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introduced quickly.
    The woman stepped forward, chewing gum and toying
with the ugly gold necklace she had around her neck.
    “This ain’t Eddie’s daughter! You shitting me, Milo?
Who is this? Some girl of yours? You trying to give me a freaking
heart attack?” She turned her attention to Robyn. “Nice try,
sweetheart. Want a drink on me?” Nancy offered, cackling loudly and
leaning close to Robyn.
    “Don’t you mean on Eddie? If you’re handing out free
drinks so readily, maybe that’s why business isn’t so good,” Robyn
replied, trying to avoid looking at Nancy’s cleavage as it bounced
up and down in her face.
    “Listen, missy, what business goes on here is my
business,” Nancy informed her, narrowing her eyes.
    “Is that so? I thought Eddie Matthers was the owner,”
Robyn retorted.
    “Yeah? So? Eddie’s my guy and when he’s not around,
I’m in charge. You got a problem with that?” Nancy questioned,
staring at Robyn.
    “Yeah, actually I do. This is supposed to be a
roadhouse and it used to serve food. Where’s the food?” Robyn
asked.
    “We’ve had problems. Anyhow, who do you think you
are? Coming into my roadhouse trying to throw your weight around,”
Nancy demanded to know.
    “He told you who I was. I’m Eddie’s daughter, Robyn.
And your presence here is no longer required,” Robyn said.
    “Look, lady, I don’t know who you are, but you ain’t
Eddie’s daughter. She lives in England,” Nancy answered, her mouth
furiously working the gum up and down.
    “I got a flight,” Robyn responded.
    “I don’t believe you.”
    “You should really leave, because until this place
has had a thorough revamp, we’re going to be closing,” Robyn told
her.
    “Okay, enough’s enough. Come on, out of my bar,”
Nancy said, teetering forward and approaching Robyn.
    “I think you’ll find it’s more mine than yours. What,
with me being Eddie’s next of kin,” Robyn replied.
    “Yeah? Well, we’ll see about that. Where’s your
proof?” Nancy hissed, moving up close to Robyn.
    “I went to see him today, room two zero nine. That
enough for you? Thanks for keeping things ticking along, well…kind
of…but I’ll be taking over now,” Robyn said. Her voice was steady
and controlled.
    “Look, sugar, I’ve been running this place for the
last year and I don’t answer to nobody…least of all someone I ain’t
met before,” Nancy spat.
    “Well, I told you, I’m Robyn Matthers. There, now
we’re introduced. So, are you going to kick their asses out of here
and close the door on your way out? Or are you going to let things
get ugly?”
    She slipped down off her stool and squared herself up
to the woman. It wasn’t such an easy task when she was in sneakers
and Nancy was in platforms that could rival a stilt walker.
    “Milo, call the cops,” Nancy ordered the bartender,
her eyes not leaving Robyn’s.
    “No need, Milo, already done. They’ll take one step
through the door and arrest the biker group for drug possession.
And, you know, the gang might just hold a grudge if you don’t
forewarn them about the imminent arrival of the police. Although I
don’t really know them, they don’t look like the type of people to
get on the wrong side of,” Robyn told her.
    “Those cigarettes are medicinal,” Nancy said, holding
Robyn’s gaze.
    Robyn let out a laugh.
    “You’re not serious!”
    “You’re really Eddie’s daughter?” Nancy asked
again.
    “Yes I really am, and I’m taking over the
roadhouse…ooo, is that a siren I hear?” Robyn asked, cupping her
hand over her ear and leaning toward the door.
    Nancy hurried over to the table of bikers, whispered
something into the ear of the most bearded man and, within seconds,
the cards were dropped to the table, chairs were being pushed back,
and the owners began rounding up their dogs.
    “Turn the jukebox off and start cleaning up. I’ll get
rid of the school kids and the hobo,” Robyn ordered Milo.
    “Are the cops really