Sing Today Die Tomorrow

Chapter Twelve

Ryan stared at the large man nervously.

"That man is staring me down," said Ryan anxiously.

"Which one?" asked Sloan.

"He's behind you."

Sloan turned around. "He's coming toward us."

"Let's go to the restroom," said Ryan.

Young men occupied all four stalls in the restroom and one flushed the toilet. The door opened and Chase limped out in a violet shirt and gray pants wearing one, black shoe with the cast on the other foot. He looked at Ryan and Sloan in surprise.

"Why are you guys at this lame dance?" he asked peevishly.

"Ah . . . something to do," said Sloan.

"Whatever. My cousin goes here. He's eating a cheap bag of pretzels somewhere."

"Where's Troy?" asked Ryan.

"Home. We're friends, but his grandfather won't give me rides for the fight and crap."

"You got along at the party," said Ryan.

"Yeah, but I don't want to push it. So, you went to Shantel's. How was it?"

"Fine. Stop reading me," said Ryan.

"I'm not. Troy told me."

"Troy? Look, there's a big guy in the corridor right now and - "

The burly man opened the restroom door with an impish smile. A young man flushed the toilet and left the last stall, washing his hands.

Chase fixed a gaze at the large man and he stopped, but Chase didn't flinch.

"You want something, young man?" he asked, but Chase didn't answer and he went into the last stall with a shrug.

Another young man left a different stall fast.

"I have to tell you something in the corridor," said Chase.

Ryan and Sloan huddled with Chase and his cousin, Cameron in the corridor. Cameron crunched pretzels in the bag curiously.

"That man just drugged some guy at a bar," said Chase.

"What?" said Ryan.

"He poured white powder in his drink."

"Did he do anything else?" asked Ryan.

"No."

"What happened to him?" asked Ryan.

"He passed out and he carried him out the door."

"Was he dead?" asked Ryan.

"No," said Chase.

"What does he want with Ryan?" asked Sloan.

"I don't know," said Chase.

"I'm glad we have cans and bottles here," said Cameron.

"Can you describe the guy he drugged?" asked Ryan.

"He was young with spiked, pink bangs. He had a T-shirt on with the words 'Pivot Pinks' on it," said Chase.

"That's a Rock band," said Sloan. "Their lead singer has pink hair. His name is Tommy Blackmore."

"Then that's him," said Chase.

"Tommy's a drunk and he gets into fights a lot," said Sloan.

"Maybe he's keeping him out of trouble," said Chase.

"Yeah, but that's really controlling," said Ryan.

The burly man passed the card table and glanced at Ryan. Dolores looked up at him briefly, changing a trash bag and he headed out the double doors.