Bar Scene Z-Bar

 

 

¨Barmey,¨ said Nick, the bartender,

nodding his head towards the front door, at

the gent that had just come in out of the rain.

¨What, you know the guy?¨

¨No. I just got a sense for these things…who´s

coming in that door that could be trouble.¨

The man who had come in, was nicely dressed

in a grey suit and raincoat, folding his umbrella.

There were maybe twenty people in the bar,

which was pretty busy for two in the afternoon.

Five people at a table at the side wall were

celebrating something…their jobs…some

nefarious plot to take down city hall or steal

from a union…it was hard to tell. A few regulars

sat like life-like mannequins at the bar. Nick

worked alone. Always had.

The man in the grey suit sat alone at a table.

He sat upright, his hands clasped on the table,

looking straight ahead.

¨What about him? He looks OK to me.¨

¨Grey suit?¨ said Nick and smiled conspiratorially.

¨One only wears a suit like that at Ascot or if you

are going to a funeral. He´s up to something. He´s

just here now because he´s waiting  and doesn't

want to be seen yet...wherever he´s going.¨

¨You get all that from just looking at him? It

sounds as if you know him.¨

 

¨I do. He´s my brother.¨

¨Whaaaaaaaat?¨

 

¨Yes. He had an accident, has amnesia, and has

a completely different, new life. He lives in the

same neighborhood he used to, comes into this

bar like he did…but, he´s not the same person,

and he doesn't remember me. He´s a killer for

hire, I believe, at least, that´s what it seems like.

He doesn't talk to many people. We don't have

a relationship now, but it´s nice he comes around

once in a while and I can see him.¨

 

¨How do you know he's a serial killer?¨

 

Nick looked around.:  ¨The bodies?  No, I mean,

there are things you pick up on in my business.

Being a bartender is like being a detective: you´re

actually watching the crimes being plotted,

committed, and discussed in front of you. You have

to learn to listen what people are saying. Grey

suit will mind his business while he´s in here. Best

to not get in his way.¨