Magical Cool Cats Mysteries Boxed Set Vol 1 (Books 1, 2 & 3 & A Christmas Feral) by Mary Matthews

Author:Mary Matthews [Matthews, Mary]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2014-01-17T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

“Bottoms up.” Jack whispered at the speakeasy’s door in downtown San Diego.

“I swear, everyone’s drinking more since Prohibition than before. Some of the veterans can use a drink when war memories come. It’s not right that it isn’t legal,” Jack said.

“Well it supports an argument to go to church. Altar wine is still legal. And comes with a cracker,” Grace replied.

“As long as you don’t drink coffee and then drink alcohol. Or vice versa. I always tell the other bartenders not to give coffee to drunks. Nothing worse than being wide awake and drunk. If you’re going to drink a lot, you must drink in the afternoon or evening, when you’ll fall asleep.” The bartender winked at Grace.

“When you’re drinking the way God intended,” Grace said.

“We’ll learn to drink religiously.” Emily waited at the bar to be served.

The patrons, mainly men, stood in groups like clusters of gin blossoms. A fight broke out and one cluster of gin blossoms broke open, revealing a woman in the center with her dress slightly torn. Jack pulled her out. A piece of glass flew past Jack’s shoulder, cutting him.

“Sit down Jack.” Grace felt faint.

“Yes, Ma’am.”

“Let me look at your wound.” Grace wrapped her silk scarf around her wrist and applied it to Jack’s shoulder.

“I really don’t mind the sight of blood. As long as it’s not my own. In Manhattan, they just have jazz bands. Here you have speakeasy fights instead,” Emily said.

“I’m going to need some whiskey,” Grace said.

The bartender put a bottle and a shot glass in front of her. She poured herself a glass and took a sip.

“Are you going to ask for Coca Cola to go with that too? While I bleed to death? I thought it was to sterilize my wound,” Jack said.

“I must fortify myself first. I’m no Florence Nightingale.” Grace took another sip of whiskey. She never did get the hang of drinking a shot all at once. Maybe she’d always been too afraid of burning.

“Are you going to order a soda or help me?’

“Both. You were in the trenches in the Great War. Don’t go soft on me, Jack.”

“Do you know what your problem is?”

“You. My problem is you.”

“It wouldn’t kill you to be nicer to me,” Jack said.

“With the scrapes you get into Jack, it might.”

Jack winced and Grace felt badly for him.

“You’re not bleeding to death. I stopped the blood with my scarf.”

“And that’s a lovely scarf. I remember when she bought it in Paris,” Emily said.

Grace carefully cleaned the wound. Then she pressed the scarf against his shoulder again. “Expensive,” Jack said, looking at the scarf.

“Yes, but you are so worth it.”

“You okay?” The bartender asked. Nothing seemed to faze him.

“I’m good. How’s the girl?” Jack asked.

“The bartender stays calm through everything.” Emily remarked.

“I never knew he drank until I saw him sober,” Jack said.

“Prohibition has reinforced the country’s belief that alcohol is absolutely necessary.” Grace sipped her whiskey.

The girl, looking haggard but grateful, approached Jack.

“Thank you,” she said softly.

“It was the least I could do.

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