Not actually when it happens so much, but afterwards to investigate. I’ve always heard that the most common last words people say before they die in an accident, or a surprise encounter is ‘oh shit’ or something to that effect. But go on, I didn’t mean to interrupt.”
    “Weird, but I believe it. So anyway, I screamed, ‘Oh shit!’ and just like somebody was turning a crank somewhere, all heads turned to face me. That’s when I ran like hell out of there, and headed for the train.”
    “So they got a good look at you?”
    “I don’t know, I think so. I don’t even know how long it was I stood there before I ran. It seemed like forever, but by the time I got outside the place, I had a good lead on the guys who were chasing me.”
    “You’re lucky you even got out of the building. They must have been pretty surprised that someone walked in on them.” John took another swallow from his glass.
    “Like I said, I ran like hell. I thought I’d make it to the train and get away, but remember I just came for my interview? So I still had that damn folder full of résumés. I dropped it all over the road while I was running.”
    “It had your address on it, didn’t it?” John shook his head.
    “Yeah, and that’s how they found my place. I saw them pick up the folder, and I knew I was screwed. I figured I had just enough lead on them, by taking the train, to get home and pack some things before they got to my apartment. Plus I had to find a place for Ralph.” She saw his eyes narrow and a disappointed look spread across his face. “Oh! Ralph’s my cat. He’s staying at my neighbor, Diane’s.”
    “And that’s what you were doing when I called.”
    “Exactly! And maybe I haven’t said it yet, but you saved my life, and I will never be able to thank you enough.” She stood up and leaned over the table and kissed him on the forehead. “Thank you, John.”
    His heart fluttered for a second, “No problem. Might say I was in the neighborhood anyway. I guess we need to call the locals and report this before all the evidence goes missing.”
    “No, John. I don’t want to do that. If I report it I’ll be tied up for days answering questions and probably end up getting killed anyway.”
    “I don’t think they’ll be able to get at you. The police would put you in some kind of protective custody or something.” He swallowed the last drops of liquor in his glass and poured another couple of ounces into it.
    “Either way, I’d be screwed. I’m way behind on my rent and about to be evicted. I’d figured with a bartender’s job I could probably get some cash in tips right away and be able to give the landlord enough to hold him over. I guess that doesn’t really matter anymore after all of this shit.”
    He reached out across the table and held on to her hand. “Don’t