Without looking at him, Stone said, “Not for me to say.”
“Then I’ll say it. I’m not.” He checked his phone as if a text might have snuck in while he wasn’t looking. From his frown, none had. “If she wasn’t loaded, I’d be outta here. Know what I mean?”
Stone’s silence was met with another tap against his arm.
“Know what I mean?” Weston said.
Stone could think of several responses, but he doubted the man would have reacted well to any of them. Instead, he grunted noncommittally, hoping the guy would take the clue.
“Stone, do me a favor and don’t let anyone take my seat, will you? I gotta hit the can.”
“I’ll do my best.”
As Weston stood, he said, “Thanks, buddy,” then patted Stone on the back like they were the best of friends and headed toward the restrooms.
Stone glanced at him as he walked away, thinking that Weston’s date would do herself a favor by not showing up at all.
Stone was about to turn back to his drink when he noticed two men across the bar area watching Weston. They were both large and held drinks that looked untouched.
When Weston turned down the hallway toward the restrooms, the men set their drinks down and followed him.
Stone picked up his bourbon and tried to convince himself that they only needed to use the restroom themselves. The glass reached his lips, but he didn’t take a drink.
“Dammit.” He set the Knob Creek down.
“Something wrong, sir?” the bartender asked.
Stone frowned. “I think there might be.”
“Anything I can help with?”
As Stone and the bartenderapproached the men’s restroom, a thud sounded from inside, followed by a moan of pain.
Stone glanced at the bartender. “Call the police and get some help.”
The man nodded and raced back the way they’d come.
Stone reached for the door as more thuds echoed from inside and yanked it open. The room was small—a stall, a urinal, and a sink.
Weston was on the floor in front of the stall, curled in a fetal position, while one of the two brutes was in the middle of delivering a kick to his ribs.
“I think that’s enough,” Stone said.
The second man glanced at Stone. “Come back later, if you know what’s good for you.”
“You should be thinking about what’s good foryou.”
The guy turned to fully face Stone. “This is none of your—”
“The police have already been called and are on their way.”
The talker glared at Stone, then said to his friend, “Deliver the message and let’s get out of here.”
The other guy leaned down to Weston and hissed something into his ear that Stone couldn’t hear. When he finished, he said in a louder voice, “Nod if you understand.”
Weston nodded.
From the hall came the sound of several running feet.
