JAKE
Jake didn’t go to the Nickel much, now that Grace was gone, but once in a while he’d still rather have a beer with Medic Gonzalez or Bill Johnson than watch whatever flavor of CSI his mother had on, so he was there when the reporter showed up asking about Sal.
When she walked in just before seven on a Wednesday night everyone stared at her, and she held her purse in front of her as she sat at the bar, leaving an empty stool between herself and Jake. Jake stared at her, too. He couldn’t help it. He couldn’t remember the last time a strange woman had shown up in the bar, and this one was pretty, with thick brown hair and pale skin dusted with freckles.
She ordered a Michelob and sat there taking tiny sips without talking to anyone. Besides Jake and Medic, Peter Thornton and Mitch Hur
