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Cassidy Roden was in front, with her friend Jessica at one elbow. Behind them came Buzz Allen and another guy Mase recognized but couldn’t place. He was expensively dressed but had a sneer on his face.
Behind them several steps came another group. Dave, Trev and a couple of other fire-fighters.
Cassidy’s timing was perfect, Mase had to give her that. She strolled through the tables toward Nat, who had her back to the door as she laughed with a middle-aged couple drinking microbrews and snacking on popcorn. Cassidy reached her just as a song ended.
In the lull, Cassidy’s voice rang out over the chatter of the crowd and the clack of pool balls.
“Nice to see my brother’s bar open again,” the tall blonde called. “Just so too bad he’s not here to enjoy it, the way he should be.”
Nat stiffened, and then turned toward her former sister-in-law, her back to Mase. He slid off his stool, ready to move in.
Whatever Cassidy saw on Natalie’s face made her react. She smiled, or tried to. It cracked into a grimace of pain; Mase couldn’t tell if it was manufactured or real. Cassidy flung out a hand to encompass the bar and then shook her head at Natalie, as if in betrayal.
“How could you?” she shouted, her voice shaking. “How could you do this? Does it even matter to you that you’re climbing on what he built, on what you stole from his family? This was his dream, and you’re not happy that you drove him to his death, now you want this too.”
Fuck, the girl must’ve been in drama club in high school, because Mase felt as if he were back watching his classmates emote amateur pathos and drama. Either that or she was bordering on a breakdown of some kind.
“Cassidy,” Natalie said. “Why are you doing this? Rambles was Tony’s and mine. We built it together.”
“Right,” Cassidy shot back. She had the crowd’s attention now, everyone riveted. Some looked entertained, some shocked, some deeply uncomfortable. “You mean he built it while you stayed at home and spent his money—on your indigent family. He was here, slaving while you shopped Seattle and Bellevue with your mother and sister.”
Teri stormed over to stand beside Nat, hands on her slender hips. “Wait just a darn minute,” she called. “What is this, junior high? Listen, chickie, you don’t come into my girlfriend’s bar and start spouting your lies. Nat’s trips to Seattle were to intensive care at the hospital, not Nordstrom’s. And as for the rest of that, we all know what Tony was doing here when Nat wasn’t around, and they only call it working when you get paid for it.”
Cassidy gasped, her face reddening. “You bitch. Don’t you spread lies about my brother. He’s dead. He can’t defend himself, but I can.”
“Oh, yeah?” Teri said dangerously. “Bring it, bitch.”
Natalie had had it. She stepped between the two. “Teri, that’s enough, thanks. Cassidy, you need to leave. This is not Tony’s funeral. I know you loved him, but he’s gone. You’ve had time to deal with his death. You need to move on, and leave me alone.”
Buzz was loving this, Mase saw. He stood to one side and shook his head sadly. Looked like a fuckin’ cartoon bear with his big jowly head and fake sad look.
“Man you are cold, Natalie,” he boomed. “I was here and it’s true—you never were. I watched while Tony worked his fingers to the bone building this business.” He shook his head sadly as he looked around at the people watching. “I’m sorry, folks, to disturb your evening. Real sorry. But this is not right.”
Move fast enough and with enough sheer daring, and you could accomplish a lot of very bad shit. Mase knew this from his police training, and from observation at Club 3, where he’d been present when a coked-up Dom had moved in and terrorized a sub, nearly raping her before the other doms could get to them.
He’d seen it up close and personal at the River Ridge Savings and Loan, when an armed pair of thieves moved in, terrorized the tellers, manager and the four customers in the place. Only letting up when Mase and the other Ridge PD arrived.
The robbers hadn’t been messing around. Neither were Cassidy and Buzz. They were out for blood, figurative this time, but still, they clearly wanted to do as much damage as possible. Cassidy might be acting out of misplaced loyalty, but Buzz was out for revenge.
Time to contain this. Mase strode forward through the tables, and moved in to face Cassidy.
“Cassidy, honey,” he said, his arms already out as he reached her. “Havin’ a bad time of it, huh? You shouldn’t have tried to come down here, it’s obviously too much for a sensitive gal like you. C’mon with me and let’s get out where it’s quiet, talk this over.”
