“How did you get in here? How did you get past security?”

Her voice was incredulous as she stared at me. I replied in a drunken slur,

“I couldn’t possibly tell you... A drink, please!”

“I had you banned from this bar.”

Regardless of being banned, when I pulled out a green bill, Lila turned and pulled a bottle off one of the many shelves. She paused only once as she thought of something.

“You came through the attic, didn’t you?”

I dropped the drunk act and answered normally, picking at invisible dirt under my nails as I avoided her gaze.

“Yes... it was too easy.”

I leaned forward slightly.

“I’m on a job, okay?”

Her caramel eyes widened and dramatically rolled.

“Oh, okay. So who are you stalking this time, ‘Sherlock’?”

She whispered. She could act all annoyed at my being here but I knew she secretly loved the bar fights... right? I shifted slightly as I sipped the cheap whiskey. She glanced over my shoulder. I could see my ‘target’s reflection in the row of green glass, behind the bar. A large bald guy sat in a booth in the corner. Green ink decorated his neck and part of his face. Lila suddenly shifted her gaze to me.

“Okay... please don’t...”

“The guy skipped bail! It’s my job!”

“Look, I don’t care if your a bounty hunter or a PI but please, I beg you, do not start a bar fight with that guy! He’s twice your size! I’m a small bar in a small town, I can’t afford these damages once a month!”

The liquid courage sat on the table in front of me, glinting mischievously. That same mischief was reflected in my eyes. I grinned and Lila visibly paled as I stood.

“Too late!”

I threw over my shoulder as I walked to the back of the bar.

“Hey bud! Yeah you, with the wicked green ink!”