Amanda crossed her arms and leaned on the table. "Wolves howl for many reasons. They might be calling to each other or marking their land also trying to find their pack. Sometimes, it's just how they stay close; like a family."
Nora blinked. "Wow. How do you know all that?"
Amanda smiled. "I watch a lot of animal shows."
Nora laughed. "Well, you should be a wolf expert."
They both laughed, and I smiled too.
I was about to ask Amanda something I'd been thinking ever since I heard those howls. I wanted to ask if she believed in werewolves. But before I could say the words, the front door creaked open.
A tall man walked in, his coat still damp from the fog. His shoulders were squared, and he had a serious look on his face. He walked with that look, like he was used to being in charge.
Amanda straightened up and nudged Nora. "He's here."
The man looked familiar, I recognized him right away; he was the one who had opened the bar earlier that morning. But there was something else about him now that he was closer.
His eyes…they weren't normal. They looked too sharp, almost like they were glowing. Not brightly, but in a way that made me feel like he could see more than he should. There was something wild in them. I blinked quickly and looked away, pretending not to notice.
"Hey, girls," he said. "Sir Ivan is on his way. Make sure everything's ready before he gets here."
"Of course," Amanda said, then she turned to me. "Oh! And Lisa, this is Harris. I forgot to introduce you."
"Nice to meet you, Harris," I said with a small smile.
"Welcome, Lisa," Harris said, smiling too wide, like he wanted attention. "I wish I could've introduced myself properly." He gave a little bow like he was on a stage.
"I keep the keys here, and…"
"And what, Harris?" Amanda cut him off quickly.
Harris gave her a look, but didn't say anything. I sat there quietly, just watching them. There was some history between those two, I could tell. Nora gave a small laugh and kept packing bottles.
Suddenly, the front door swung open, another man stepped in.
"Morning, Sir Ivan," Amanda said quickly.
"Morning, everyone," he replied. Then he looked at me.
His eyes met mine; and I froze. They were sharp like Harris's, but stronger…deeper…like they were holding a secret. I couldn't look away at first. He had muscles, and his arms were strong; too strong for someone who just ran a bar. He looked like someone who lifted weights daily, like a gym instructor. It didn't match the quiet, casual vibe of the place.
"You're Lisa Wallen, right?" he asked.
"Yes, sir. I am," I said, standing up straight.
"Glad you made it," he said, taking off his jacket. As he hung it up, his sleeves rolled slightly. That's when I noticed a thin scar on his hand, faint, but long. I wondered how he got it.
"Harris," he called. Harris walked over, looking a little tired already.
"Take the empty bottles to the storage. And we're out of whiskey. We need to order more today."
"Okay," Harris said and got moving.
Ivan turned back to me. "Can you start today?"
"Yes, sir," I said. "Thank you for the chance. I'm really excited."
"Let's get you registered," he said, leading the way to a small office in the back. I followed him. The hallway smelled like old wine, and beer pictures covered the walls.
Inside the office, he pointed me to a chair, and I sat. He pulled out a thick folder and handed it to me. I saw the scar again on his hand as he gave me the papers.
"This is your contract," he said. "It tells you what you'll do, your hours, and your pay. Read it."
I opened it and nodded slowly.
"You'll work during weekends too. Clean the bar, serve drinks, and handle cash."
"I understand," I said.
"Good," he said. "Now let's fill in your tax forms." He gave me a pen and another paper.
As I filled it in, he asked, "How long have you worked as a barmaid?"
I paused. I hadn't worked in a bar before.
"This is my first time," I said. "But I'm ready. I can do this."
He looked at me for a moment and then he nodded.
"Alright. Since you're new, you'll only work during the day. No night shifts, at least for now."
"Thank you," I said.
When I finished signing, I gave the papers back. He looked through them and smiled.
"Looks good. Welcome to The Last Drop Bar, Lisa. I hope you'll do well here."
"Thank you, Sir Ivan," I said.
Just then, a soft knock came at the door.
"Sir Ivan?" It was Nora's voice. "Sorry to interrupt. The police are here. They want to see you… and Lisa too."
My hands went cold. My heart started beating fast. Why would the police want to talk to me?
Ivan looked at me. "Don't worry," he said calmly. "Let's just see what they want."
We walked out together. Two men stood at the bar. One of them stepped forward. He had serious eyes and a small notebook in hand.
"Good morning," he said. "I'm Detective Kenneth Jordan."
He looked at Ivan. "You must be Sir Ivan."
Ivan nodded.
Then the man turned to me. "And you must be Lisa Wallen."
"Yes," I said, trying to keep my voice calm.
