10
THE WOMAN IN RED
They stare at one another in silence, two prizefighters about to step into the ring.
The bartender walks off. Busy day, he’s got places to scratch.
“What’s in your little bag?” she asks.
“I had to pick up a few things at the drugstore.”
“Nothing serious, I hope.”
He grins. “Just needed cigarettes and razors.”
“You going to slit your throat or just burn a few holes in your arm?”
“Enough with the banter.” He finishes the whiskey. “I heard you were snooping around my hotel.”
“You call that a hotel?”
“Good point, but were you?”
“Maybe.”
“Why don’t you tell me what you maybe wanted.”
Lana nods to the bartender and, quick as a flinch, a gin and tonic appears. Horvath didn’t think the guy could move so fast. She must have some pull around here.
He pushes his emp