He kept his voice pitched so it was just for her, and as he spoke he was already moving, turning her and herding her back toward the main doors.
The woman had herself worked up so she actually believed her shit. She was half-crying, and shook with each breath. From the avid look on Jessica’s face, she’d had plenty of help getting in this shape. He wondered if Cassidy had ingested any drugs. Jesus, he hoped not.
Dave, Trev and the other firefighters had paused inside the doors. Mase jerked his chin at them. “Open the doors. Seth, Egan, come with me. Dave, go do damage control with Buzz. Remind him there’s such a thing as libel, he keeps goin’. Trev, you’re with Nat.”
Dave, scowling, nodded and moved on. But Trev shook his head and turned to open the doors to precede Mase and Cassidy outside. “Nah, I’ll stay with Cass.”
Shit, that meant Nat was down one more friend. Mase had thought Trev liked Nat.
Mase walked Cassidy over to her red sports car, and then let go of her. He stepped back and spoke to Trev. “All right, you’re Cassidy’s friend, maybe you can help her understand all that’s wrong with how she’s behaving tonight.”
Cassidy laughed angrily, huddling against her car. “Oh, I see my ex-bitch-in-law has you under her spell too. Didn’t take her long.”
“Cassidy, honey,” Mase said, “you are not in on my personal business, and I’m not in on yours. But when you walk into a place like you did tonight and throw a shit storm all over not just Natalie, but everyone else in there, including a lot of nice people who are just out for a drink and some relaxation after a tough week, that is not right, and I hope you know that.”
He motioned to Jessica, who stood close by, taking it all in with the same avidity she had in the bar. “Jessica, since you’re such a close pal, why don’t you see that Cassidy gets home safely. She’s obviously not in good shape to drive.”
The woman widened her eyes at him. “Oh, Mase, I wish you’d drive us home. I’d feel so much better.”
He’d get in a vehicle with the two of them about as soon as a pair of rattlesnakes. “No, I’m headed back inside, see that Buzz doesn’t get himself in a libel suit.”
Jessica tossed her head. “Buzz was very good friends with Tony,” she said self-righteously. “This is extremely hard on him too.”
“Right,” Mase said. “I think we can all see how broken up he is.”
The brunette looked away, pouting.
“Get Cassidy home,” Mase said in disgust. “And think twice before either of you come back here.”
Mase nodded to Seth and Egan, both of whom were standing by, looking uncomfortable. He gave Trev a look. “You’re on Cassidy’s side, then drive her home. She’s in no shape.”
He didn’t wait to hear Trev’s answer. He was done with the bunch of them.
When Mase reached the front walk of the bar, he was dismayed to see several more patrons exiting. They headed off toward their vehicles, some talking amongst themselves. The Ridgers avoided his gaze, the others eyed him curiously, then went on their way.
“Did you hear what she said? Just awful ...”
“I don’t know if that shit is true, but this isn’t how I want to spend my evening.”
“Should give us our money back, for Chrissake.”
Buzz Allen and his cohort were next out. Mase stopped in the middle of the walk, willing himself to calm.
Buzz shook his head, still into his routine. “Mase, buddy. Tough night for everyone here in River Ridge, huh?”
“Interesting you should say that, Buzz,” Mase answered. “Because I have to tell you, before you showed up, things were goin’ well. Folks were havin’ a good time, enjoying themselves.”
Buzz frowned. “I tried to talk Cass out of it, but she was just so upset. Had to get it out, I guess.”
Mase’s hands curled into fists. He flexed them and took a step closer to the smaller man. “Buzz,” he said quietly. “I hear what you’re sayin’. On the other hand, I also have a pretty good idea what you’re up to, which includes helping Cassidy get all worked up. What I don’t get is why? What’s in this for you?”
“Hey, hey,” Buzz blustered. “I’m not up to anything. Just here to support a friend.”
“Right,” Mase said. “That’s your story, you stick to that. Whatever else is goin’ on? Just between you and me, it ain’t happening. It ends tonight.”
“What the hell?” Buzz blustered. “You can’t talk to me like that. Are you threatening me?”
“I can’t?” Mase said, cocking his head. “I can’t what? Call your bluff? You wanna pretend you’re Cassidy’s friend, go ahead. Not my business if she has her head so far up her ass she can’t smell anything but her own shit. You, on the other hand, are on a vendetta. The only thing I don’t understand is whether you’re more interested in taking me down, or Natalie. But I’ll figure it out, so watch yourself.”
