There was no way she wouldn’t know him, but for some reason she kept it to herself. Until he learned more, he’d be wise to play along. Lowering the tray, she handed him the open bottle. He passed her the ten-dollar bill in his hand. “Keep the change,” he said. “Thanks.” Something flickered in her eyes as she turned away—a cold, animal wariness. Stella lingered beside him, a sphinxlike smile on her painted face. Did she know her waitress was the sister of Lute Fletcher, the twenty-one-year-old boy she’d hired and likely set up to be murdered by Hoyt Axelrod? Stella Rawlins was a master manipulator who played her cards close to her ample bosom. If she suspected the truth, Marie could be in more danger than she knew. With a saucy parting smile, Stella sashayed off to tend to other customers. Finding a newly emptied table, Sky sat down to finish his beer and wait for Will’s phone call. He glimpsed Marie weaving her way through the crowd, but she didn’t try to come near him or even to make eye contact.
