Ash by Luke Romyn

Author:Luke Romyn [Romyn, Luke]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-03-30T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 34

“I’m lookin’ for Ash.”

The Asian man behind the counter stared at Harold, his expression mystified. At least Harold thought he appeared mystified; Lord knew all these Asians looked the same, no matter how they felt inside.

“I——said——I——am——looking—”

“I know what you said,” snapped the man. “Why?”

“Why I want him is my business, Jackie Chan! Now, ya gonna tell me or do I gotta tear this place apart?”

“Look around. It’s not like I could hide him anywhere. He is a big man.”

Harold peered around the restaurant. Six tables graced the interior space, with a further two outside. Plastic covered the tablecloths, hooked down at the corners of the tables by metal clips. Various sauces and salt and pepper shakers were placed neatly into wooden condiment caddies sitting on the right edge of each table. The linoleum was green and white, peeling up in one corner of the dining area, but otherwise clean. Plain cream wallpaper covered the walls. Behind the main counter was the entrance to the kitchen, most of which Harold could see from where he was standing.

Harold rubbed his gray-stubbled cheek. “Well…he’s gone missin’.”

“I know. He hasn’t turned up for work in a week.”

“That long, huh?” Harold asked, frowning. “No idea where he coulda gone?”

The Asian man behind the counter remained silent for some time. “Who are you?”

“Me? Oh, I’m er…I’m Harold, his…well, I guess I’m his landlord.”

“Ah!” said the man, nodding. As though this explained everything.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Ash did not speak much, but he talked about you. He said you were…hmm, I’m not sure how to say it, but he told me you were sometimes mean without meaning to be.”

“What’s that blind bastard doin’ yapping on about me like that for, huh? He needs to learn to mind his own damn business!”

The Asian man nodded again. “I see what he meant. My name is Vincent.” He extended his hand over the counter.

Harold stared at the extended hand as if it were a viper for a moment, then he frowned and shook it once before pulling his hand away and wiping it on his pants leg.

“Anywho, do ya maybe know where Ash might be? I mean, I know ya said ya hadn’t seen him and all, but…well, ya see, there’s this woman, and her daughter knows Ash. Now, I know what ya think, and maybe it is like that, but this old woman——the girl’s mother, ya know——well, she won’t leave me alone. Now, I was supposed to come see you before now, but…well, I just didn’t. Now Abigail is all up in arms, yelling at me and stuff. So, anyways, I can’t go home without something to feed her, ya know what I mean?”

Vincent stared at him for some time, his mouth slightly open, a perplexed expression creasing his face. Finally, he called out to the kitchen, and a woman, another Asian, walked out, wiping her hands on her already-stained white apron. Vincent nattered to her for a few moments, pointing once at Harold. Harold scowled at them

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