Written by A.M. Hartnett

Tonight had been on the calendar all week. Drinks with Perry”s buddies from back home. He hadn’t seen them in about three years and I suppose it was a little selfish to choose the night of their reunion to put my plan into action, but as soon as we all took our seats at the pub table, I was rendered invisible to Perry. 

Not that I minded on bit. I normally would have been content to sip my beer while he and his boys chattered, but as I peeled the label wrapped around the amber bottle it occurred to me that all the stars had aligned. I could easily slip away and go unnoticed for a little while, and Perry wouldn’t immediately notice.

“I’m just heading to the ladies room,” I said, giving him a nudge. He barely spared me a glance in his acknowledgement, too engrossed in the tale of hooliganism his buddy was recounting.