I glanced toward Lawton. He had an arm around the guy's neck and was speaking into his ear, saying something too low for me to hear. Actually, it was too low for anyone to hear, judging from the frustration on the faces of those closest to the action.
The guy choked out something that sounded vaguely like a laugh – a forced, high-pitch sound that rang false in spite of its volume. "Oh yeah?" he said. "Well try it, and you're dead."
Lawton made a scoffing sound. "Like that scares me."
The sirens were near deafening now. The second guy glanced at his friend, then at the crowd, and then back at Lawton. Finally, with muttered curses, he wobbled off, stopping briefly to help his friend off the pavement.
Together they shuffled toward a dark sport utility vehicle with tinted windows. The bloody guy climbed into the passenger's seat, and the other guy got into the driver's side. Seconds after the door swung shut, the vehicle squealed out of the parking lot and disappeared from sight.
"Damn," Crew Cut Guy said. "Guess the show's over."
I studied Lawton across the parking lot, relishing the chance to observe him, unencumbered by the bounds of decency or politeness. I took an obscene amount of comfort in the fact I was just one of many, a face in the crowd. I felt like a Peeping Tom, but couldn’t bring myself to care.
Ignoring crowds of wannabe friends and well-wishers, Lawton turned and sauntered toward his car, the blondes close on his heels. Silently, he opened the passenger door and waited as they climbed inside.
After their long legs disappeared into the vehicle, Lawton shut the car door and walked around to the driver's side door. He opened it, slid into the driver's seat, and shut the door behind him. A moment later, he roared out of the parking lot, leaving the crowd staring after him.
From somewhere off to my right, I heard a male voice say, "Hey, Chloe!"
Standing in the tall pickup bed, I looked down and saw Keith staring up at me, his hands on his hips and a scowl on his face. "What the hell areyoudoing out here?"
Past Keith, in the crowd, I saw both busboys, half the cooks and at least two other waitresses. Why Keith chose to zero in on me, I had no idea. "Watching the fight," I said.
Like he didn't know.
"Yeah?" His scowl deepened. "Don’t you have work to do?"
Obviously, I wasn't the only employee out here. So why was I the only one getting in trouble? Suddenly, I was so tired of Keith's crap. "Don'tyou?" I said.
His jaw tightened. "I'm not a customer," he said. "So don't sass me and think you're cute."
Next to me, Crew Cut Guy spoke up. "Hey, I think she's cute." He puffed out his chest. "And I'm a customer. So I'm always right." He turned to give me a wide grin. "Right?"
"Awwww…thanks," I said, genuinely touched.
But on the ground, Keith didn't look nearly as pleased. A spot of color had risen to his cheeks. "Yes, well." Keith cleared his throat and looked up at the guy. "Thank you for your patronage."
"Actually," Crew Cut said, giving me a long look, "she's more than cute. She's smokin' hot. You oughta give this girl a raise." He turned to give me another grin. "What do you think of that?"
I laughed, embarrassed but delighted, not so much with the compliment, but for the effect it had on Keith. He was looking more unhappy with every passing moment.
"Yeah, well," Keith muttered, straightening his tie and turning his gaze on me. "Get back inside, and we'll talk about it."
I gave Keith a sweet smile. "Thanks, boss. I'm looking forward to it."
I never called him boss, and I knew there wasn't going to be a raise. But the look on his face was almost reward enough.
I turned to Crew Cut Guy. "Thanks for letting me hang out in your truck." I winked at him. "And for getting me promoted."
I hopped down and headed back inside. Just as well. I did still have customers after all. I wouldn't be earning any tips if I spent all night in the parking lot.
Still, I wasn't above spending way too much time looking out the window to see what was going on. By the time the lone police car had rolled into the parking lot, there wasn't much to see.
There were only a few stragglers and Keith, who stalked over to the police car and made his complaints known, using gigantic arm gestures to emphasize whatever he was telling them.
Whatever it was, the police didn't look too impressed.
From what I learned later, the police weren't a big help. There'd been no property damage, nothing stolen, and other than Keith, no one had complained.
