Murder in the 11th House by Mitchell Scott Lewis

Author:Mitchell Scott Lewis [Lewis, Mitchell Scott]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781615953301
Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press, Inc.
Published: 2011-12-07T07:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Two

“There’s an old joke about a guy who walks into a bar and asks for a scotch on the rocks. The bartender puts the drink in front of him and says: ‘That’ll be four bucks.’ The guy gives him four singles. The bartender puts two in the register and two in his pocket. A little later the guy has another drink and again the bartender puts two singles in the register and two in his pocket. On the third round the bartender puts all four dollars in his pocket. The boss comes over and says: What’s the matter, we’re not partners anymore?”

“Are you implying that bartenders are not all honest?”

“Honest as the day is long. Unfortunately they work mostly at night.” He barked out a laugh.

“Is Johnny honest?”

The owner stood behind the bar with a clipboard taking a liquor inventory. Lowell was on a stool, elbows uncomfortably up on the dark-wood countertop. The bar at three in the afternoon was otherwise empty. It struck him that the only thing sadder than a full bar was an empty one.

“Incredibly so. If one of her customers gets a load on and leaves her a lot of money, the next time that person comes in she gives it back to them and tells them to tip her now, while they’re sober.”

“How does that work out for her?’

“A few take the money back and leave a smaller amount. Most of them leave the original tip anyway. But boy, do they appreciate her honesty. Johnny wouldn’t steal anything. If she finds a hundred dollar bill on the floor she’ll wait at least a week to see if anyone claims it before spending it. How many people do you know would do that?”

“Is she good with her own money?”

“Not her own. She spends too much on silly stuff. Sometimes she’s in debt and takes an advance on her salary. But hell, I don’t mind.”

“Still, you trust her.”

“What do you think? This place is my whole life. Everything I have is here. She has keys to the restaurant, my private office, and even has access to the safe, in case I’m not around and there’s an emergency. But Johnny’s a hard girl to figure out. She’s got a mouth that embarrasses cops and firemen, can have a short fuse, especially when she drinks. She’s direct and honest, and expects the same from others. But you sure don’t want to get on her bad side.”

“Why is that?”

“Johnny’s tough. She’s been hurt a lot in her life and she knows how to hurt others. She can defend herself physically or verbally. And I’ve yet to see someone get the better of her when she has the truth on her side.”

“Is the truth important to her?”

“More than anything. If you lie or cheat her or go behind her back she’ll never forgive you. But you can say anything to her face and she’ll take it.”

“How long have you known her?”

“I met Johnny back in ’90, I think, maybe ’91.

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