Read Corridor Man for Free Online Page B

home.”
    “Give me a ride back here?”
    “No,” the bartender said under her breath, then retreated to her new customers.
    “Anywhere you want, but we have to leave now.”
    “Let me pee first,” she said and began to slowly slide out of the booth. She got to her feet although she seemed a bit unsteady.
    Bobby looked around for the restroom and saw the lighted sign that said ‘toilets’ just above a doorway.
    “Come on Kate, let me give you a hand.” he said and helped to walk her back to the ladies room. What little conversation there was slowed, and some guy at the bar mumbled, “Jesus.” A number of people laughed.
    “I’ll wait out here for you,” he said and pushed the door labeled LADIES open.
    Kate sort of gave a half wave over her shoulder and staggered inside. He heard what sounded like a stall door creaking. A while after that the unmistakable sound of someone vomiting. Better here than in my car, he thought.
    A few minutes later a guy walked past. He looked to be mid-twenties, dark curly hair. If Bobby had to guess he’d say a construction worker’s build, solid, thick and strong. He stepped around Bobby and was about to enter the ladies room.
    “Wrong one,” Bobby said and pointed to the door labeled MEN.
    He looked like he might argue the point. Some loud laughter drifted in from the barroom and he eventually nodded and said, “Yeah, thanks.”
    Bobby waited, standing against the hallway wall for another five minutes. He was about to poke his head in and check when he heard what sounded like a stall door opening. A moment later he heard water running in a sink, then the towel dispenser being pulled. A minute or two after that the door finally opened and a pale-faced Kate Clarken shuffled out.
    He took her by the arm and led her into the barroom headed for the front door. All conversation stopped. A couple of guys snickered.
    “Thanks,” the swirl-haired bartender called.
    “Lots a luck, don’t forget to wear protection,” some guy yelled and everyone laughed.

Chapter Fifteen
     
     
    Once they were outside, Kate took two steps and threw up on the sidewalk. She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand like it was an everyday occurrence, which maybe it was. Bobby directed her into the back seat and rolled down the window in case she got sick again. He walked around to the driver’s side and rolled down the back window just to play it safe. Kate was already stretched out on the back seat with her eyes closed.
    He climbed behind the wheel, and then cautiously backed up to within an inch of the burgundy Escalade parked behind him. Two guys stepped out of Foxies and looked frantically up and down the street. He recognized one as the curly haired guy who almost walked into the ladies room. He waited for a couple of cars to shoot past before he pulled the Geo into traffic.
    They were headed downtown. Bobby was aware his passenger was in no condition to give a deposition. In her current state he’d be lucky if he could get her into the building let alone past polite Marci at the front desk. As if to confirm his thoughts she suddenly bolted upright in the back seat and thrust her head out the window, gasping. She made all the right sounds, but nothing came up. After a long minute and some very surprised glances from other motorists she sat back and wiped her hand across her mouth.
    “Where the hell are we going?” she asked and looked out either side of the Geo in an effort to try and get her bearings.
    “You were scheduled to give a deposition this afternoon at Denton, Allan, Sawyer and Hinz, that’s a law office,” he said, then glanced at her in the rear view mirror. His answer didn’t seem to register with her.
    “Do you remember? They had you scheduled for four this afternoon.” It was almost four-twenty at this point and obviously a stupid question.
    “Whatever.”
    A moment later she thrust her head back out the window and her hair blew across her face. She gathered up a