Page 37 of Crow
CHAPTER7
As they walkeddown Saguaro Street, Joey fell in beside Angie, her stilettos clicking on the pavement. Despite the chilly air, people spilled out onto the sidewalk from the trendy breweries and pubs. Tucked between the flash and swank of the street, High Dive had been a constant for over forty-five years. It’d gone through a few renovations over the decades, and the latest one had transformed the place from a dive bar to a wannabe chic nightspot.
As soon as Joey pushed open the door, the jangle of voices mingled with the overhead rock music. The place was packed, and waves of heat rolled over Angie the minute she walked inside.
“I didn’t expect it to be this crowded,” Joey said in her ear as they stood just inside the doorway.
“Me neither.” Angie rose up on her toes and scanned the room for Regina. “I don’t see any empty tables.” She laughed. “I can’t see much of anything over most of the people’s heads.”
“Let’s get a drink,” Joey mouthed, pointing toward the wraparound oak bar.
Following him, Angie brushed against one warm body after another on the way to the counter. She pushed between two guys and secured a small spot against the bar.
“This is crazy,” she said to Joey, who bobbed his head in agreement.
“What do you want?” he yelled from behind her.
Craning her neck, she replied, “Vodka cranberry.” She scooted closer to the guy next to her, which made him push the one next to him, thus creating a domino effect.
Joey slipped in beside her and motioned to the bartender while Angie glanced at those milling around by the bar. A woman in a fitted black dress teetered toward their direction. In one manicured hand, she held a tumbler filled with an amber-colored liquid, and in the other, she carried a beaded clutch bag. Her long blonde hair was a bit dry and over-highlighted, but she was pretty, even with all the heavy makeup application. Angie noticed several men giving her voluptuous figure a onceover as she swayed through the crowd.
Bumping into Angie, the woman giggled “Hiya” then leaned in so close that her whiskey-scented breath washed over her.
“I’m looking for someone,” she said, slurring.
Joey looked over his shoulder at the drunk woman who kept elbowing him; then, he glanced at Angie and rolled his eyes.
She shrugged and tried moving to let her have more space.
“Have you seen him?” she asked Angie.
“No,” she replied.
“I need a drink!” she yelled. “Elmer, get me another damn drink!”
The crusty owner and bartender shook his head. “You’ve still got a full glass in your hand, Coco.”
The woman lifted her chin in defiance before bringing the glass to her lips and chugging down the rest of the whiskey. She held up the glass.
“Now I need another one.”
“You better slow down, or I’m gonna have to call a cab to take you home,” Elmer said as he picked up another tumbler.
As the woman bantered with the bartender, Angie noticed that he put more water than booze into the lady’s drink.
“Let’s find somewhere else to stand,” Joey said as he handed Angie her drink.
Nodding, she followed his lead away from the bar.
The small dance floor was the only space not crammed with people, so Angie grabbed his hand and pointed to it.
Confusion spread across his face. “You want to dance?”
“No. It’s a good place to stand without people bumping into us.”
As they made their way around the room, Angie saw Regina waving enthusiastically from a table.
Tugging Joey’s arm, she said, “Follow me,” then hurried over to the table and put her drink down.
