Talk to the Bartender

Lois took another sip of her drink, not wanting to arouse suspicion in the bartender. She even looked at the second drink, already poured and waiting for her as she did. Even with the club full of people bumping and grinding on the dance floor to the thumping music, and a circle of thirsty patrons at the bar, the barmaid's focus was entirely on Lois. A perfect opportunity to get some information!

"How long have you been working here?" Lois asked, playing with the straw in her drink. The barmaid passed beers to some eager customers, as the music kept blasting throughout the venue.

"Couple of months!" the barmaid shouted, watching Lois with eager eyes, much like the eyes in the security room. "This your first time here?"

Nodding, Lois took the straw and tasted more of the drink. It was so delicious, she couldn't stop herself from taking another greedy gulp of the candy-sweet pink and yellow swirl, before shouting back across the bar. "Yeah, first time! Cool place, but seems kinda sketchy! You ever notice any strange things going down?"

Toyman watched from the security room, gaging the bartender's reaction. She frowned a little, not sure how to answer, but she noticed Lois was already done with her first drink, and gently nudged the second one in the reporter's direction. "Let me think..." the barmaid said, playing with her ponytail and taking her time with the answer. "I guess you could say that."

Lois' reporter sense tingled, and she knew this could be it. She sat down her empty glass, amazed that she finished the first drink when she didn't intend to. Lois let the second, full glass sit on the bar in front of her, no matter how enticing the pink and yellow swirling liquid with its sweet smell might seem. She had to press the bartender further. "I bet you see a lot of crazy stuff..." Lois said. "Especially with how crowded this place is... Someone could get lost pretty easily."

The barmaid nodded, her ponytail bobbing as she did. She bit her lip for a moment, then spoke. "Yeah, I actually heard there were a few disappearances around here..." Her face went red as she spoke, and she covered her mouth with one hand. "Actually, never mind, it’s nothing!"

"I knew it," Lois said to herself with sly satisfaction. The bartender seemed nervous, but Lois knew this was her opening. She just had to press the woman a little further. As she prepared her next question, Lois noticed the second full drink sitting in front of her.