Make them pay

"Another BitterSweet, Miss Noa."

"I've got it."

Jacob comes to me with another order while I'm serving B23s to a couple sitting by the bar, but Dahlia marches in from the kitchen and starts mixing the drink expeditiously.

"Anything happen while I was out Noa?"

"A group of minors tried to order drinks with fake IDs, fortunately one of them knew better than to argue with a security android when they realized I was also the bouncer."

"Hah! Next time, charge them for their first order of drinks, but before they can drink them, bust them about their IDs and then kick them out."

"Isn't that a bit..."

"Once they're out the door, tell them their drinks will be waiting for them once they hit eighteen. I've done it a bunch of times before, most of them are regulars now. Jacob, come serve this drink."

Despite such questionable methods, I cannot refute Dahlia's uncanny ability to produce positive results. Jacob swiftly returns for the BitterSweet and takes it to the female customer.

"Would you happen to know if Jak is part of a gang?"

"As if! Jak hates gangs almost as much as he hates androids."

"More than crabs?"

"No, he hates those more than androids. Too bad you weren't here yet when a crab pinched his nose and wouldn't let go."

The memory brings an amused smile to Dahlia's face.

"So why all the questions about Jak?"

"A customer came here earlier and said he was Jak's friend."

"Didn't know he had any. Just so we're clear, Jak's an asshole and a moron but he's no criminal. I wouldn't have kept him around as a bouncer for so long if he was nothing but trouble."

"What's this about criminals?"

A vaguely familiar voice interrupts our conversation. Dahlia and I turn to look at two men wearing navy blue trench coats. One is a stout man with bushy brows and a bushy mustache. The other is a relatively handsome older gentleman with pale skin and straight black hair.

"Well if it isn't the detective duo. Sorry to say but we don't serve waffles and bacon around this time."

"A shame! Woulda paired well with some drinks eh Kudo?"

"We'll have to settle with just drinks then. I hope you don't mind us being here tonight Miss Dahlia."

"As long as you pay your tab and don't start any trouble."

"Of course, Miss Dahlia."

Herge takes a seat in front of me.

"Busy night eh Noa? You doin' alright?"

"I am, detective. This amount of customers is actually normal for a Saturday night."

"Then I hope you don't mind if I add a few orders! Start us off with Dahlia Specials."

Dahlia moves to my side and takes out an oval glass while Kudo takes a seat next to Herge.

"Already with the strong drinks Herge?"

"Don't be such a wuss Kudo. Hand me that bottle Noa."

I pass Dahlia the NON-Absinthe and we mix the detectives' drinks simultaneously.

"So, what brings you two here tonight? Usually you're too busy with work or... I dunno family stuff to go out drinking on a weekend."

"Guess you could say we got lucky eh Kudo? We're on duty right now and this right here is a work expense."

Herge takes a mirthful gulp of his drink. Kudo on the other hand has kept his demeanor formal.

"Miss Dahlia, Miss Noa, I would like to show the two of you an image. Please tell us if you know anything about."

Kudo pulls out an earpiece from his pocket and puts it on without the rLens.

"Present file DA1."

A holo-image pops out of the earpiece's nanoprojector. On the image is-

"Opal."

Dahlia recognizes her immediately.

"Told you we've seen her before."

"Herge, just, shut up and drink."

"Where and when?"

Dahlia asks the detective with an icy tone.

"We found her disassembled in a dumpster at an alley in District 17 earlier today."

Her metal hand briefly scrapes against the bar counter. 

"She works here as a waitress during the day. She stopped coming to work last week. Nothing unusual before that... You know anything Noa?"

"No ma'am. We didn't really talk to one another outside of work. Even then, we work different shifts..."

"Well the good news is that the damage done to her wasn't lethal. We're hoping that once she's been repaired, she'll be able to remember something about her attackers."

"Make them pay for what they did and you get free drinks for a month."

Herge starts choking from hearing Dahlia's statement.

"Miss Dahlia that's-"

"Do your job, Kudo. Make them pay."

"...We'll do our best."

We spend the next half hour answering the detectives' questions. His earpiece records the entire conversation. Even after they left, despite the lively Saturday night atmosphere, the air around the bar is heavy with Dahlia's bitter scowl.