Chapter 14 by Zeebop

Does Lois try to get the bartender talking, or take her drinks and try elsewhere?

Talk To The Bartender

"Aisha," Lois said. "Why don't you take Jamie and grab a table?"

The bartender's left eyebrow flickered—but she just grabbed a glass and started wiping it. A true professional, keeping her hands busy. No doubt she had her own license...

Or does she? Lois thought, eyes narrowing. I mean, she's working in a fetish club beneath an underground club. Very illegal.

"I don't fuck customers," the bartender said frankly, obviously having done some of her own thinking.

"Not asking you to," Lois said. She slid a hand out of a pocket, a folded hundred dollar bill. "Maybe I just want to know if you've seen some friends of mine."

Their eyes met. Lois placed the money on the bar, making like she was grabbing her drink. The bartender's hand came down.

"Dick?" The bartender said, the snake-tattoos on her arms flexing. It took a moment for Lois to realize she was asking if she was a detective.

"Reporter."

At that, the bartender seemed to relax a little. "My break is in ten. Meet me in the ladies' room."

Lois lifted the glass and turned away, heart beating. It was always a pleasure dealing with a professional.

She found Aisha and Jamie at the table. The crossdressed young man hadn't touched his drink. The reporter laid a hand on his shoulder and smiled.

"Drink up," she said, and set her glass next to his. "In ten minutes, you're going to be a little sick and we're going to the ladies' room."

Jimmy gulped...and Aisha smiled. Her glass was half-gone. She set it down in front of Jimmy too.

"Girl, you white people are crazy!" she laughed. "But I want to see that."

On stage, a man moaned through a gag as his nipples were clamped in a vise. Lois pretended to be interested in the floorshow...but what she was really doing was watching the bartender through her peripheral vision, and keeping one proprietary hand on Jimmy's knee.