not saying the guy’s stupid. I don’t think he’s as smart as he thinks he is, but

he’s slick.

 

He can grab the gold ring when it’s staring him in the face.” Rogers nodded

slowly. “I saw him walk into that room upstairs like he owned it.” Karl leaned

in a little closer and pointed a finger at Rogers. “You pretty much nailed it

there, Paul.” “Come again?” “Josh Quentin is a good customer here, I mean a real

good customer. He pays a monthly fee to the bar for that space upstairs.

 

Comes and goes when he wants. Brings whoever he wants. Does whatever he wants up

there. And that monthly fee? Pays for all of the bar’s expenses. All of them.

The other customers—and there are a lot of them—that’s pure profit. So Helen is

also printing money.” “Damn. Sounds like Ms. Myers is lucky too.” Karl shrugged.

“Now, it made a living for her, sure. A good one.

 

But when Quentin came along, that’s when things really took off.” “How’d they

meet?” “Don’t know. But they did. This was, oh, a couple years back.” “You been

with Ms. Myers a long time, then?” “Eight years this summer. She’s a good lady.

Fair.” “You two…?” Karl pushed his whiskey glass away and shook his head. “No,

nothing like that. Like I said, I struck out with women. Three fastballs.

 

I’m done batting. She wants more than a romp in the sheets with an old fat guy

with bum knees. And I’m never getting hitched again.” “Maybe her and Quentin,

then?” “Never happen. Two different walks of life. And he likes his ladies a lot

younger.” He paused. “Although she usually goes up to the room when he’s here.