Jessie didn’t join in the pile-on, certain that it was a waste of time. Instead she settled back in her seat, determined to enjoy what was left of her remaining free time tonight, even if it was only in a moving vehicle. She closed her eyes and tried to do a mini-meditation, focusing on her breath as her chest rose and fell slowly.

Her attention was diverted by the sound of Murph’s voice on his comm.

“All teams. There will be a momentary delay in returning to home base. Unscheduled stop upcoming. Timing indeterminate. Details to follow. Follow car—stay frosty.”

Jessie opened her eyes, unsure if she’d heard right.

Am I really going to a bar?

CHAPTER TWELVE

She was. But not right away. First, Murph hopped out to check out the place, called Bob’s Frolic Four, while Toomey circled the block with Jessie and Dolan in the back. The bar was in a weird part of downtown. It was on a busy commercial street, but only two blocks west, the business district ended abruptly and they were in a residential area.

Suddenly the streets had speed bumps and “children at play” signs. The neighborhood, at the edge of the West Adams district, was comprised of an eclectic mix of cottage-style homes and grandiose mansions that looked to have been built before World War II.

But before Jessie could really appreciate them, Toomey had looped around and was headed back to the busy section lined with stores, restaurants, and bars. As they pulled around to the front of Bob’s again, Toomey spoke to them. Hearing his voice was such a rarity that she almost forgotten how it sounded.

“Get out the second I stop,” he instructed. “Murph is waiting at the door. Proceed directly inside. Follow all instructions without hesitation. Understood?”

“Understood,” Jessie said.

“This just might be the best night of my life,” Dolan added giddily as he nodded his assent.

The car stopped and they got out, moving briskly to the door, which Murph was holding open. He directed them through the crowded space to a back room, away from the other patrons.

When they got there, Jessie realized why Murph had been willing to accede to the request. This was a cop bar and the back room was almost exclusively law enforcement. She recognized a few detectives from nearby precincts as well as a few off-duty uniformed officers. There were others whom she didn’t personally recognize but could peg as law enforcement based on their general bearing. Of the dozen people in the room, she guessed all but one were cops of some kind. And that one was the bartender.

Murph directed them to two unoccupied stools at the end of the small bar top. As they settled in, she heard him speak into his comm.

“Jabberjay and Pigeon are in place. Toomey, let me know when you are established in the front room. Collica, maintain position in the front of the location for now and do periodic checks around back. Emerson, continue to surveil the block from the vehicle. Anything unusual—let me know immediately.”