Shay O'Hanlon Caper 04 - Chip Off the Ice Block Murder Read Free

YOU!”
    I hadn’t even jumped down from the bar top before the cacophony ramped up again.
    Jill yelled, “Damn, Little O, you haven’t lost your touch. And no, I have no idea where your dad keeps his financial stuff.”
    “I’m outta practice, but it comes back fast. What do you need?”
    She rattled off a list. Fortunately bottled beer rounded out the bulk of it. I hustled to the cooler under the bar, scored the requested bottles, popped them, and set them on the waiting tray. Then I slapped three well drinks together and sloshed them onto the tray. I was rusty, but my skills were on the way back.
    “Thanks,” Jill shouted over her shoulder. She hefted the tray and was immediately swallowed up by the throng. The crowd surged against the bar, looking thirstier by the second. I took a deep breath and caught sight of the Summit delivery guy still waiting for payment.
    Shit.
    My head felt like it was about to explode. I worked the rabble as fast as I could down the length of the bar toward the delivery man, feeling like a broken typewriter. I wasn’t sure of my father’s current prices, so I made them up as I went and eyeballed the liquor I splashed into glasses.
    Before I reached the end of the bar, a tall woman with long, straight, honey-blond hair, wearing a black leather motorcycle jacket pushed up to the counter and flashed a bill. I stopped in front of her and tilted my head, waiting for her order.
    “Whiskey, neat. Top shelf, if you have it.” Her voice was resonant, her demeanor friendly.
    “Sure.” I grabbed a bottle of Knappogue Castle and a glass and poured.
    “Looks like you’ve got your hands full.”
    “You can say that again.” I pushed the drink toward her.
    She held a twenty in hand, back far enough that I’d have to make an uncomfortable reach for it. That pissed me off. She said, “Is Pete O’Hanlon around?”
    I let a fraction of my irritation color my tone. “No, he’s not. It’ll be fourteen bucks.”
    Still she held onto the bill and leaned in close. “When will he be in?”
    Who did this chick think she was? “Look, I have no goddamn idea. Please give me your money so I can get your change and move on. If you haven’t noticed, I’ve got a few people waiting here.”
    Both her eyebrows rocketed skyward. She handed me the twenty and held both hands up, palms out. “Hey, take it easy. I didn’t mean anything.” She shot a quick glance down the length of the counter and back. “You the only one on?”
    Would this lady leave already? “Yep.” I slapped her change in her hand.
    She dropped the six bucks in front of me. “It’s New Year’s Eve. You’re never going to make it at this rate.”
    “Tell me something I don’t know.” I turned away before I gave in to my desire to punch her and moved on to the poor delivery man, who by now had been waiting forever. I said to him, “I’m so sorry. How much do you need?”
    He told me and settled on his stool, apparently content to nurse a half-full mug of beer. I quickly drew another and slid it down the bar toward him. He grabbed the handle and nodded his thanks.
    I yelled, “I’ll see if we have enough in the till to cover it.”
    My heart sank when I popped the drawer beneath the bar and made a quick cash calculation. The total didn’t even come close.
    I stuffed the money back in the till and stood, ignoring the couple of college-age guys a few feet away who were howling for their drinks. My left eye started to twitch, and I pushed my fingers against my eyebrow.
    “Hey!” a voice hollered. I wasn’t surprised to see the biker-jacketed woman who’d so handily summed up the totality of my life moments ago trying to get my attention. She no doubt wished to ensure that my knowledge of the shittiness of my current lot was complete.
    “What?” I bellowed and shot her a drop-dead glare.
    She bit her bottom lip. “I know how to pour. Been slinging liquor for years. I can help you out if … ” She trailed off with a