Epiphany (Legacy of Payne) Read Free Page A

twinkled at me. “Sure thing.” He flashed a wide grin as he pulled Kevin toward the truck. “See you around,” he called out before hopping into the driver’s seat. Kevin sent one last glare in our direction as they left the driveway.
    “Are you okay?” I asked.
    Six nodded. “How much of that did you see?”
    I bit back a smile. “Enough. You sure know how to start a day.”
    “Sorry about that.” She ran a shaky hand through her bedroom hair.
    “Did he hurt you?”
    “No, nothing like that. Kevin’s a jerk.” She paused, and an impish grin spread across her face. “But damn if that man can’t use his tongue.”
    “Not a good mental picture, Six.”
    She laughed. “Sorry. Come in—least I can do is make some coffee.” She bent to retrieve the condom and the morning paper and then tossed them on the couch as she headed for the bedroom.
    The studio was tiny, though she’d gotten creative with the space. A tall row of bookshelves sectioned off where she slept from the sitting area. Splashes of red added color—from the filmy curtain on the window in the living room to the throw pillows on her futon. She reappeared a couple minutes later wearing a black dress that swished against her ankles.
    “What happened to you last night?” She switched on the coffee pot.
    “Do you want the long story or the short?” I picked up the newspaper and joined her at the small dinette.
    “Start with the short,” she said. “My attention span stinks before I’ve had coffee.”
    I fiddled with the paper’s thin edges and thought about the previous night. “I kinda . . . puked all over this guy.”  Not just any guy.
    “You didn’t!”
    “I did. Then I hightailed it out of there as soon as he went into the men’s room.” I pushed the paper aside and buried my face in my hands. “I am such an idiot.”
    “And a lightweight.”
    I lifted my head, indignant, but the teasing glint in her jade eyes pacified me.
    “So what did he look like? Have you seen him at the Pour House?” she asked, referring to the tavern where we both worked as bartenders.
    “No, never seen him before.” Not in the flesh anyway. I glanced at the headline on the front page, and the words jumped out at me:
    Woman’s body found hanging near Diamond Lake.

    * * *  

    The atmosphere at the Pour House remained unchanged, despite news of the murder. Customers ordered their usuals, laughed over a game of pool, and got obnoxious after drinking a few too many. The media hadn’t released the name of the victim yet, but I couldn’t help but dwell on her identity. I wondered if she’d had long and wavy hair like the woman in my dream. Had she been raped? Burned? The sick feeling in my stomach wouldn’t abate; it intensified as the night wore on.
    “Anyone home in there?”
    Startled, I met Six’s speculative gaze. “Sorry. I’m zoning again, aren’t I?”
    “Wanna talk about it?” She wiped the counter, cleaning an already gleaming surface.
    “No, I’m fine . . . just tired.”
    Six nodded toward the front entrance. “Maybe Mr. Blond-and-Interested will perk you up.” She winked in typical fashion and dashed away as Kevin’s friend approached.
    “I was hoping to find you here.”
    I stifled a groan. “Hi.” His name escaped me, though his roving eye didn’t.
    “I’m Brad.” He extended his hand. “You probably don’t remember me from last night.” His hand folded around mine, and an uncomfortable sensation settled over me.
    “No, I remember,” I said, resisting the urge to squirm. “I’m surprised to see you here. I figured High Times was more your scene.” I moved a couple feet down the bar and picked up an abandoned glass. Ice cubes clinked together like wind chimes. Brad followed my every move.
    “High Times is lacking in cute bartenders,” he teased. “I thought I’d drop in and say hello. You didn’t give me much of a chance last night, and after this morning, well . . . I didn’t want to leave under such