"We're investigating an attack. A man named Charles Marvin was hurt last night."
My mouth dropped open. I knew that name. Marvin was the man who told me about this job. He owned Tinny's Coffee Shop.
"We found a bag on the ground where the attack happened," Kenneth said. "We believe it might be yours."
He held up a small bag. I stared at it. It was mine. I thought I'd left it in the minibus.
"Yes… it's mine," I said softly.
Kenneth turned to Ivan. "You're also a person of interest. You were the last one to speak with Mr. Marvin yesterday. It might be a coincidence, but we need to ask you both some questions at the station."
Ivan's face stayed calm. "Are we under arrest?"
"No," Kenneth said. "It's just routine questioning."
Ivan turned to Amanda and Nora.
"Handle everything while I'm gone," he said.
"We will," Nora said with a worried tone.
Then the police led us outside. I walked beside Ivan, trying to stay calm, but my mind was spinning.
Two police cars were parked just outside the bar. One officer opened the back door for me. I slid in, my hands resting stiffly on my lap. Ivan got into the car behind me. Neither of us said a word.
As the car pulled away, I looked through the window. The Last Drop Bar was getting smaller in the distance. Just a minute ago, I was happy. I had a job, finally. Something to start fresh, and now I was being driven to a police station. For a crime I didn't even know about.
The city moved past us in slow motion. My chest felt tight. I could feel every heartbeat. My hands were cold and sweaty.
When we arrived at the police station, the officers led us out of the car. The building looked plain, like any other government place, gray walls, small windows. The smell of coffee and something like old files filled the air inside.
They led us through a hallway, then we stopped.
"You first," one officer said to me.
I nodded quietly and walked into the questioning room.
It was small and cold. A metal table stood in the center with two chairs. I sat down slowly. There was a mirror on the wall; I guessed it was one of those two-way mirrors they use to watch people. A fly buzzed near the ceiling. My fingers tapped the table lightly. I didn't mean to, but I couldn't stop them.
Then the door swung open, I almost jumped.
Detective Kenneth Jordan stepped in, holding a folder.
"Good morning, Lisa," he said gently.
"Morning, sir," I said, forcing a little smile.
He sat across from me and opened the folder.
"Tell me about Charles Marvin."
I swallowed. "I only met him yesterday," I said. "I went to Tinny's Coffee Shop to ask for a job. He said they weren't hiring. But then he called someone on the phone…Sir Ivan, and told me to go to The Last Drop Bar instead. That's how I ended up there."
Kenneth nodded as he wrote something down.
"Did you speak to Marvin again after that?"
"No, sir. That was the only time."
"Did you leave anything at his place?"
I paused. "I didn't mean to. But… maybe my bag. I thought I lost it in the minibus."
Kenneth looked at me for a second. "Alright. That helps."
He closed the folder and stood up.
"That's all for now. Thanks for your honesty."
"Thank you, sir," I said quietly.
Kenneth left the room, the door clicking behind him.
I took a deep breath, letting it out slowly.
A few minutes passed. Then the door opened again.
Another man entered. He looked different. His cheekbones were sharp, like they'd been carved. His jawline was square and strong. His nose was long and slightly bent, like it had once been broken. Something about his face made it hard to look away.
And he was wearing black gloves.
He sat down across from me, placing a folder on the table.
"Lisa Wallen," he said, his voice was lower than Kenneth's. "I'm Officer Stephan Mooncrest."
His name hit me strangely. I swallowed hard, my throat suddenly dry.
"I have a few questions," he continued.
I nodded.
"Why was your bag found in Charles Marvin's office?"
I took a deep breath. "I guess I forgot it when I visited him. I didn't mean to leave it there."
Stephan leaned forward. "Let's take a look, shall we?"
He opened the bag, and he pulled out a small empty bottle, then a silver mirror.
I watched closely. He didn't touch the mirror directly. Even with his gloves, he moved it carefully, like it was something dangerous. He didn't even look at it straight. I blinked…why would he avoid a mirror?
But I didn't say anything. I just kept watching.
"What's this?" he asked, holding up the small bottle. "Silver dust?"
"It's just something I keep," I said, my voice shaky. "It was given to me long ago. I don't even use it."
"And the mirror?"
"It was part of the same gift."
He studied my face. "You forgot the bag on purpose, didn't you?"
"No," I said quickly. "I really thought I lost it on the bus."
Stephan stared at me for a long time. His eyes didn't blink, and my stomach twisted again.
Finally, he spoke.
"You can go now."
He stood up and left the room without another word.
I sat there for a moment, letting my heartbeat slow down.
Then I stood and walked out. Ivan was waiting and it was his turn now.