“Good evening and welcome. Do you have a reservation with us tonight?” The young woman stood ready over the reservation book.
“No, I’m sorry we don’t,” Alan replied. “I didn’t think we would need one this time of year.”
“No worries, sir. We are full at the moment. If you care to wait at the bar, the wait shouldn’t be more than thirty minutes. Plenty of time to enjoy a cocktail.”
“Thanks, my names Jeremy Linwood.” Jeremy led the way down the narrow aisle between a row of dark wooden booths to their right, and a grouping of tables to their left. A young man sitting at one end of the bar turned around and looked at them expectantly. He eyed Alan, then Jeremy with a strange scrutiny. The excitement seemed to disappear from his face. He turned back around and stared into his drink.
“Excuse
