CHAPTER 22
Entering the bar a sudden draught snatched the stair door out of my hand, shutting it with a resounding bang. Eight pairs of eyes turned in my direction as two tables of four elderly men stopped in mid-motion and stared with ill-disguised hostility. I gave a thin, apologetic smile and whispered, ‘Sorry,’ as they all turned their attention back to the job in hand, namely playing dominoes.
As I slid out from behind the bar and walked through to the lounge area my heels, to compound my embarrassment, clacked on the wooden floor; the only sound other than the click of dominoes on table surfaces. Doug, behind the bar, gave me a wicked grin. ‘Take a seat, Vee. What can I get you?’
‘I think I’ll have a large G and T please.’ I looked around the room. ‘Quiet in here isn’t it?’
‘It’s