Buzz sneered at Mase, his face livid. “Don’t think so. You’re nothing but a small-town beat cop, and your boss happens to know what’s good for River Ridge, even if you don’t.”
Mase had struck a nerve. He dug deeper.
“What happened, Buzz?” he asked, his voice quiet so only Buzz could hear. “What’d Natalie do to piss you off? Did you get tired of Tony gettin’ all the pussy? Figure you’d move in on his lonely wife, get a little action behind his back, make up for all the women who noticed him, but not you? Bet she turned you down, didn’t she?
He knew he was right when Buzz swung at him.
Mase sidestepped easily, made it out of range. Luckily the chubby store manager hit like an overgrown ten-year-old, and put his full momentum into it so he staggered, off-balance and looking like a fool.
Someone gasped nearby. More bar patrons exiting.
Mase shook his head at Buzz. “Assaulting an off-duty cop, Buzz?” he asked. “That really how you wanna play this?”
Buzz looked around wildly. “He insulted me,” he bellowed. “Carl, you heard him.”
Buzz’s friend nodded, but he gave Mase a wary look.
“Nah, Buzz, I was just speculating about the past,” Mase said. “And if nothin’ I guessed was true, I’m not sure why that upset you so much. Why wouldn’t you just laugh in my face, tell me I was wrong?”
“Oh, I’ll laugh in your face, all right,” the smaller man promised, spittle flying as he shouted. “Right about the time I have your job. My dad may think you’re the greatest thing since Neoprene, but you’re nothing but a poser with a gun.”
Mase shook his head. “Don’t think you want my job, Buzz. You don’t have the nerve for it.”
He turned to the bystanders till lingering. “Nothing to see here, folks. You drive safely now.”
Then he walked back into the bar, leaving Buzz cursing behind him. “You’re gonna be sorry for this, Barnett!”
“Already am,” Mase muttered to himself. “Sorry about this whole fuckin’ mess.”
Inside the bar, the tables were half empty. Nat was moving around, working along with her two barmaids to clear tables. They were darting looks at her, looking a little shell-shocked. Natalie looked pale, all her former excitement gone. The bartender was busy cleaning behind the bar.
The remaining customers were keeping their heads down, finishing their drinks and playing their pool games.
Dave was sitting with Teri and her friends. It was a tossup who looked more pissed, him or his girlfriend. The stocky firefighter rose to greet Mase.
“Man, I don’t know what got into Cassidy. I’ve seen her pull some shit, but never anything like that.”
Mase jerked his head at the people listening. “I got a pretty good idea. Tell you later.”
“All right. I’ll be talking to her, you can bet on that. That kind of shit is not good in a town this size.”
“Not to mention that creep who was with her,” Teri said. “He needs to be kicked in the ass.”
Dave nodded, exchanging a hard look with Mase. “Wouldn’t mind taking care of that.”
Another table of patrons rose and ambled out, looking self-conscious but determined.
Mase watched Natalie track them, and watched her soft mouth tremble. She was close to losing it. He walked to her, and took the damp bar rag from her hands. He didn’t smile, didn’t soothe. She didn’t need to hear that right now.
“Nat,” he said, his voice firm, “you still got customers. There are people here who wanna be here. Tend to them, yeah? Forget the ones who walked out, and tend to the ones who are here.”
She looked up at him. He watched her pretty, lost gaze focus on him. Her lips moved into what could only be called a pout. “What are you doing back? All finished comforting Cassidy?”
He stared, taken aback. She was jealous of Cassidy?
“Baby, that was damage control. The girl’s got problems, but other than wanting her to get home safely and not cause an accident because she’s driving all keyed up, she means nothing to me. Now c’mon, get your head back in the game, and take care of your customers.”
She looked away, an embarrassed twist to her mouth. She nodded. “You’re right. I’ll do that.”
“All right, good.” Mase moved on. He stopped by the pool tables, and set a twenty on the edge of the table. Jerking his chin at one of the players, he waggled his eyebrows. “Winner plays me,” he said.
“You are on,” one of the men said. “I’ll take your money.”
The music volume ramped back up, Nat smiled gamely at the remaining group up from the city and Mase settled in to do what he could do for her.