Chapter Twenty-Seven

When I walked into the bar, Jackie was on the phone with the police.

“Yeah, he left, but I still want to file a report!” She looked up at me. “Oh, thank God. The owner just walked in. Hold on.” She held out the phone. “That guy left. He just started talking to the ceiling and then left. What a fucking lunatic. But I called the cops to report it.”

“Good.” I took the phone. “Hello, this is Amélie Chenier, owner of Hair of the Dog.”

“Hello, ma'am,” a male voice said. “Your employee has reported that a patron came into your establishment, threatened people, but then left peacefully.”

“Yes, officer,” I said. “This is the second time he's been in. The last time, we managed to handle it ourselves, and I didn't think he'd return. But now that he has, I think Jackie was right to report it.”

“And he just left?”

“Yes, but he threatened people first. He had my bouncer tied up with a knife to his throat.”

“And what was he after?”

“He wanted me to come in.”

“He was after you? Do you know this man?”

“No. I only know him as Michael, but I don't think that's his real name. He was in my bar a few days ago, trying to recruit people to his cult.”

“A cult?” the man's tone went up an octave.

“I assume it's a cult. He was talking about God and fighting a war. So, I kicked him out. I don't need any of that crap here. But I think he has a grudge against me now.”

“I see. Well, your employee has already given me a description of this person. Do you happen to have cameras in the bar?”

“Yes, I do. I'd be happy to give you a copy of the footage.”

“Great. I'll send an officer by to collect that and fill in the rest of this report. If the video is clear enough, it might help us catch this man.”

“Thank you, officer.”

“Yes, ma'am. Pleased to help.”

I hung up and looked around. “Is everyone all right?”

“A little embarrassed, but yeah,” Ralph said.

“Hey, you were outnumbered,” Jackie said. “Don't you be embarrassed about anything. You took down three of them before they got you. That was fucking impressive.”

“Yeah, and they got right back up,” Wreck-It muttered.

“Crazy people are strong,” I said. “Their brains work differently.”

“That's true!” Celine, one of the waitresses, said. “And those people were futs—fucking nuts.”

“Futs.” Ralph chuckled. “I like that.”

“Did all the customers get out safely?” I asked.

“Yeah, they ran for it,” Jackie said. “We're the idiots who stayed.”

“If he comes back, you run,” I said. I looked at Ralph. “You too, Wreck-It. Just get out.”

“What about the bar?” Ralph whined.

“Fuck the bar. It's just a building. You are irreplaceable. Run. Get everyone to safety.”

Wreck-It got a goofy look on his face. “Thanks, Boss. And I will. You can count on me.”

“I know I can.” I nodded. “Sit down and have a drink. Eat something too. I'm going to copy the video for the police.”

“Aw, people are going to see that shit?” Ralph whined.

“They'll see you take down those three guys,” Alex, one of the bartenders, said as he handed Ralph a glass of soda. “It was awesome, dude.”

“Thanks.” Ralph sat down at the bar and sipped his soda.

I headed into my office and pulled up the recording. I was halfway through making a copy of it onto a thumb drive when I realized that the Hounds still weren't there. They should have been. I pulled out my cellphone and called Dominic.

“Angel?!” Dominic shouted over the sound of gunfire.

“Oh, fuck. Are you all right? What's happening?”

“They trapped us in a ward.”

“What?!” I shot to my feet.

“Yeah. We should have realized that a god could have warded this place. It was odd that we walked right—” A boom cut him off. Then, “I need to call you back, angel.”

“I'm on my way!”

“No, don't—”

I hung up and snatched up the thumb drive. I ran out to the bar and handed it to Jackie. “Give this to the police. I have a personal emergency.”

“Oh, no! Is it Binx?”

“No. It's, uh, a stray dog I found. My friend is watching it, and something's wrong.”

“Go! We've got this.”

“Thank you, Jackie.” I hugged her. “I'm so sorry you had to go through this shit.”

“Oh, please. I've been through much worse than this.”

“I love you.”

“Love you too. Now, go.”

I ran out of the bar and back to the SUV. A stray dog. Oh, God. The Hounds were in trouble, and I didn't know how to help them. But there I was, going anyway.

“Fuck,” I growled. “I'm in love.”