“Yeah, I got that,” replied Decker, gazing sternly at his soon-to-be ex-brother-in-law.
“Um, Caroline, this is Amos Decker, and his partner, Alex. Amos is—”
“I’m Stan’s friend,” interjected Decker. “Neither of us knew the other was in town.”
Caroline smiled. “Cool, what a nice surprise. You ready?” she asked Baker before glancing at Alex. “Hey, you guys want to join us? We’re going clubbing.”
“There are clubshere?” said an incredulous Jamison.
Caroline smiled and did an eye roll. “I know. You wouldn’t think, but yeah, there are maybe three good places. Well, they’re more bars than clubs. But not all of them play just country music, which Stan loves and I can’t stand.”
“We’re good,” said Decker. “We just flew in. Pretty beat.”
“Okay, we’ll do a rain check, then.”
“Right.”
Caroline gripped Baker’s hand. “Let’s roll. First stop, the OK Corral Saloon.”
“Do you live in London?” asked Decker suddenly.
She grinned. “Yeah. I’d prefer to live in London,England. Maybe someday. My dad owns this hotel, and a bunch of other businesses. I help him run them. He lives in a big place way outside of town. I sometimes stay there, but I also have a condo in town.”
“Okay.”
“See ya,” said Caroline, and she led Baker from the room. Jamison looked at Decker. “What a coincidence, huh?” Decker sat back down and stared dully at the wooden-topped table.
“Sorry about your sister,” she said.
“She should have called me,” said an obviously stricken Decker.
“Are you sure she didn’t try to contact you?” said Jamison in a suspicious tone.
Decker suddenly looked guilty. “I think there might have been some voice mails I forgot to return.”
“Wow, for a guy who can’t forget anythingthatis remarkable.”
“I know, I know,” he said miserably. “I’m bad about that.”
“You need to talk to her. Be supportive. Let her tell her story without being judgmental.”
“People work stuff out all the time. And Stan has already found someone else.”
“I’m not sure he’s looking for a permanent companion in this relationship, Decker. And by the looks of it neither is Caroline. I think they’re just two people having fun.”
When their food finally came Decker only took a few bites before mumbling to Jamison, “Sorry, I . . . I lost my appetite. I’ll see you in the morning.”
He headed out without further explanation.
THEOK CORRALSALOON.
It was big, loud, and assuredly hopping.
The lights blazed from every window and Decker could hear the music blasting out of the place. It was country, with a dash of rock and roll, at least to his ear. It shot through the air like a sound cannon.
He stood outside and felt his skin slowly begin to pucker with the humidity that had returned after the storm.
After he cleared the outside bouncer checking IDs, Decker opened the door, and the heat and comingled smells of sweat and spilled alcohol hit him like a tank round. Either they had no AC or it was having a struggle to keep up with the warmth thrown off by the waves of swaying people. And from what Decker could see, he might have been the only sober customer in the joint.