Night Shield Read Online Free PDF Page B

added up.
    As lover, as trusted employee, Frannie was in a prime position to cull marks, to pass the information along. The bar faced the entrance. Whoever went in or out passed by her station.
    People handed her credit cards, and the names and account numbers led to addresses.
    It would pay to look at her most closely.
    *  *  *
    Jonah was doing his own looking. From his office, from the floor. He knew enough about cons, short and long, to calculate who the targets might be. He pegged three possibilities that would have topped his list if he’d been running the game. And since he’d also spotted the cops at table sixteen, he wandered over.
    “Everything all right tonight?”
    The woman beamed up at him, swept back her short swing of streaky blond hair with one hand. “Everything’s terrific. It’s the first night on the town Bob and I have managed in weeks with work keeping both of us so busy.”
    “I’m glad you picked my place.” Jonah laid a friendly hand on Bob’s shoulder, leaned down. “Next time ditch the cop shoes. Dead giveaway. Enjoy your evening.”
    He thought he heard the woman snort out a laugh as he walked away.
    He headed for the table Ally was busy cleaning. “How you holding up?”
    “I haven’t broken any of your dishes yet.”
    “And now you want a raise?”
    “I’m going to stick with my day job, thanks all the same. I’d rather clean up the streets than tables.” Absently she pressed a hand to the ache in the small of her back.
    “We go back to bar food at eleven, so the busing slows down.”
    “Hallelujah.”
    He laid a hand on her arm before she could lift the tray. “You corner Frannie outside?”
    “Excuse me?”
    “She went out, you went out, she came in, you came in.”
    “I’m doing my job. However, I resisted shining a light in her eyes and smacking her in the face with my rubber hose. Now let me get on with it.”
    She hefted the tray, shoved past him.
    “By the way, Allison.”
    She stopped, a snarl working its way up her throat. “What?”
    “The power ball trounced your guts and efficiency. Eight to two.”
    “One game doesn’t a season make.” She jerked up her chin and strode off. On her way by the dance floor, a man reached out and gave her butt a hopeful pat. As Jonah watched, she stopped dead in her tracks, turned slowly and gave him one, long icy look. The man stepped back, lifted his hands in apology and quickly melted into the dancers.
    “Handles herself,” Beth said from beside him.
    “Yeah. Yeah, she does.”
    “Pulls her weight, too, and doesn’t whine about it. I like your girlfriend, Jonah.”
    He was too surprised to comment and only stared when Beth hustled away.
    He let out a short laugh and shook his head. Oh, that one had slipped by him. Right on by him.
    *  *  *
    Last call was enough to make Ally all but weep with gratitude. She’d been on her feet since eight that morning. Her fondest wish was to go home, fall into bed and sleep for the precious five hours she had before starting it all over again.
    “Go on home,” Beth ordered. “We’ll go over closing tomorrow night. You did fine.”
    “Thanks. I mean it.”
    “Will, let Ally into the lounge, will you?”
    “No problem. Nice crowd tonight. Nothing I like better than a crowded club. Want a drink before you head out?”
    “Not unless I can stick my feet in it.”
    He chuckled, patted her back. “Frannie, pour me one, will you?”
    “Already on it.”
    “I like a brandy at the end of a shift. One glass of the good stuff. You change your mind,” he said as he unlocked the door, “just pull up a stool. The man, he doesn’t charge employees for an end-of-shift drink.”
    He went off, whistling through his teeth.
    Ally shoved her apron into her locker, pulled out her bag and jacket. She was just putting the jacket on when Jan breezed in. “Heading out? You look beat. Me, I’m just hitting my stride this time of night.”
    “My stride hit me about an hour ago.” Ally