The woman he was with -- Mrs. Barrett, he presumed -- followed them out of the restaurant. “Where are you parked?” he asked the woman.
“We took an Uber,” she said in a low voice. “I knew he wouldn’t be able to drive home.”
“You want to call a car? I’ll stay out here with you to make sure he doesn’t fall.”
The woman already had her cell phone in her hand. After a long moment, she said, “A car will be here in two minutes.”
She slid her cell into her purse, then fumbled around inside it. When the car pulled up, Nico helped Barrett into the back, then steadied the woman as she stepped in. When she was half-way into the vehicle, she pressed a wad of bills into his hand. “For our dinners,” she said in a low voice.
Then she sat down and reached for the door. Nico closed it and watched the dark sedan speed away.
He glanced at the money in his hand. Two hundred-dollar bills. Depending on how much Barrett had to drink, more than enough to cover dinner.
Striding into the restaurant, he stopped when Carole stepped into his way. “You let that bastard go home without paying his bill?” she whispered. “He pulls that stunt half the time he eats here.”
“Then why keep seating him?” Nico asked. “And I got him out of here because he was disturbing the other patrons.” He opened his hand and displayed the crumpled bills. “The woman gave me this. I’ll give it to his server.”
Carole reached for the money. “I’ll take care of that.”
He nodded to the couple who’d just walked into the lobby. “You have customers to deal with. I’ve got this.”
Her hand hovered over Nico’s for a long moment, then she nodded sharply and turned to the customers.
Huh. He’d need to ask the server about the Barretts. And about Carole’s usual way of dealing with them.
Finding the server in the kitchen, he opened his palm and handed the kid the money. “This is from the Barrett party. For their bill.”
James, a tall, skinny blond guy, stared at the money, then looked at Nico. “How’d you get that out of him? They’re here every couple of weeks. He always drinks way too much and complains about his meal after he’s eaten it. Usually refuses to pay for it.”
“His wife gave me the cash after he was in the Uber. Who usually helps him out to the car?”
“Carole, mostly. She calms him down. Tries to prevent a scene.”
“Does he have a favorite server?” Nico asked, his mind examining possibilities.
James pursed his lips. “It’s not me,” he said. “I think he usually likes Andra. Or Ruth, if Andie’s not here.”
“Okay, James. That’s for their dinner tonight. Whatever’s left over after the bill is paid is your tip.”
“Thanks, man,” James said, his face brightening. “I’ll take care of it.”
As he watched James hurry away, Nico glanced through the window in the swinging door at Carole, once again at the podium. He needed to keep a close eye on Carole. Andra and Ruth as well.