Irish Pub Murder (A Castle Tours of Ireland Cozy Mystery Book 4) by Brooke Penny

Author:Brooke, Penny
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2022-09-18T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TEN

The next day, I was sitting next to Liam in his car as he parallel parked on the street in front of The Lucky Duck. The sun was high in the sky, indicating that it was mid-afternoon. The place seemed so different without the crowds of people standing outside, cheering in merry bliss. It seemed so quiet and desolate.

“We are only here to talk to him as a friend,” Liam said, as he undid the clasp on his seatbelt.

I nodded in agreement. I understood that he trusted his friend, and it would be a hard blow if we found out that he had hurt Katie. I knew I had to tread lightly when talking to Colin.

As we got out and I met him on the sidewalk, he said, “I’m sure there’s a reasonable explanation for all of this.”

“Sure,” I said as I reached out to pull the front door open. The hinges groaned as we entered—a sound I hadn’t noticed the night of Saint Patrick’s Day—and it seemed to echo throughout the place like it was hollow.

An older man with wiry hair that crawled out from under a flat cap sat at the bar in the far corner. He looked up to see who was there, then he went back to his brew. The tables sat lonely, and it was so quiet that I could hear the plates and utensils clattering in the kitchen.

Colin was behind the bar, wiping down the glossy oak counter. “Welcome to The Lucky Duck,” he said, without looking up and without much enthusiasm. Though if I owned a bar and there was a murder that took place in my kitchen, I probably wouldn’t be gushing with exuberance either.

“Hiya, Colin.”

Colin looked up, obviously recognizing his pal’s voice. “Oh, it’s you. Kind of early for ya, isn’t it?”

I trotted over to the bar and laid my bag on the counter, hopping up on the stool. Liam followed.

“We’re not here for a drink,” Liam said to him.

“Well, the kitchen isn’t open yet,” Colin said, wringing out his rag. Ambling over to us, he placed both palms on the counter, holding himself up as if his legs were too tired to take all his weight. His eyes looked heavy as if he hadn’t slept in days. His hair was even more disheveled than the other night, and his face seemed paler. Something was definitely going on with him. Even his patience seemed to be at zero.

A young man came out from the kitchen, walked over to the register, and started setting up the till. “Hiya!” he said to us. He was a small lad, not real tall, but scrawny.

Colin turned to him. “Thanks, Oisín, but I got them.”

Oisín’s smile faded even though he seemed high-spirited and eager to please.

“Could you do me a favor and wipe out those glasses?” Colin pointed to a stack of tall cups on the other side of the bar.

Oisín tipped his hat and scurried over to finish the prep work.

“New guy?” Liam asked.

“Yeah, still learning the ropes.

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