Sorry it's been so long since updating! I kinda lost track of time...As my apology, here's the next chapter!
Mae's and Roy pulled up to the Running Horse Bar and slowed to a stop, the windshield wipers flapping nosily over the windshield. Rain pounded against the roof of the car as they peered outside at the flickering lights of the Running Horse Bar sign.
"Nice looking place, eh?" Maes looked at Roy with a grin as he turned the engine off. "Well, you ready to go in?" He asked Roy.
"Yeah, about as ready as I'll ever be I suppose." Roy grumbled as he glared at the down pour. He shoved his dry gloves into his pocket to shield them from the rain. "Lets go." He said as he climbed out and slammed the door.
The rain assaulted Roy in the face, pulling his black hair down into his face and making him frown even deeper as they both rushed over to the door and yanked it open.
Smells of vomit and beer punched them in the face, making them want to add to the scent of puke.
"This place reeks." Roy stated the obvious as he glanced around the place.
Two men were passed out over their tables, split beer dripping on the floor. In a corner, two big guys were arm wrestling while a small crowd cheered them on.
"Where do we start?" Roy asked as he retrieved his dry gloves from his pocket and put them on.
Mae's eyed the gloves. "Well, we're going to start off talking to the bar tender like William said." Mae's answered then pointed to Roy's gloves. "And you're not gonna use those unless we get attacked by this whole bar. Got it?" He looked Roy in the eyes.
Roy sighed, "Fine." He shoved his hands into his pockets and walked towards the bar tender who was drying a glass.
"Excuse us," Mae's jumped in front of Roy, "We're looking for a Mr. Frank Hemway. Do you know where we could find him?" Mae's asked politely, as if making a point to Roy to be kind to people.
"Well you just found him." Frank smiled as he set the glass down on the table. "What can I help you two with?" He asked.
Roy eyed the fancy black suit Frank wore. It didn't seem to fit in with all the drunks, it was too clean. Although, Roy thought, the long untrimmed beard did seem to fit in with the crowd.
"We're with the Military, we're investigating the murders that have taken place in Central over the last few months." Mae's said.
"You might know the man we're looking for by the name of The Reaper." Roy added quickly, snapping himself out of the scrutiny he was giving Frank.
"Shh! He might be around!" Frank hushed them, putting a finger up to his lips. "Come with me." He gestured for them to follow him into the backroom where the alcohol was stored.
They followed him in and Frank shut the door. "How do you know about The Reaper?" He eyed them warily.
"William Hawthorn told us about him and that he had over heard the man talking about murdering a woman. We believe the woman he was talking about was the one that was murdered a few nights ago." Roy explained. "We need information on this man if we are to stop these murders." He told him.
"Please Sir, tell us what you know." Mae's pleaded with him.
Roy narrowed his eyes. He'd encountered people like Frank before. The ones who knew everything but acted as though they knew nothing. They were the ones that annoyed him the most.
Frank crossed his arms and let out a dreary sigh. "I don't know much. I only know that the man was hired to kill that woman." He explained.
"Hired? By who?" Mae's frowned, "Can you tell us more about the men who hired him?"
"Not really. They were a bunch of big looking guys in fancy suits. Looked like the type of people who never lift a finger to work, much less kill someone with their own two hands. Guess that's why they hired The Reaper." Frank said.
"Do you know who The Reaper might be working for?" Roy asked after a moment of thought.
"Sadly, I don't. There's so many people who hire guns to take care of people in this bar, I wouldn't even know where to start." Frank shook his head sadly.
"This bar has gone down hill over the last few years and we can't exactly kick people out. We need the money to make repairs on the bar and plus, you don't get on these people's bad side." Frank said.
"Wish I could've helped you out a little more." Frank said, "But I have to get going back to work. I'm sure there's people waiting for more beer and I don't need a fight starting in here."
"One more thing. Can you make a list of potential people that could've hired The Reaper?" Roy asked, holding up a hand to stop the man from leaving.
"Yeah I guess I could do that but it'll take me some time." Frank said as he eyed Roy's gloved hand in front of him.
"It always takes time..." Roy muttered, "Wish things could go faster..." He grumbled. Time meant paperwork, one of the very things he hated most.
"Ignore my partner. Thank you very much for your help, Mr. Hemway." Mae's said gratefully. "We'll be awaiting your list." Mae's said with a kind smile.
"Hopefully we can nail this Son of a bitch before he kills again." Roy hissed as he lowered his hand so Frank could leave.
Roy looked at Frank as he started walking away. "Frank, before you go, do you remember what The Reaper was wearing or any details of what he looked like?"
Frank paused and turned back to Roy with a thoughtful look. "You know, I do remember The Reaper wearing a red cloak if that helps any?" He asked.
"A red cloak? Doesn't give us much to go on." Roy crossed his arms and frowned. "Do you happen to remember The Reaper wearing any black clothing?" He asked. He remembered the black cloth he had found at the murder scene.
Frank shook his head, " 'Fraid not." He looked them over, waiting for any more questions. "If that's all, I really have to be getting back to the front." He gestured to the door.
Roy dismissed Frank with a nod and looked to Mae's. "Well, that doesn't help us much." He said.
"We're slowly building a picture and it won't be long before we know who this 'Reaper' really is." Mae's said with a smile. "Come on, lets get out of this dump."
Roy sighed and gave a small nod.
They walked out of the back room and made their way through the droves of people to the door.
"I think that was a big waste of time." Roy muttered to Mae's as they stepped outside under the overhang of the building, shielding them temporarily from the rain.
"Not really, Frank's going to make that list. Maybe the answers to our prayers will be on that list." Mae's said hopefully.
"Yeah I hope you're right but until then, I guess we'll have to do our own research on the people in this bar." Roy said as he glared at the big drops of rain crashing to the ground a few inches from his boots.
"I have to get home. I almost forgot about the kid staying at my house, who know's what he's done to it..."Roy shuddered and sighed. He felt so tired, all he really wanted was sleep. But he knew very well that when it came to murder investigations, sleep was something that rarely happened.
"Get in the car, I'll drive you. No sense in walking home in this mess." Mae's told him as they both got into the car. "I want to meet this kid, so I'm coming to your house." Mae's grinned as they pulled away from the bar and started driving.
"Guess I have no choice." Roy said. "Won't you wife wonder where you are?" Roy asked, hoping that would convince Mae's to go home.
"Nah, I let her know that I might stop at your place after work." He laughed,"I thought ahead!"
"Great. Now I'm stuck with two bone heads..." Roy moaned to himself and rubbed his fore head, as if that would help settle his irritation.
"Don't worry Roy, it'll be fun!" Mae's beamed at him as they pulled into Roy's driveway and parked.
Roy nearly jumped out of his seat when he saw the flashing red and blue lights outside of his house. He leaned up to peer out the window at the police line around the sidewalk.
"Crap, what did the kid do now?..." Roy muttered softly.
Let me know how this chapter was by leaving a review! Thank you!
