Chapter 1371

• LAST CALL
• Hey, Melissa. The usual?”
• Melissa nodded with a barely there smile as she slid onto the stool in front of my bar. She’s always the proverbial ray of sunshine, so I was surprised to find her looking less than her usual perky self. I was also surprised to see her slinking in near closing time. She’s an 8:00 p.m. drinker—one who sips something fruity before heading out for a night of dancing with her giggly friends. She wasn’t giggly tonight, though. If anything, she looked a touch nervous and a whole lot introspec- tive.