The sudden flicker of worry in Kelly’s blue eyes told Sam that he was in the right place. To his left, the biker turned on his bar stool and stood, making a grand show to display his height and sizeable bulk. Despite the paunch that dominated his midriff, the man was solid and was undoubtedly the doorman. Sam didn’t even want to hazard a guess at how many letching wannabe bikers had seen his bad side. As the biker slowly stomped nearer to him, he spoke.

‘You English?’

Sam turned; his face emotionless.

‘What gave it away? The accent?’

‘Nah, your smart-ass attitude.’ The biker stopped a foot or two from him and leant on the bar. ‘The name’s Jay. Long way from home, aintcha?’

‘I’m here to see a friend.’ Sam turned from Jay and back to a nervous looking Kelly, who had her arms folded. ‘Is she here?’

‘You a cop?’

Sam shook his head. Jay sighed.

‘This ain’t a fucking tourist information booth. It’s a bar.’

‘Good point,’ Sam said. ‘I’ll have a bottle of beer, please.’

Kelly shot a glance at Jay and half shrugged. She turned and opened the beer fridge and pulled out a bottle. She popped the cap and placed it on the bar, and Sam passed across a ten-dollar bill.

‘Get one for yourself.’ He smiled, and a flirtatious grin spread across her face. To break the seemingly friendly atmosphere, Jay finished his bottle and slammed it down hard on the counter, causing Kelly to jump.

Sam didn’t flinch.

And Jay noticed.

‘You sure you ain’t a cop?’

‘I’m sure,’ Sam said casually, infuriating Jay further by casually sliding onto the bar stool and sipping his beer.

‘FBI?’

Sam almost spat his drink out and then lifted his beer to Jay, as if congratulating him on a good joke. Jay pushed himself up from the bar and he arched his neck at Kelly, directing her to the door that was positioned at the far end of the bar. Sam assumed it was the door to the back office and whoever his questions were going to upset, they were most likely in there.

But something didn’t feel right.

Leon had said he hadn’t seen or heard from Alex in over a week. Sam was definitely in the right place. Despite Jay’s attempts at unnerving him and diverting to conversation, the mere flicker in Kelly’s eye had told him so.

Having spent a lifetime in the midst of multiple wars, Sam trusted his instincts.

His gut instinct told him he was in the right place.

It also told him it could be the wrong time.

Kelly slipped out from behind the bar and hurried to the door. She gently wrapped on it, waited for the booming voice to welcome her in, and she disappeared inside.